On a rainy, cruddy day in Madison, the Wisconsin Badgers jumped out early on the Purdue Boilermakers, coasting to a 17–6 halftime lead. Jonathan Taylor had 12 carries for 149 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown on the Badgers’ first drive of the game. Wisconsin totaled 286 yards of total offense in the first half, gouging Purdue for gains at will.
However, mistakes plagued the Badgers’ execution and kept the Boilers within striking distance. To start the second half, Wisconsin stopped Purdue before embarking on a lengthy drive that ultimately ended up in an interception off of the hands of Badgers running back Rachid Ibrahim.