The Wisconsin Badgers suffered a disappointing 24-21 loss to the Maryland Terrapins during a Week 11 matchup on the road.
The Terrapins secured the win despite playing without their starting quarterback, “a massive 24-21 upset” according to Badgers Wire.
Maryland managed to overcome significant discipline issues, as the team committed 11 penalties for 111 yards throughout the contest.
In contrast, the Badgers were far more disciplined, committing only three penalties for 24 yards, “a statistic that makes things even more eye-opening” for the program, as reported by Badgers Wire.
The Maryland offense relied on backup quarterback Cardell Williams, who made his first career start for the school.
Williams performed efficiently, completing 21 of 23 passes for 183 yards and setting a program record with 19 consecutive completions.
His performance included a pivotal 39-yard touchdown pass that shifted the momentum of the game significantly.
The Wisconsin defense played without linebacker Sebastian Cheeks, whose absence was noted prior to kickoff, “news broke that Sebastian Cheeks wouldn’t be playing” per Badgers Wire.
Despite the defensive adjustments, the Badgers struggled with ball security, losing three fumbles during the game.
The most critical turnover occurred when Ryan Hopkins was sacked following the two-minute timeout, resulting in a lost fumble.
That turnover directly set up a go-ahead 30-yard field goal for Maryland, which ultimately sealed the outcome of the game.
Wisconsin also faced challenges on third down, converting only two of 12 attempts, and finished the game with seven fewer minutes in time of possession.
The loss marked the first time Maryland has achieved back-to-back Big Ten victories in three seasons, leaving Wisconsin on the wrong side of that specific statistical trend.
The Badgers entered the game as heavy favorites, making the final score particularly notable for followers of the program, “Wisconsin Badgers heavy favorites at Maryland” according to Badgers Wire data.