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With their 20-19 win over Arizona State on Saturday, Wisconsin improved to 3-0 on the season for the seventh-consecutive year. The win also marked the 27th straight non-conference regular-season game they’ve won dating back to 2003. At home, Badger head coach Bret Bielema is undefeated against non-conference opponents, outscoring them by an average of 17.9 points. While Bielema was able to keep the streak alive with a win Saturday, it wasn’t as easy as history may have predicted.

In the first half, the Badgers displayed the same lackluster tackling efforts as they did in last week’s game against San Jose State. Granted, Arizona State has faster, shiftier players compared to San Jose State, but the Badgers made them look like Heisman candidates. On Arizona State’s first drive, they marched down to the seven yard-line in 13 plays, averaging more than five yards per carry. However, the Badgers were able to hold them to a 25-yard field goal attempt, which was missed to the right by ASU K Thomas Weber.

The Badgers were able to put together a drive of their own, but came up with only three points after K Philip Welch hit a 49-yard field goal. However, on the ensuing kickoff ASU returnman Omar Bolden returned the kick 97 yards for a touchdown giving the Sun Devils a 7-3 lead after the extra-point by Weber. This was just the beginning of Wisconsin’s display of Peewee-like tackling.

After run-stopping OLB Chris Borland left in the first quarter, re-injuring his shoulder, Arizona State took advantage. They ran the ball right through the front-line of the Badgers. ASU RB Deantre Lewis was given running lanes wider than the Grand Canyon. Lewis finished the game with 125 rushing yards, averaging an absurd 13.6 yards per carry.

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