Wisconsin Improves to 2-0 After 42-10 Week 2 Win vs. Middle Tennessee

The Wisconsin Badgers have improved to 2-0 with a 42-10 win over Middle Tennessee in Week 2. After a shaky victory in the season opener, Wisconsin dominated on offense, with QB Danny O’Neil going 23-27 with 283 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

TE Lance Mason led the game in receiving with 102 yards and a touchdown, as O’Neil connected with the tight end, along with wide receivers Tyrell Henry and Jayden Ballard, in the end zone.

After totaling over 400 yards of offense, the Badgers remain undefeated with huge performances on both sides of the ball. Wisconsin will travel for Week 3 to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide, but not without a huge win at Camp Randall Stadium.

(5:53) QB Danny O’Neil continues to impress for the Badgers with a 17-yard touchdown pass to TE Lance Mason. The Badgers are now up 42-10 on Middle Tennessee. The drive went seven plays for 53 yards, lasting 3:33.

O’Neil is 23-27 with 283 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Mason leads the game in receiving yards with 102, and now, a touchdown.

(10:31) Ohio State transfer WR Jayden Ballard has his first touchdown reception as a Badger, with QB Danny O’Neil finding him on a 58-yard pass. The drive went seven plays for 99 yards, lasting 3:41, as Wisconsin leads Middle Tennessee 35-10 in the fourth quarter.

Ballard now has two catches for 73 yards, while O’Neil is 20-23 with 243 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The Badgers have looked extremely comfortable in the second half with some major plays on both sides of the ball.

The Badgers have found major momentum to end the third quarter, going up 28-10 with touchdown runs from wide receivers Vinny Anthony II and Trech Kekahuna. Wisconsin has totaled 279 yards of offense, while Middle Tennessee has 202.

QB Danny O’Neil is 17-20 with 167 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Kekahuna’s 61-yard touchdown run makes him the game’s rushing leader, while TE Lance Mason leads the team in receiving yards with 64.

(2:52) The Badger offense is rolling late in the third quarter after WR Vinny Anthony II scored a 14-yard rushing touchdown. The drive went five plays for 50 yards, lasting 2:34. Wisconsin now finds itself with a comfortable 28-10 lead over Middle Tennessee.

QB Danny O’Neil looked poised on that drive, and is now 17-20 with 167 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The Badgers’ defense has strung together multiple stops that have led to some second-half scores.

(7:37) Wisconsin comes up with a major play after WR Trech Kekahuna rushed for a 61-yard touchdown to go up 21-10 over Middle Tennessee. The drive went just two plays for 75 yards, lasting 0:52.

Kekahuna now leads the game in rushing after his lone play behind the line of scrimmage. The run gives the Badgers 229 total yards on offense. Wisconsin has a two-possession lead once again, just about halfway through the third quarter.

The Wisconsin Badgers are up just 14-10 at halftime against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The Badgers were showing successful aggression in the second quarter after coming out struggling; however, a Danny O’Neil interception set the Blue Raiders up for a 4-yard touchdown pass from QB Nicholas Vattiato. A sour way to end the half after showing major signs of life.

O’Neil is 15-18 with 137 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Wisconsin has totaled 154 yards of offense, 112 of which came in the second quarter. Vattiato is 10-17 with 126 yards, a touchdown and an interception, as Middle Tennessee isn’t far behind with 146 total yards.

(1:08) After a Danny O’Neil interception, Middle Tennessee has cut Wisconsin’s lead to 14-10 after a 4-yard touchdown pass from QB Nicholas Vattiato to TE Hunter Tipton. The Blue Raiders quarterback is 10-17 with 126 yards and a touchdown.

The interception from O’Neil comes just a few plays after an impressive drive that extended Wisconsin’s lead. The San Diego State transfer is now 14-17 with 141 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

After CB Omilio Agard came away with his first career interception, Wisconsin has extended its lead to 14-3 with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from RB Dilin Jones. It comes after a 15-yard passing touchdown from QB Danny O’Neil was called back. Jones now has nine rushing yards and a touchdown.

Wisconsin is rolling as the first half winds down after starting the game struggling. O’Neil is 14-16 with 141 yards and a touchdown. The drive went 9 plays for 38 yards and lasted 4:57.

(8:20) Wisconsin’s offense has come alive in the second quarter, as a 3-yard passing touchdown on a fourth down from QB Danny O’Neil gives them a 7-3 lead over Middle Tennessee. WR Tyrell Henry made the grab as the Badgers struck back with a drive that went 11 plays for 80 yards and lasted 5:44.

O’Neil is an impressive 10-11 with 101 yards and a touchdown. After struggling in the first quarter, the Badgers impressed with a much-needed successful drive.

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are surprising the Wisconsin Badgers with huge performances on both sides of the ball in the first quarter. They find themselves up 3-0 after the first 15 minutes, with the only score being a 27-yard field goal late in the quarter.

Wisconsin’s offense is looking stagnant, while the defense is getting carved up thus far. QB Nicholas Vattiato has two 30-yard passes, while Middle Tennessee has 117 total yards of offense. As for the Badgers, QB Danny O’Neil is 4-4 with 27 yards.

(4:16) The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders strike first with a 27-yard field goal to go up 3-0 on Wisconsin. The score comes a few plays after QB Nicholas Vattiato hit WR Nahzae Cox with a 37-yard pass.

Drive was 12 plays for 68 yards, lasting 5:39.

With Jake Renfro out for the Badgers with an undisclosed injury, Kerry Kodanko will get the start at center. Riley Mahlman has been moved to left tackle, while Emerson Mandell will start at right tackle. Collin Cubberly will make his first start at right guard, with Joe Brunner at left guard, per usual.

Senior center Jake Renfro is out with an undisclosed injury. Renfro also missed time in fall camp with a lower leg injury. According to the UW depth chart, redshirt freshman Ryan Cory would get the start in Renfro’s absence. Cory appeared in one game as a true freshman during the 2024 season.

Also out for the Badgers on Saturday:

Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr.

Tight End Tucker Ashcraft

Safety Luke Emmerich

Outside Linebacker Evan Van Dyn Hoven

Offenisve Tackle Barrett Nelson

Wide Receiver Ben Lemirand

Edge Rusher Corey Walker