Wisconsin stuns Penn State with comeback from 17 down for Luke Fickell’s biggest win

Midway through the first half, it looked like an even bet that Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell wouldn’t remain employed by Sunday afternoon. After stunning No. 13 Penn State in Happy Valley, could Fickell be earning his way toward an extension instead?

The Badgers trailed by 17 until late in the second half but rallied for a 24-20 win. It marked Wisconsin’s first victory away from Camp Randall Stadium since October 2024 and first road win against a ranked opponent since 2021.

“This is something I don’t think a lot of people thought this was going to happen, and I know a lot of people maybe back home didn’t know it, either,” Fickell told NBC afterward. “But this team’s getting better.”

With the Badgers (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) facing third-and-13 at their own 28-yard line with 1:13 left, Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph found tight end Jacob Harris racing up the left seam unguarded. Harris stiff-armed Penn State defensive back Audavion Collins at the Nittany Lions’ 30-yard line and raced the rest of the way to the end zone to give Wisconsin its first lead.

Penn State (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) had one last chance and moved the ball to the Wisconsin 33-yard line with 5 seconds left, but quarterback Rocco Becht’s final pass sailed out of the end zone, dealing the Nittany Lions their first loss under new coach Matt Campbell.

It’s Wisconsin’s first win against Penn State since 2011, ending a six-game series losing streak, and the Badgers’ first win at Happy Valley since 2003. The 17-point rally is Wisconsin’s biggest since 2006.

“It’s a 60-minute game, and we said that from the get-go,” Fickell told NBC. “We didn’t play well in Game 1 in the second half, and it was all about, ‘Hey, do we have the emotional toughness to be able to handle 60-plus minutes?’

“And all I said at halftime was, ‘Hey, get us to an overtime. Get us to an extra time, and let’s figure out who we are.’ And those guys proved to us who we are today.”

How big is this win for Fickell?

It’s the most meaningful win in Fickell’s much-maligned tenure, and one that could change the course of the season. Although the Badgers beat ranked Washington and Illinois teams last year, those results came amid another lost season that ended with a 4-8 record. This win at Penn State is the kind of game that shows the Badgers are a different team this year, now 3-1 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play, with a loss only to No. 3 Notre Dame.

The Badgers don’t play Oregon, Indiana, Ohio State or Michigan this year. This was the kind of toss-up game needed to make for a meaningful season.

Next up is Michigan State at home.

Wisconsin increased its roster spending this year, approaching $30 million, which is in the top half of the Big Ten according to The Athletic’s reporting. There are no more excuses for Fickell, who arrived in Madison from Cincinnati with high expectations after the abrupt firing of Paul Chryst but is just 20-22 overall. Saturday’s win could be a springboard. — Chris Vannini

What this means for Penn State

With one of the Big Ten’s easiest schedules on paper, Penn State was seemingly set to walk into the College Football Playoff discussion until facing USC and Michigan in mid-October. Now, that discussion seems premature.

It largely was a honeymoon period for new coach Campbell, as Penn State opened with three Group of 6 opponents. That continued as it built a big first-half lead Saturday.

But Penn State appeared to let up against the Badgers. When Wisconsin kept pressing in the fourth quarter, the Nittany Lions failed to put together a drive to clinch the game. Becht, who followed Campbell from Iowa State, completed just 12 of 29 passes for 114 yards with an interception.

A year ago in late September, James Franklin’s Nittany Lions tenure fell apart starting with a dramatic loss to Oregon in the Big Ten opener. Now, Penn State must regroup, with a short week heading into a Friday night game at the opening of Northwestern’s new stadium. — Scott Dochterman