Wisconsin Rallies From 17 Down to Stun No. 13 Penn State 24-20
The short version
- Wisconsin beat No. 13 Penn State 24-20 after trailing 17-0 in its Big Ten opener.
- It was Wisconsin's first win at Penn State in 23 years and first over Penn State in 15 years.
- Colton Joseph connected with Jacob Harris on a 72-yard go-ahead touchdown in the final minute.
- The Badgers snapped a seven-game Big Ten road losing streak.
- It is the largest Wisconsin comeback in 20 years and the biggest win of Luke Fickell's tenure.
The Badgers scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, capped by a 72-yard touchdown in the final minute, to beat Penn State in their Big Ten opener.
Wisconsin completed the biggest comeback in 20 years of its program history on Saturday night, rallying from a 17-0 deficit to beat No. 13 Penn State 24-20 in State College. The victory came in the Badgers' first Big Ten game of the 2026 season and snapped a seven-game road losing streak in conference play.
The win carried historic weight on multiple fronts. It was Wisconsin's first victory at Penn State in 23 years and its first over the Nittany Lions in any venue in 15 years. It also marked the Badgers' first Big Ten road win in nearly two full years.
Penn State entered the matchup looking dominant, having won its first three games by an average of 35 points under coach Matt Campbell. The Nittany Lions built a 17-0 lead and appeared headed toward another lopsided result before Wisconsin's defense stiffened and the rally began.
Quarterback Colton Joseph, who threw multiple interceptions during the game, shook off the mistakes to lead the comeback. Wisconsin trailed 20-10 entering the fourth quarter but outscored Penn State 14-0 over the final 15 minutes to flip the game.
The decisive play came in the last minute, when Joseph connected with tight end Jacob Harris on a 72-yard touchdown. Harris broke free with a massive stiff arm on his way to the end zone, putting the Badgers in front for the first time and sealing the upset.
The triumph is the biggest of Luke Fickell's tenure at Wisconsin by a wide margin. Fickell entered the 2026 season facing scrutiny after consecutive losing Big Ten campaigns that produced no bowl appearances, and last year's first conference victory did not arrive until Nov. 8, six games into the league schedule.
The result provides immediate relief for a program whose fanbase and alumni had grown frustrated with each passing season. Instead of opening Big Ten play with a loss, Wisconsin now begins the conference slate with one of its most significant wins in recent memory.
Reaction poured in from current and former Wisconsin sports figures, including former Badgers running back Melvin Gordon, ex-basketball star Sam Dekker, volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield, and NFL fullback Derek Watt, all celebrating the upset on social media. National reporters called it a signature win for Fickell and a defining moment for the program.
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