Wisconsin Rallies Past No. 13 Penn State 24-20 in Big Ten Opener
The short version
- Wisconsin beat No. 13 Penn State 24-20 on the road after trailing 17-0.
- Jacob Harris scored the go-ahead 72-yard touchdown in the final minute.
- It was Wisconsin's first win at Penn State in 23 years and first over the Nittany Lions in 15 years.
- The Badgers snapped a seven-game Big Ten road losing streak.
- The victory is the biggest of Luke Fickell's tenure as Wisconsin head coach.
The Badgers erased a 17-0 deficit at Beaver Stadium, taking the lead on a 72-yard touchdown in the final minute for their biggest win of the Luke Fickell era.
Wisconsin pulled off one of the most significant upsets of the college football weekend, defeating No. 13 Penn State 24-20 on the road in Happy Valley. The victory came in the Badgers' Big Ten opener and marked a dramatic turn in a game that once seemed out of reach.
Penn State controlled the early going and built a 17-0 lead. The Nittany Lions had opened the season with three straight wins by an average margin of 35 points, and the early surge suggested another lopsided afternoon was forming for Matt Campbell's team.
Wisconsin refused to fold. The Badgers still trailed 20-10 entering the fourth quarter before outscoring Penn State 14-0 over the final 15 minutes to complete the comeback.
The winning score came in the final minute, when quarterback Colton Joseph connected with tight end Jacob Harris on a 72-yard touchdown. Harris broke free with a big stiff arm on his way to the end zone to cap the rally. Joseph shook off multiple interceptions during the game to lead the second-half surge.
The win carried considerable historical weight for the program. It was Wisconsin's first victory at Penn State in 23 years and its first win over the Nittany Lions in 15 years. It also represented the Badgers' largest comeback in 20 years and their first Big Ten road win in nearly two full years, snapping a seven-game road losing streak in conference play.
For head coach Luke Fickell, the result stands as the biggest win of his tenure in Madison. The program had endured consecutive losing Big Ten seasons without bowl appearances, and frustration had grown among fans and alumni. Last season, Wisconsin needed six games to secure its first conference victory, which did not arrive until Nov. 8.
Fickell entered the 2026 season facing pressure over his job security, making the road upset a pivotal moment for his program. The Badgers have now opened conference play with a statement win that ranks among the most significant in recent program history.
Reaction spread quickly across social media after the final whistle. Former Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon posted an emphatic celebration of the win, while former Badgers basketball star Sam Dekker praised the program's performance. NFL linebacker Derek Watt also chimed in with an excited message of support.
National reporters weighed in as well. Nicole Auerbach called it the biggest win of Fickell's tenure with the Badgers and noted the significance for a coach who began the season firmly on the hot seat. John Fanta highlighted the 17-0 comeback, the program's largest since 2006, and the end of the road losing streak in league play.
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