Grades and Game Balls Week 7: Spartans Outlast Wisconsin

The Badgers started strong offensively, scoring twice in the first 20 minutes of action. Braelon Allen ran the ball well, and Bobby Engram's unit played with some rhythm. Wisconsin then failed to score again until two minutes left in the game. Granted, it was a clutch fourth-and-goal conversion, but the Badgers waited until the very last possible second.

Wisconsin also scored in overtime on a catch-and-run by Chimere Dike for a 25-yard touchdown. But the play came after Graham Mertz threw a pass to nobody that should've been intercepted by two defenders, and then missed Allen in the flat for an easy completion. There was no rhythm in the second half offensively, and it cost the Badgers in the end.

There were some bright spots. Mertz's two touchdown passes to Dike and Keontez Lewis were both beautiful throws in clutch situations. Skyler Bell caught three passes and tacked on a crucial 27-yard rush as Wisconsin was driving to tie the game. Allen had an an authoritative day running the football, pilling up 123 yards and two touchdowns. But his fumble in overtime was backbreaking, and ultimately cost the Badgers the game.

Overall, it seems like one step forward, two steps back with this offense. The passing game has no consistency from week to week, and Wisconsin can't always overcome that. Allen's fumble was so tough because the offense had been clutch when it needed to up to that point. With the chance to take the lead in overtime, Allen''s first fumble of the season couldn't've come at a worse time.