Wisconsin Badgers
3-6 , 1-5
Washington
6-3 , 3-3
Badgers tame No. 23 Huskies 13-10
November 08, 2025 | Football
Wisconsin takes down ranked Washington at Camp Randall Stadium
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin football team earned its first ranked win in four years after taking down No. 23 Washington, 13-10, on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
Wisconsin (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten Conference) earned its first-ever win over Washington (6-3. 3-3 Big Ten) as the two teams met for the first time since 1992 on a snowy afternoon.
A trio of Badger freshmen came up big for the Badgers as freshman quarterback Carter Smith made his UW debut and had a touchdown rush, freshman linebacker Cooper Catalano had 19 tackles while fellow freshman linebacker Mason Posa had 11 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery that set up Smith's touchdown.
After the game was tied 0-0 after the first quarter, the Badgers broke the scoring seal with a 42-yard kick from Nathaniel Vakos, giving the Badgers a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Washington responded with a field goal of their own on the following possession knotting the game at 3-3.
The Huskies took a 10-3 lead into half, capitalizing on good field position after a blocked punt.
In the third quarter, Posa came up with a strip sack and fumble recovery that gave the Badgers the ball on the Washington 7-yard line, sending a jolt of energy to the Wisconsin sideline. From there, Smith took care of the rest, scoring a touchdown on a 2-yard quarterback keeper. It was his first collegiate touchdown, and the first rushing touchdown by a Badger freshman quarterback since Graham Mertz in 2020.
The Badgers defense continued to dominate on the ensuing Washington possession, forcing a quick punt. The drive was killed after Sebastian Cheeks sacked the Washington quarterback for a loss of 16 yards.
The short field led to a Nathaniel Vakos field goal that gave the Badgers the lead with just under two minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
The Huskies had an opportunity to tie the game after a 14-play, 63-yard drive had them in field goal range. However, senior Ben Barten blocked the kick, retaining the 3 point lead for the Badgers.
Washington got the ball back late, but Posa sacked Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. on a fourth-down attempt to seal the victory for Wisconsin.
From the field
Head Coach Luke Fickell
On quarterback play:
"In the last two weeks we repped three quarterbacks for the most part and everybody had to be ready. That's what you ended up seeing tonight, on the ninth play Danny O'Neil goes down and Carter Smith steps in and right before half Hunter Simmons goes in. It's going to be a collective group in a lot of things that we do, but I thought they handled it well, they took care of the football amidst these conditions."
"It's been a while coming. It's great to see."
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 9, 2025
🗣️ Luke Fickell on @BadgerFootball's win over No. 23 Washington pic.twitter.com/akFe3rpPH9
Up Next: Wisconsin hits the road to take on No. 2 Indiana next Saturday in Bloomington. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on Big Ten Network.
Happy Victory Sunday to all who celebrate!! pic.twitter.com/2ui5aisfBb
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 9, 2025
Today is GREAT for the soul. pic.twitter.com/XYE9etHOI2
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 9, 2025
Team Stats
WAS 0, WIS 3
WIS - Vakos,Nathanial 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 18 yards, TOP 02:58
WAS 3, WIS 3
WAS - Gross,Grady 42 yd field goal 11 plays, 52 yards, TOP 04:06
WAS 10, WIS 3
WAS - Boston,Denzel 1 yd pass from Williams Jr.,Demond (Gross,Grady kick) 2 plays, 1 yards, TOP 00:34
WAS 10, WIS 10
WIS - Smith,Carter 2 yd run (Vakos,Nathanial kick), 2 plays, 7 yards, TOP 00:40
WAS 10, WIS 13
WIS - Vakos,Nathanial 32 yd field goal 6 plays, 22 yards, TOP 02:43
