For a matchup that looked like a mismatch on paper, No. 23 Washington spent most of the first half making life far more difficult than it needed to be. The Huskies entered Camp Randall Stadium as big favorites over a 2–6 Wisconsin team that has struggled to move the ball all season, yet the opening 30 minutes were defined by stalled drives, mental lapses, and injuries that left the Huskies searching for stability on both sides of the ball.
The tone was set early. Washington sliced into Badger territory in just three plays on its opening drive, only to stall on a 4th-and-short when Denzel Boston was hit short of the sticks on a questionable play call. Instead of points, the Huskies handed Wisconsin a short field -- the first sign that this would not be a routine afternoon.
The Badgers, starting quarterback Danny O’Neil in just his third career start, leaned heavily on the ground game. Washington’s tackling issues helped Wisconsin push into field-goal range twice in the opening quarter, but Nathanial Vakos missed a 48-yard attempt and the Huskies came up with a fourth-down stop at their own six after freshman Carter Smith, making his college debut, entered the game for an injured O’Neil.
Even with the defensive stands, the struggles were glaring: Wisconsin finished the first quarter with 88 rushing yards to Washington’s 43 total yards, and the Huskies managed just one rushing yard on six carries.
Offensively, Washington never found a rhythm early. Back-to-back three-and-outs had the Huskies playing from the shadow of their own end zone, and Wisconsin’s run-heavy approach continued chewing up field position. For a ranked team fighting to stay in the postseason conversation, yet another slow start was concerning.
The second quarter finally brought some life. After Vakos connected from 42 yards to give Wisconsin its first home points in more than a month, Demond Williams Jr. broke the game’s first explosive play from Washington’s side -- a 36-yard scramble that sparked the offense. Grady Gross then kicked a 42-yard field goal of his own to tie the game, and from there, Washington’s defense and special teams took over.
Jacob Lane’s sack forced a Badgers punt deep in their own territory, which Anthony Ward blocked to set up Washington at the Wisconsin one-yard line. Two snaps later, Williams lofted a fade to Boston, who hauled in a spectacular one-handed touchdown, his eighth of the season, to give the Huskies their first lead at 10–3.
But even that momentum came with setbacks. Boston injured his leg returning a punt and was later carted off, adding to a growing list of offensive players banged up by halftime. Williams’ confidence wavered shortly after, as he forced a deep throw into double coverage that Wisconsin’s Ricardo Hallman intercepted in the end zone with ease. Running back Jonah Coleman also limped off during the drive, leaving Washington’s offense more depleted.
The Huskies’ defense stiffened again to force another punt, but Washington squandered its two-minute drill after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on left tackle Carver Willis erased any chance of adding points before halftime.
A short punt gave Wisconsin a shot at a late score, and with their third different quarterback of the half, Hunter Simmons, the Badgers finally completed their first passes of the game. Another unsportsmanlike conduct call, this one on Wisconsin's Gideon Ituka, ended that threat and sent both teams into the locker room with Washington clinging to a seven-point lead.
At the break, Washington feels fortunate to be ahead at all. The defense has bent without fully breaking, and special teams delivered the game’s biggest swing, but the Huskies’ inability to run the ball, sustain drives, or stay disciplined has kept Wisconsin, a team that hasn't come close to winning since early September, firmly in the game.
If Washington wants to avoid becoming the latest cautionary tale, the second half must bring cleaner execution and sharper decision-making on offense -- because through 30 minutes, the ranked team doesn’t look like the one with the advantage.