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Wisconsin Badgers' win over Middle Tennessee State was historic in multiple ways

The Wisconsin Badgers had an unconventional blowout victory over Middle Tennessee State that found some surprising ways to make team history.
Lorin Cox|
Sep 6, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Vinny Anthony II (8) scores against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders during the second half at Camp Randall Stadium.
Sep 6, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Vinny Anthony II (8) scores against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders during the second half at Camp Randall Stadium. | Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images

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The Wisconsin Badgers had an unconventional blowout victory over Middle Tennessee State that found some surprising ways to make team history.

Despite the team's slow start, Danny O'Neil set a new team record for passing yards in his first start for the program.

Part of his success came on a 99-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter than ended with a wide open touchdown pass to Jayden Ballard.

That marked Wisconsin's first 99-yard scoring drive since Week 2 of 2003 in the team's home opener against Akron.

Against Middle Tennessee State, the Badgers ripped off touchdown runs on two end-around handoffs to wide receivers Trech Kekahuna and Vinny Anthony II.

It was the first time since 1995 that Wisconsin had two different wide receivers score a rushing touchdown in the same game.

And it was easy not to notice that the Badgers went the entire game without being flagged for a penalty. That marked the first game they were not penalized since 2016 when No. 10 Wisconsin beat the Hawkeyes 17-9.

Tight end Lance Mason broke onto the scene with seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown, becoming the first Badgers tight end to hit triple digits in a game since Troy Fumagalli in 2017.

It all looked more difficult than it needed to, but Wisconsin found a way to salvage a concerning start into a historic win.

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Lorin Cox
LORIN COX

Lorin Cox is the managing editor of Wisconsin Badgers on SI. He has been covering Badgers sports since 2014, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. He previously wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal, NBC Sports Chicago and USA Today Sports Media Group, and he is a former analyst for Pro Football Focus.

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