Wisconsin vs. Washington 2025 Recap: The Badgers Stun the Huskies, 13-10

It’s been 10 games and 378 days since the Wisconsin Badgers knocked off a Big Ten opponent. However, that streak ended Saturday when the Badgers (3-6) pulled off the unthinkable and knocked off a ranked Washington (6-3) team 13-10 on a snowy contest. Not only did they win their first Big Ten game in 378 days, but they also secured their first ranked victory since 2021. So how did they pull it off amidst a six-game losing streak in a game where a fourth-string true freshman quarterback threw for eight yards, and the punter had the most passing yards on the team? Let’s break it all down in our 2025 Wisconsin vs. Washington postgame recap.

Wisconsin vs. Washington 2025 College Football Recap

Line of Scrimmage

For the first time all year, not only did the Badgers win both lines of scrimmage, but they flat-out dominated. For most of the year, the defensive line has held its own, but the offensive line has been a different story. Saturday was different.

Wisconsin rushed for 157 yards, with Gideon Ituka finishing with 73 while Carter Smith had 47 yards. They were not great numbers as Ituka only averaged 3.8 yards per carry. However, everyone in the entire stadium, especially Washington, knew the Badgers were going to run. However, the Huskies still couldn’t stop it. In a game where your quarterback only threw for eight total yards, the offensive line was still able to get push and created nice holes for Ituka and Smith to run through.

It was easily the best performance from Wisconsin’s offensive line all year. In a game with a limited playbook due to a freshman quarterback, the Badgers’ offensive line had its best performance.

Defensively, the Badgers were able to hold the Huskies to 117 yards on the ground and had Demond Williams Jr. running for his life every passing play. A major key to this game was whether or not Wisconsin could create any pressure, and boy, did they.

It felt like every play, a pass rusher was in the backfield. And, the unit ended up totaling four sacks. Mason Reiger and Sebastian Cheeks played outstanding. If Williams wasn’t so elusive as a runner, the Badgers easily could have had 7+ sacks.

The Badgers’ defensive line dominated in the run game as well. It was just an overall great performance from the defense in general. Going forward to finish out the year, the Badgers need to channel this type of line of scrimmage performance again, and if they can, great things will happen.

Field Position

The two biggest keys heading into this game were whether the Badgers could win the line of scrimmage and the field position battle. We talked pregame about how susceptible Washington is to giving up quality drives. A quality drive is defined by letting your opponent record a first down in your territory or giving up a touchdown. I ended up losing count, but at least seven and almost half of the Badgers’ drives ended up being a “quality drive”. That’s a difference maker.

The Badgers were constantly forcing third and longs for the Husky offense and had them punting deep in their half of the field all game. Wisconsin had short fields to work with, which is a huge help for an offense that isn’t remotely explosive. Forcing Washington to drive the length of the field in wet, snowy conditions was a huge plus, and the Badgers overall just obliterated them in the field position game. The Badgers’ sole touchdown came after a strip sack from Mason Posa, which led to a first and goal opportunity. It led to an easy walk-in touchdown by Carter Smith.

Looking back on it, winning this category on Saturday might have been the single biggest factor in why Wisconsin won this football game.

Carter Smith

Carter Smith started the year buried on the depth chart, and no one thought he’d even sniff the field this year. However, little did he know he would lead the Badgers to their first ranked victory in four years on Saturday. Danny O’Neil started the game for the Badgers, but unfortunately, O’Neil was carted off the field on their second offensive possession. That meant true freshman quarterback Carter Smith had to step in.

On his first play of his collegiate career, Smith ran for nine yards and a first down before letting out a primal scream. That intensity is what this quarterback room has been missing. Smith’s passion was evident from the jump; and even if he didn’t necessarily do a whole lot stat-wise, his competitive fire was a difference maker.

Smith finished 3-of-12 for eight yards through the air, but added 47 yards on the ground. Smith’s athleticism and willingness to run were evident, even if his downfield passing game was nonexistent. He is young and really shouldn’t be in the position he’s in, so his inability to pass is understood. However, he was quite shaky in the pocket and never set his feet on any of his 12 throws.

He gets a pass, however, as it was his first game action, the playing conditions weren’t the best. Smith has been on the scout team all year up until the Badgers’ bye week, so his knowledge of the offense is limited. However, a lot of Jeff Grimes’ play calls have a lot of condensed formations. With everyone being around the line of scrimmage, it really clouded Smith’s ability to read the defense and understand what was going on, which led to his happy feet.

His competitive fire was on display as soon as he ran onto the field, and he didn’t make any game-breaking mistakes or decisions, which was impressive for how young he is. He scored the Badgers’ only touchdown on a 2-yard run and gave the Badgers a much-needed boost at the quarterback position. The Badgers might never win another game where the punter leads the team in passing yards, but it got the job done on Saturday. Smith wasn’t great, but he did just enough. More importantly, he showed great heart on Saturday which is all you can ask for when on a six-game losing streak.

Wisconsin vs. Washington Recap: Other Notes

Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano

These two young freshman honestly deserve their own article, but a paragraph or two will do for now. With Christian Alliegro out due to injury and Tackett Curtis being benched, Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano not only have stepped in, but have dominated.

Catalano finished with 19 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, while Posa finished with 11 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Posa’s strip sack set up the Badgers’ lone touchdown, and he sealed the game with a sack of Demond Williams Jr. on 4th-and-6 late in the game. These two had some of the more impressive performances out of Wisconsin linebackers in recent memory.

They got off blocks, flew to the ball, wrapped up defenders, and played with extreme poise and passion. Posa and Catalano have 51 tackles over the past two games, and it is imperative that these two players are back in Madison at the start of next season.

Luke Fickell

On Thursday, reports came out that Luke Fickell would be returning for his fourth season as the Badgers’ head football coach. That decision brought forth a lot of anger from Badgers fans, as this season has been quite a disappointment.

Whether or not you were happy with AD Chris McIntosh’s decision, Saturday proved just how much these players love him. A six-game losing streak, terrible season, with a fourth string quarterback under center; this team could have easily phoned it in, but they didn’t. Fickell had them ready and prepared. The team played with extreme effort and passion, and it was extremely evident that he hasn’t lost the locker room.

It was mentioned it after the Oregon game, but the Badgers’ effort in that loss was great, and they played like a top-25 team effort-wise. Saturday, they played Washington as if it was a game to make it to the national championship. Everyone is clearly still bought in, and they are playing for each other and for Fickell.

Seeing the team dance in the locker room and how happy the players were for Fickell and the team in general is a great sight if you’re a Badger fan. Yes, they are still 3-6; however, teams that are having a season like the Badgers don’t play as hard as they did on Saturday, and that means something.

Next year might be the most important season in Badger football history, and maybe Fickell still isn’t the best coach for Wisconsin. But if there is one single thing you can take away from Saturday’s game, it’s that the locker room loves Coach Fickell and will play hard for him, no matter what.

Mike Tressel

Saturday might just have been the best-called game defensively under defensive coordinator Mike Tressel. Tressel mixed up zone and man, and had players in the right spots all game long. He called more blitzes than normal, and he moved Posa and Reiger around the entire game. He called an aggressive defensive game, which was great to see. A lot of cool exotic blitzes were called, and it was just an overall great game from the defense under Mike Tressel; hats off to him.

What’s Next?

The Badgers will be looking to build off of Saturday’s victory as bowl eligibility is still a possibility moving forward. It won’t be easy, though, as they travel to Bloomington week 12 for a showdown against the No. 2-ranked Indiana Hoosiers. How the team responds after an emotional victory yesterday will be the key and will be very interesting to watch.