LIVE BLOG: Follow Indiana's Football Game Against Wisconsin
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana football is back at Memorial Stadium Saturday for a Noon ET kickoff against coach Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers.
Welcome to our live blog, where we'll keep you updated with all the news and views in real time, with opinion and highlights thrown in as well, live from Memorial Stadium.
3:24 p.m. – Locke's pass on 4th and 15 is complete, but short of the first-down marker. The ball came out at the end for a possible fumble, but it doesn't matter because the clock ran out. FINAL: INDIANA 20, WISCONSIN 14
3:23 p.m. – Bell picks up a first down, which stops the clock momentarily with 30 seconds left. Aaron Casey sacks Locke on first down, and Wisconsin has to spike the ball with 13 seconds left.
3:22 p.m. – Locke's first-down pass was thrown deep near midfield, but fell incomplete. Badgers pick up three yards on second down, but the clock is running.
3:18 p.m. – Sorsby tried to work some magic on 3rd and 9, but he had nowhere to run. Chris Freeman nails a 50-yard field goal with 1:10 remaining. INDIANA 20, WISCONSIN 14
3:15 p.m. – Sorsby's pass to McCulley on 3rd and 13 sails out of bounds, but Wisconsin is flagged for pass interference. Not sure McCulley would have been able to catch that ball, but he was definitely interfered with. Indiana gets a fresh set of downs with 2:25 to play.
3:12 p.m. – Indiana narrowly avoids disaster, as Sorsby's pitch backward hit the turf, but he was quick to jump on it. Wisconsin calls timeout, trailing 17-14 with 2:30 left to play.
3:08 p.m. – On 3rd and 14 with about five minutes left in the game, Locke completed a pass to Bell for about 12 yards. He's short of the first-down marker, and Wisconsin is choosing to go for it, instead of kicking a 49-yard field goal. Locke had an open receiver who likely would have gotten the first down, but the throw sailed high. Indiana takes over on its own 32-yard line with 4:07 left.
3:03 p.m. – Indiana gets the ball back but does nothing with it. No gain from Henderson on a first-down run, Sorsby threw it out of bounds on second, and an incompletion on third down. Solid punt return from Wisconsin sets the Badgers up at their own 40-yard line with 7:14 to play.
2:57 p.m. – Locke's 3rd and 3 pass is broken up by true freshman Jordan Shaw. That's a huge play for the Indiana defense to force a Wisconsin punt. Indiana takes over with 8:09 left in the game on its own 43-yard line.
2:52 p.m. – But right after regaining possession, Indiana lost seven yards on first down and 10 yards on second down. So Indiana punts the ball right back.
2:50 p.m. – The officials overturn the call after review, saying the ball came out before the runner's knee was down. Aaron Casey jarred the ball loose for Indiana. Another huge play for the Indiana team captain. Indiana takes over on the Wisconsin 44.
2:47 p.m. – The Wisconsin runner was ruled down, but the ball popped out at some point. The entire Indiana defense thought they recovered. They're reviewing it.
2:42 p.m. – Sorsby's pass on 3rd and 8 is complete, but he threw it to tight end Trey Walker short of the sticks for just five yards. Indiana punts, and Wisconsin takes over at its 33-yard line.
2:36 p.m. – Indiana team captain and sixth-year linebacker Aaron Casey comes up with a big play when Indiana needed it most. He sacks Locke for a 10-yard loss, pushing Wisconsin back to the 33-yard line. Wisconsin purposely takes a delay of game penalty, pushing them back to the 38-yard line. Fickell must not trust his kicker on a 50-yard field goal, so Wisconsin punts.
2:31 p.m. – Locke pushes forward just enough on a QB sneak to get the first down. Through three quarters, Indiana leads 17-14. But Wisconsin is threatening to score, with the ball on the Indiana 18-yard line.
2:25 p.m. – Wisconsin hasn't had much success in the run game today, but they're starting to get a consistent push, with gains of 12, 6, 8 and 9 yards on this drive. Then on 3rd and 1, they faked a run up the middle and pitched it back around to Vinny Anthony for an 18-yard gain. Badgers are at the Indiana 30-yard line.
2:19 p.m. – Sorsby was immediately pressured by a group of Badgers on 3rd and 7, which leads to a 15-yard loss. The play started on the 34-yard line, so the sack puts Indiana out of field-goal range too. A 51-yard field goal would have been no guarantee, but now Indiana has to punt.
2:16 p.m. – McCulley was being held all the way on his deep route down the sideline, so Indiana will get 15 yards on a pass interference penalty.
2:14 p.m – Call overturned after review, and rightly so. The referee spotted him about a yard short of where he actually was. Indiana's drive continues, approaching midfield.
2:11 p.m. – McCulley made a lunging catch near the first-down marker. Watching live, it looked like he definitively got the first down, but he's marked short. That's a really bad spot, in my opinion. They're reviewing it.
2:04 p.m. – Wisconsin opens the second half with a 18-yard touchdown reception by Will Pauling. It looked like Indiana defensive back Jordan Shaw tripped, freeing Pauling in the end zone. We've got a game. INDIANA 17, WISCONSIN 14
2:00 p.m. – After review, there's no penalty for targeting. It looked like Mangum-Farrar may have dipped his head a bit, but not enough to warrant targeting. He didn't hit Locke all that hard, either, but officials ruled it egregious and late enough for roughing the passer. Wisconsin still gets the 15 yards, but Mangum-Farrar stays in the game.
1:57 p.m. – Locke's 3rd and 8 pass fell incomplete, though his receiver was open – just didn't turn around quick enough. However, Wisconsin gets a gift of a first down, as Jacob Mangum-Farrar was flagged for roughing the passer, a 15-yard penalty.
1:53 p.m. – Wisconsin receives the kickoff to start the second half. The Badgers obviously need a much better half offensively. Locke was 10-for-21 passing, and the run game never got going. The 54-yard touchdown accounted for nearly half of Wisconsin's total yardage in the first half.
1:35 p.m. – Indiana leads 17-7 at the half.
1:26 p.m. – And another really impressive play from McCulley gives Indiana a 7-yard touchdown. Sorsby threw it up where only McCulley could reach, then he sort of tipped the ball with one hand and ultimately came down with it. Just an incredibly athletic play. INDIANA 17, WISCONSIN 7
1:22 p.m. – After review, Donaven McCulley was hit as he caught the ball, but he managed to keep his elbow, knee and backside off the turf, then ran ahead for a 32-yard gain. Indiana nearing the red zone.
1:17 p.m. – An absolute backbreaker for Indiana on 3rd and 8. Locke fit a pass in a tight window Bryson Green, who broke free of the Indiana defense for a 54-yard touchdown on 3rd and 8. Pretty rough tackling for the Indiana defense there. That play accounts for nearly half of Wisconsin's total yardage today. INDIANA 10, WISCONSIN 7
1:12 p.m. – Wisconsin and Indiana trade three and outs. Badgers with just 52 yards of offense today. Looked like Sorsby's arm may have been hit on his third down pass.
1:05 p.m. – Sorsby overthrew Donaven McCulley in the end zone on 1st and goal, followed by a one-yard rush from Henderson. McCulley really had to jump and reach for Sorsby's pass on 3rd and goal, but he wasn't able to come down with it. Looked like he got both hands on it. Chris Freeman knocks in a 27-yard field goal. INDIANA 10, WISCONSIN 0
12:58 p.m. – After review, the call stands – Sorsby was down, no fumble. It looked really close on replay, but ultimately there wasn't enough to overturn the call. Indiana resumes its possession on the Wisconsin 29-yard line.
12:56 p.m. – Sorsby makes a nifty play to avoid the Wisconsin pass rush and pick up a first down with a 6-yard rush on 3rd and 3. Wisconsin will challenge the play, believing that Sorsby fumbled the ball before his knee was down. Sorsby was also a bit shaken up on the play, it seemed. James Thompson jarred it loose.
12:53 p.m. – Three Wisconsin possessions so far – two punts, a turnover on downs, and just 53 total yards. Indiana's defense doing its job so far. IU takes over on the Wisconsin 42-yard line, leading 7-0 with 11:20 left in the half.
12:49 p.m. – Wisconsin gets flagged for false start on 3rd and 7 "everyone but the center," bringing up 3rd and 12 from their own four-yard line. Indiana safety Phillip Dunnam breaks up Locke's pass, forcing another Wisconsin punt. The Indiana defense has played well so far today.
12:45 p.m. – Sorsby's 3rd and 5 pass is batted away. He tried to hit Lucas on a rollout, but didn't quite lead him enough, allowing the Wisconsin defender to get a hand on it. Indiana punts.
12:42 p.m. – Impressive play from Sorsby to convert 3rd and 7. He rolled left, then squared his shoulders to float a pass to DeQuece Carter down the sideline – a perfect combination of touch and accuracy.
12:40 p.m. – DeQuece Carter lined up as Indiana's punt returner there. He returned one punt for 28 yards in his four-year career at Fordham. Indiana searching for options there, as Jaylin Lucas and Camden Jordan have muffed punts in recent weeks.
12:37 p.m. – On 3rd and 13, Locke tried a really long throw to the far sideline, and fell incomplete. Wisconsin will punt again, with 54 yards of offense today.
12:31 p.m. – Indiana is wearing "RMK" helmet decals to honor Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Knight, who died Wednesday. They also had a moment of silence pregame.
12:28 p.m. – Sorsby's 3rd and 8 throw sails high and out of bounds. Indiana lost a yard on an outside run on 2nd down on a play that never had much of a chance. Chris Freeman missed a 43-yard field goal, so an overall solid drive from Indiana leads to no points. Chalk that up as a missed opportunity.
12:25 p.m. – Sorsby is off to a strong start, 5-for-5 passing and a rushing touchdown. His latest completion goes for one yard to Williams, which is enough for a first down. Indiana nearing the red zone.
12:21 p.m. – Sorsby is stopped short of a first down on a QB sneak, but Indiana will go for it on 4th and 1. They run a QB sneak again, and Sorsby gets it easily this time. Indiana is across midfield on its second drive.
12:17 p.m. – Looked like Lanell Carr got a hand on Locke's 4th and 3 pass, which fell short of his intended receiver. Indiana will take over with optimal field position at its own 42-yard line.
12:14 p.m. Braedyn Locke starting at QB for Wisconsin. Tanner Mordecai, the previous starter, was listed questionable today after breaking his hand a few weeks ago. A hands to the face penalty on Lanell Carr gives Wisconsin 15 free yards on their opening drive. Nic Toomer comes through with a sack a couple plays later.
12:08 p.m. – After a fake handoff, Sorsby kept it himself and beat the Wisconsin defense to the pylon. His rushing ability is definitely a strength Indiana wants to highlight, as long as he can avoid some of the hits he took last week. INDIANA 7, WISCONSIN 0
12:06 p.m. – Sorsby fumbled the ball on a fake handoff to Henderson, but he was able to recover before taking a substantial hit from Wisconsin. Indiana was trying to set up an option with Jaylin Lucas. Sorsby makes up for it with a first-down completion to E.J. Williams for 21-yards on a rollout. Indiana is in the red zone.
12:03 p.m. – Indiana's first first down of the game is a sharp throw from Sorsby to Omar Cooper Jr. near the sideline. Indiana is already at midfield on its first drive.
12:01 p.m. – A solid return from Jaylin Lucas sets Indiana up at its own 34-yard line to start the game. Brendan Sorsby starts the game at quarterback, as expected, though he was listed questionable pregame.
11:59 a.m. – Wisconsin won the toss and deferred, so Indiana will receive the opening kickoff. Here we go.
11:36 a.m. – I haven't seen Cam Camper warming up so far today, which would be a notable loss to Indiana at wide receiver. As for Wisconsin, running back Braelon Allen is not in uniform. That's a huge loss for the Badgers, who will be without someone who rushed for over 1,000 yards the last two seasons.
11 a.m. – On Indiana's pregame availability report, players listed out include safety Noah Pierre and cornerback Jamier Johnson. As for players listed questionable, those include quarterback Brendan Sorsby, wide receiver Cam Camper and offensive lineman Max Longman. The most notable name on this list is Sorsby, who is the presumed starting quarterback. Sorsby and Allen said he's fine this week, but clearly he's still feeling something from the hit he took to his shoulder last week against Penn State.
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