The forecast called for a black-and-blue sky with a 70 percent chance of defensive reign.
Instead, a classic Big Ten battle between Michigan State and Wisconsin looked more like a Pac-10 showdown between Track Meet State and Fly Pattern U.
But when it was all over, Wisconsin’s defense could actually take a bow. The ninth-ranked Badgers sealed the 37-34 victory when they stopped the Spartans on a third-and-2, and then a fourth-and-2, with just more than a minute to play.
“We didn’t do everything right,” Badgers coach Bret Bielema said, his voice hoarse almost beyond recognition. “But pulling off the win speaks volumes for our character.”
The Badgers have had to show their character in nearly every game this season. They struggled to beat UNLV and Iowa, and even their 14-point victory over the Citadel was cause for concern.
“We can’t play these kind of games every week,” cornerback Allen Langford said.
But it certainly beats the alternative. Michigan State was in position for the upset after drawing even at 34-34 early in the fourth quarter.
Michigan State forced the Badgers into a third-and-14 at their own 27. Quarterback Tyler Donovan fired an incomplete pass but used his guile to earn a first down.
After Michigan State’s Kellen Davis shoved him to the turf, Donovan lobbied the nearby official for a roughing-the-passer penalty, telling him: “You better call that. That’s a late hit.”
Asked if he tried to sell it, Donovan replied: “Oh, yeah. You have to sell it a little bit. That’s a situation where you have to lure him in. You have to be smart.”
Foolish penalties like that contributed to the demise of former coach John L. Smith. The Spartans’ Otis Wiley made it worse later in the drive with a personal foul for a late hit — an off-the-ball block after the play had ended.
Wisconsin parlayed the penalties into Taylor Mehlhaff’s 22-yard field goal for the deciding score.
The Spartans, however, had two more chances to win. They made an odd call on third-and-7 from the Wisconsin 36 — a basic Javon Ringer run.
After Ringer was stopped for a 1-yard gain, Spartans coach Mark Dantonio decided to try a game-tying 53-yard field goal. Brett Swenson missed it wide right.
Michigan State (4-1) got the ball back with 2:11 to play and drove to the Wisconsin 38. But cornerback Ben Strickland broke up a slant pass on third-and-2, and Spartans quarterback Brian Hoyer couldn’t hit Ringer on fourth down after being flushed from the pocket.
The Badgers finally could exhale after improving to 5-0 and extending their national-best winning streak to 14 games. But they couldn’t exactly rejoice, not after giving up 564 yards.
Asked about the big plays his defense made at the end, Bielema replied:
“Actually, it’s the plays we didn’t make that concern me. With coach Dantonio’s and my background as defensive coordinators, I didn’t expect to see 1,000 (actually 1,025) total yards of offense.”
Dantonio said his team was “a little heartbroken” but he was proud of the effort: “We were looking for proof in terms of how we would respond in a tough environment. … Our guys came to play.”
Ringer rushed for 145 yards on only 10 carries, while the brawny Jehuu Caulcrick powered his way to 73 yards and two scores on 17 carries.
The Badgers had an equally effective power-speed rushing combo. P.J. Hill churned out 155 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries, while the speedy Lance Smith chewed up 54 yards on six tries.
Donovan nearly got his team in trouble when he didn’t spot safety Travis Key and allowed him to make an interception early in the fourth quarter.
But Donovan more than made up for it by firing two touchdown passes and drawing that roughing-the-passer call.
“An unbelievable competitor,” Bielema called him.
Next up for the Badgers is a surging Illinois team that nearly beat them last season at Camp Randall Stadium. Illinois led 24-10 at the half in 2006, so Wisconsin will be wary.
“Even if we win by one point we’re doing something right,” Donovan said of his team’s tight victories.
Bielema took it a step further: “This isn’t [figure] skating. We don’t get style points.”
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2-minute drill
Getting offensive: Wisconsin’s P.J. Hill ran for 155 yards, and tight end Travis Beckum caught 10 passes for 132 yards and TD.
On the defense: Very little was played, but the Badgers did register five sacks.
The number: 14.5. Javon Ringer’s per-carry average. The Michigan State tailback carried 10 times.
They’re still talking about: The boxing match that broke out between MSU’s Chris L. Rucker and Wisconsin’s Marcus Randle El. Both players were ejected after landing two blows apiece.
Sick bay: Badgers receiver Kyle Jefferson nearly was decapitated on a hit and left the game with concussion-like symptoms. Star cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu never played because of an unspecified illness.
Looking ahead: Michigan State is host to Northwestern, while the Badgers travel to Champaign for an intriguing battle with Illinois.
— Teddy Greenstein
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tgreenstein@tribune.com
