Replay: Awards, inside the huddle, by the numbers
AWARDS
Player of the game
The best player on the field Saturday was a landslide winner, Penn State sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley.
McSorley was under heavy pressure early and was 2 of 4 for 49 yards after one quarter.
He finished 22 of 31 for 384 yards and four touchdowns – against a defense that allowed eight touchdown passes in 12 games. McSorley didn’t come close to throwing an interception against a defense that had 11 interceptions in the last three games and 21 overall.
Penn State 38, UW 31: Lions' rally stuns Badgers
CHAT: Submit questions here for Monday chat with Badgers beat writer Jeff Potrykus
Offensive play of the game
UW’s defense was staggering but the Badgers were clinging to a 31-28 lead early in the fourth quarter when McSorley and tailback Saquon Barkley combined to give the Nittany Lions the lead for good.
McSorley lined up in the shotgun with Barkley in the backfield.
Barkley ran a wheel route down the right sideline and got behind linebacker T.J. Watt.
McSorley had plenty of time to see Barkley get open and dropped the ball in perfectly for an 18-yard touchdown with 13:41 remaining.
D'Amato: UW's collapse swift, severe
Defensive play of the game
The play is the type dominating UW offenses make.
One yard needed to gain. Run the ball. Get the first down. Move on to the end zone.
The Badgers faced fourth and 1 at the Penn State 24 and took a timeout with 1:05 remaining.
Penn State was trying to protect a 38-31 lead.
Tailback Corey Clement got the call and tried the right side but was tripped up by cornerback Grant Haley and fell short at the 24.
UW's normally stout defense collapses
Special teams play of the game
Kicker Andrew Endicott has been up and down in filling in for injured starter Rafael Gaglianone this season.
Endicott made 1 of 2 field-goal attempts Saturday but his miss was a killer.
UW held a 28-14 halftime lead and took the ball to open the third quarter. The Badgers drove from to a third and 3 at the Penn State 27.
Bradrick Shaw lost 3 yards on third down and Endicott came on to attempt a 48-yarder.
He was 4 of 5 from 40 to 49 yards entering the night, with the miss from 45 yards against Nebraska.
Endicott pushed this attempt to the right and Penn State had life.
McSorley hit wide receiver Saeed Blacknall for a 70-yard touchdown on the next play to help cut UW’s lead to 28-21.
Scoring: Penn State 38, Wisconsin 31
BOX SCORE: Penn State 38, UW 31
Inside the huddle
» With defensive lineman Conor Sheehy (arm) out, UW’s nose tackles were Olive Sagapolu and Garrett Rand. The Badgers used a 2-4-5 for most of the night and rotated several pairs of linemen.
» Alec James, who was seen limping after the victory over Minnesota, did not play.
Quotable
“What I do know is, we just won the toughest conference in college football. We’ve won nine straight. They say you’re allowed to overcome early setbacks. We’ve done that. It is on you now, the committee.” -- James Franklin, Penn State coach, on whether the Nittany Lions deserve a berth in the College Football Playoff
By the numbers
3 Points scored by UW after halftime
31 Points scored by Penn State in the final 30:58
228 Yards gained by Penn State on six plays, five passes and one run
273 Combined receiving yards for Saeed Blacknall and DaeSean Hamilton on 14 catches
Up next
UW (10-3) will learn its bowl destination and opponent sometime Sunday. All signs point toward UW playing Western Michigan (13-0), the champion of the Mid-American Conference, in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2 in Arlington, Texas.