By IlliniGuys Staff

November 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MADISON, Wisc. - Wisconsin sacked Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer five times and held the Illini offense to just a single field goal in the second half as the Badgers stunned No. 21 Illinois 27-10 Saturday night.

It marks the high point of an otherwise forgettable season for Wisconsin (4-7, 2-6 in Big Ten), as the Badgers hadn't scored more than 14 points against a Power 4 opponent this season and had managed only 47 points total in seven Big Ten games coming into the night.

For Illinois (7-4, 4-4 in Big Ten), it's a crushing defeat that eliminates their quest to reach back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history as the Illini offense turned in one of their worst efforts of the season. The 10 points matches their season low in the 63-10 loss at Indiana on September 20th and they failed to reach 300 yards on offense (298) for just the third time this year (161 at Indiana, 295 vs. Ohio State).

The Wisconsin offense, which had managed just one first quarter touchdown all season, took its first possession into the end zone on a 16-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a Vinny Anthony II six-yard run. But the Illinois defense settled in and allowed just 45 yards the rest of the half.

Illinois' lone first half score was on a Luke Altmyer 12-yard quarterback keeper that tied the game at 7-7. The Illini had other scoring opportunities thwarted by mistakes. An offensive pass interference call on Cole Rusk negated a pass completion for a first down inside the Wisconsin 20-yard line. One play later, David Olano missed a 37-yard field goal, his first miss inside the 40-yard line all season. Then a JC Davis holding call late in the half stymied an Illinois drive to get a score before the end of the half. A shanked, 30-yard punt by Keelan Crimmins allowed the Badgers to kick a field goal in the final seconds to go into intermission with a 10-7 lead.

After both teams punted on their first possessions of the second half, Darrion Dupree rushed for an 84-yard touchdown. It was the Badgers' longest scoring run of the season and, at 17-7 midway through the third quarter, gave them their highest point total in Big Ten play this season.

Illinois answered with a 24-yard field goal from Olano to close within 17-10, but more mistakes kept them from scoring more. After a Wisconsin punt, Altmyer was sacked on a third down play and then Crimmins was tackled for a 14-yard loss while trying to corral a low snap. That led to another Dupree touchdown and a 24-10 lead. The Badgers sophomore ended with 17 carries for 131 yards. Wisconsin rolled up a season-high 209 yards on the ground.

Illini offensive lineman Melvin Priestly was ejected after unsportsmanlike conduct calls on consecutive plays to finish off their final drive.

Altmyer finished 21 of 35 for 248 yards and failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time all season, breaking his streak of 15 consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass, dating back to the loss at Oregon in October, 2024.

Illinois looks ahead to hosting Northwestern next Saturday (6:30pm, FOX).

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage from Camp Randall Stadium.