Happy Ending For Wisconsin Nittany Lions’ 20-Game Win Streak Snapped By Badgers, 17-9

Wisconsin was not intimidated by its first trip to Happy Valley, ending the longest winning streak in Division I-A and destroying Penn State’s national title hopes with a 17-9 upset Saturday.

Penn State had won 20 in a row since losing to Ohio State on Oct. 30, 1993.

Darrell Bevel completed 18 of 22 passes with two touchdown passes for the Badgers (1-0 Big Ten, 2-1-1), as Penn State’s linebackers were unable to keep up with Wisconsin’s receivers and backs.

No. 6 Penn State (0-1, 3-1) could not establish a running game and Joe Paterno made two questionable coaching decisions, including a failed two-point conversion on a fake kick with Penn State trailing 17-9 and 4 minutes remaining.

With 20 seconds remaining in the first half and Penn State trailing 10-0, Paterno passed up a 41-yard field-goal attempt and Bobby Engram dropped Wally Richardson’s short pass on fourth down. It was the first time Penn State had been shut out in the first half since 1992 against Miami, 33 games ago.

Wisconsin was able to move the ball easily in the first half, as Bevell hit flanker Michael London and tailback Carl McCullough.

London caught a short pass and turned it into a 25-yard gain on Wisconsin’s first drive to set up a 26-yard field goal by John Hall. On the next Badgers drive, London caught a similar pass for 37 yards.

Two plays later, Bevel threw 21 yards to tight end Matt Nyquist, who easily beat cornerback Brian Miller and made an overthe-shoulder catch to put Wisconsin up 10-0.

Penn State marched to the Wisconsin 7 on the opening drive of the second half, before a sack forced the Nittany Lions to settle for a field goal that cut the lead to 10-3.

Wisconsin had an 87-yard drive that ate up 7 minutes late in the third and early in the fourth quarter. With 10 minutes remaining, Bevell rolled out and threw to Tony Simmons, who outleaped safety Clint Holes for a 21-yard touchdown to make the score 17-3.

Wisconsin defenders sacked Richardson four times and forced him to fumble on another play. Penn State quarterbacks were sacked just five times in 1994.