Wisconsin Badgers
9-4 , 6-3
Arizona State
8-5 , 6-3
Vegas Bowl Champs!
December 31, 2021 | Football, Bowl Central
Wisconsin runs past Arizona State, 20-13
Allen, the 17-year-old true freshman from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, had 101 yards by halftime for his eighth 100-yard game of the season.
Graham Mertz finished 11 of 15 for 137 yards and a touchdown to senior tight end Jake Ferguson, who caught three passes for 33 yards in his final game for Wisconsin (9-4).
The Badgers started 1-3 with Big Ten losses to ranked opponents Penn State and Michigan but answered with a seven-game winning streak to earn a 20th consecutive bowl bid.
Clinging to a seven-point lead, they took over at their own 3 with just under 10 minutes remaining and drove 90 yards to run out the clock in the first bowl game at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders.
Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels accounted for 199 total yards and threw an interception for the Sun Devils (8-5), who are 3-6 in bowls since 2011.
The Sun Devils were held to 219 total yards, including 102 in the first half. Wisconsin entered with the nation's top defense, allowing 240.8 yards per game.
Arizona State has made the postseason in each full season under head coach Herm Edwards; the Sun Devils played only four games in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Arizona State allowed just 21 sacks this season, an average of 1.75 per game. Daniels was sacked a season-high four times and Wisconsin held the Sun Devils to 60 yards rushing on 33 carries.
Sophomore linebacker Nick Herbig had two sacks and finished with a team-high nine this season.
Let the confetti fall 🎊 pic.twitter.com/y5bEN7BJbY
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) December 31, 2021
Daniels, who finished 11-of-21 passing for 159 yards, completed two nearly miraculous heaves; one to Ricky Pearsall for 38 yards that led to Daniyel Ngata's 5-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and a 35-yard completion to Jaylin Conyers on 3rd-and-18. Arizona State failed to score after that play.
The AP contributed to this article.
Team Stats
WIS 7, ASU 0
WIS - Chenal,John 8 yd run (Larsh,Collin kick), 4 plays, 36 yards, TOP 01:34
WIS 7, ASU 3
ASU - Zendejas,Cristian 38 yd field goal 14 plays, 55 yards, TOP 07:19
WIS 14, ASU 3
WIS - Ferguson,Jake 7 yd pass from Mertz,Graham (Larsh,Collin kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:44
WIS 14, ASU 6
ASU - Zendejas,Cristian 36 yd field goal 7 plays, 17 yards, TOP 02:46
WIS 17, ASU 6
WIS - Larsh,Collin 48 yd field goal 10 plays, 45 yards, TOP 05:31
WIS 20, ASU 6
WIS - Larsh,Collin 35 yd field goal 10 plays, 55 yards, TOP 04:41
WIS 20, ASU 13
ASU - Ngata,Daniyel 3 yd run (Zendejas,Cristian kick), 5 plays, 64 yards, TOP 02:39
