QUICK RECAP: Wisconsin loses second-straight game, falls 14-6 to No. 12 Indiana

For the second-straight game, the No. 16 Wisconsin Badgers (2-2) struggled to find its footing on offense, losing 14-6 to No. 12 Indiana (6-1).

With time running out in the game, Wisconsin was en route to a potential touchdown but turned the ball over on downs, following an incomplete pass to Chimere Dike, which ended Wisconsin’s chance at tying the game.

Indiana, without its starting quarterback Michael Penix, Jr., turned to sophomore Jack Tuttle, who made his first collegiate start in the game. Tuttle, who finished the game 13-22 for 130 yards and two touchdowns, did just enough to help the Hoosiers pick up the victory on the road.

Indiana, who has now forced two or more turnovers in nine straight games, first got on the board in the game following a fumble by Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz. After the fumble, Tuttle led the Hoosiers on a 12-play, 53 yard drive which ended in a one-yard touchdown pass to Peyton Hendershot.

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Wisconsin responded to the Hoosier score with it’s own scoring drive, a 12-play, 81 yard drive, spanning seven minutes. However, Wisconsin was unable to find the endzone, and ended the drive with a 29-yard Collin Larsh field goal.

Indiana next got on the board following halftime on its first drive of the second half. This time the drive ended with Tuttle finding Whop Philyor in the end zone, for a seven-yard touchdown completion.

The drive spanned seven plays for 75 yards. The biggest play of the drive was a 35-yard completion from Tuttle to Ty Fryfogle.

Down 11 in the game, Wisconsin was unable to answer, this time with Mertz throwing an interception to Jamar Johnson. This was Mertz’s second turnover of the game. Wisconsin then quickly answered forcing an Indiana turnover, a Tuttle fumble, which was recovered by Nick Herbig, on a QB sneek on third-and-one.

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Wisconsin followed the takeover with another long drive, this time of 12 plays and 52 yards, However, once again Wisconsin was unable to find the endzone, opting for a 28-yard field goal by Larsh.

Prior to Wisconsin’s final drive of the game, the Badgers appeared to have another chance to get back into the game and was facing a fourth-and-7 from the Indiana 46. Wisconsin opted to punt with 8:50 remaining in the game. Prior to the punt decision, Tuttle had gone into the locker room following a hit be Jack Sanborn. With Tuttle in the locker room, there was a chance that Indiana would have been quarterbacked by third-string quarterback, Dexter Williams, which may have swayed Wisconsin away from going for it on fourth-and-long.

However, following the punt, Tuttle came back onto the field and directly into the huddle and while Wisconsin was able to hold the Hoosiers to a punt. The Hoosiers were able to go on a four minute drive, prior to punting, leaving Wisconsin with limited time to mount a comeback that never materialized.