Wisconsin defeated Oklahoma 24-17 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl

PHOENIX (AP) — Wisconsin has a new coach on the sidelines and an interim coach still calling the shots. The Badgers have several new players in key positions, including quarterback.

A long and sometimes difficult season came with more adversity and ultimately triumph.

Nearly wiping out a 17-point lead, Wisconsin made its final defensive play in Tuesday night’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl, defeating Oklahoma State University 24-17.

“It ended exactly how we wanted it to go. We came out victorious,” said Braylon Allen, who ran for 116 yards and scored for a 20-yard touchdown.

Luke Fickel was hired away from Cincinnati after participating in the college football playoffs last season to join the team on the sidelines for the bowl game. But he wasn’t there to run the show. All decisions fell to interim coach Jim Leonhardt.

Badgers had everything working in the first half. The offense was balanced, the defense stifled, and they were building a 17-point lead.

In the second half, Wisconsin (7-6) got bogged down on the slippery Chase Field grass and the defense started giving up chunk plays as the Cowboys came back.

Cedric Dort finally put a stop to Oklahoma State’s momentum, intercepting a Garrett Rangell pass with three minutes left to hold on to the Badgers’ eighth win in nine bowl games.

“This is a distant imagination of what this could be,” Fickel said. “And what they’ve shown me in the last three and a half weeks is that they want to be here, they want to do it together, they want to do it the right way.”

The Cowboys lost 5-4 to close out the regular season, struggling offensively while falling to a 24-7 hole midway through the third quarter. Rangel scored the only offensive highlight in the first half with a big assist from Stephon Johnson Jr.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gandy said, “We only had one big play, but we couldn’t hold on to anything else.”

Rangel led Oklahoma State, throwing for 229 yards and two touchdowns on behalf of Spencer Sanders, who entered the transfer portal.

The freshman improvised the fourth goal by shoveling a pass to Olly Gordon while grabbing a defender to start the fourth quarter, setting up Tanner Brown’s 24-yard field goal. and pulled the Cowboys 24-17.

With momentum returning to the Oklahoma State side, Rangel attempted to make a big play downfield after a late defensive stop for Oklahoma State. Dort cut John Paul Richardson’s inside to bring back what eventually became a game-closing interception to the Badgers.

“We cut the roster down a little bit, got new people involved and got here, and we had to find our way,” Gandhi said. “The players worked really hard for three weeks.

Takeaway

Oklahoma State University: The Cowboys ramped up their offense a little too late to start their comeback, and coach Mike Gundy had nine bowl wins to tie for seventh on his career list.

Wisconsin: The Badgers have a new coach on the sidelines and several new players in key positions, including the quarterback. Wisconsin emerged victorious after their offense stalled, sending Leonhardt out with the win.

wolf’s turn

Among the many changes Wisconsin faced was the quarterback after three-year starter Graham Martz entered the transfer portal.

The Badgers turned to Year 5 starter Chris Wolf. He attempted six passes before Wolf reached the desert.

Wolf had some early success with short passes, finding Hayden Lucci on a 15-yard TD pass in the second quarter. He also threw an interception in his zone at the end of his second drive for Wisconsin, and for 116 yards he finished 16-of-26.

“Chase played well. He controlled what he could control and shot, but I’ve never seen him turn a blind eye,” Fickel said.

next

Wisconsin: Fickel continues to fill out staff and rosters after losing several players who either declared the NFL Draft or entered the transfer portal. After winning the bowl game, Wolfe is back and has some momentum on his side.

Oklahoma State University: Bowl experience should help Wrangel next season as a front-runner for starting quarterback. Most of the Cowboys’ skill players should be back as well.