Three takeaways from Wisconsin football's 31-3 win vs. Michigan State - Badgers Wire
The Wisconsin Badgers picked up a 31-3 win against Michigan State on Saturday afternoon. Of course, the score shows that they had a dominant game, but it was a whole-team effort.
Here are three takeaways from the win.
Colton Joseph put together one of his best performances of the season against Michigan State, making an impact both through the air and on the ground.
He finished with 145 passing yards and three touchdowns while adding another 141 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
His ability to create plays with his legs gave Wisconsin another dimension offensively, making him difficult for Michigan State's defense to contain. With four total touchdowns, Joseph was a major reason the Badgers came away with the win.
The Badgers' defense came up with several important stops against Michigan State, forcing the Spartans to turn the ball over on downs five times.
Consistently getting off the field on fourth down prevented Michigan State from extending drives and gave Wisconsin's offense more opportunities to take control of the game.
Fourth-down stops can be momentum-changing plays, and Wisconsin's ability to make them repeatedly was a major part of its defensive performance. The unit showed its ability to step up in high-pressure situations when the game called for it.
Wisconsin has already matched its win total from the 2025 season, reaching that mark in seven fewer games. The milestone highlights the progress the Badgers have made this year and gives the program something tangible to build on as the season continues.
While there is still plenty of football left to play, reaching last season's win total this early is an encouraging sign for Wisconsin. The Badgers have an opportunity to continue separating themselves from last year's results and establish a stronger foundation moving forward.
Wisconsin will look to carry its momentum through the bye week before returning to the field against UCLA on Saturday Oct. 17.
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