2008 Week 5

When the preseason coaches poll was released to the public, the defending Big Ten Champion Wisconsin Badgers were ranked #7. In week 5, when the Northwestern Wildcats visited Madison, they had climbed to #4.

Both Lee and Kirk had predicted Wisconsin to win convincingly against the Wildcats. The Badgers had the Heisman Trophy front-runner in PJ Hill. Not to mention Home-field advantage in the 19th toughest place to play.

It apparently wasn't enough.

The Wildcats pulled off an upset that would rival the 1995 victory over the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. After taking a commanding 21-0 lead over the Badgers behind 2 touchdowns by Tyrell Sutton and a Pick-Six by Sherrick McManus, the Wildcats found a way to hold on.

Despite losing Tyrell Sutton for the game with a strained pectoral and Adam Hahn for 9 weeks with a broken collarbone, the Wildcats defense stepped it up and only allowed 10 points to the potent Badger offense, led by PJ Hill. Despite Hill's solid performance, he was forced to leave the game early in the 4th quarter with a bruised shoulder.

After jumping out the a 21 point lead after the first quarter, the Badgers put up 10 straight points before CJ Bacher connected with Cameron Joplin to end the Badger comeback.

The Wildcats visit East Lansing and the SPARTANS of Michigan State next week on regional broadcast.