Studs and duds from Wisconsin Badgers 27-10 upset win over No. 21 Illinois

The Wisconsin Badgers got back to playing Wisconsin Badgers football in their upset win over No. 21 Illinois.

An explosive running game and a physical defense led the day for Luke Fickell's squad that looked a little more like the team did when Bret Bielema was on the home sideline.

Wisconsin is finally finding the winning formula, and it comes at just the right time against some of its biggest Big Ten rivals.

The Badgers still have plenty of room to keep getting better, but they had a lot to like from the win over the Illini.

Stud: RB Darrion Dupree

Dupree ripped off an 84-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that took the proverbial monkey off of the Badgers' back.

It was their first breakaway touchdown run of the season and the longest play from scrimmage on the year for Wisconsin.

UW has had plenty of injuries at the running back position (and along the offensive line) that have limited the ground game, but Dupree breaking free felt symbolic for the opening up of the offense as a whole after a season of struggles.

Longest rush for the #Badgers since Fickell's first game. Also Dupree is Wisconsin's first 100-yard rusher this year.
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) November 23, 2025

Then he punched it in a second time in the fourth quarter to extend the Badgers' lead and blow the game open.

His performance provided renewed hope that Wisconsin can get back to winning games by running the ball and playing strong defense.

Related: Badgers' 84-yard rushing TD vs Illinois has Wisconsin football back where it should be

Stud: LB Darryl Peterson

Peterson did a little bit of everything for the Badgers defense, making life more difficult for Illinois quarterback Luke Altmeyer.

He led Wisconsin with three sacks, one of which forced a fumble that was recovered by the offense.

Peterson also had a batted pass, a quarterback hurry and some key tackles in run defense.

He has grown into a major play-maker on the defense who is playing his best football in his final games with the program.

Senior Darryl Peterson’s stat line on Senior Day:
6 tackles
3 sacks
1 pass defensed
1 hurry
1 forced fumble #Badgers
— Lance Allan (@lanceallan) November 23, 2025

Dud: RT Emerson Mandell

The right side of the Badgers offensive line had communication issues, so it doesn't all fall on Mandell's shoulders.

But when an edge rusher comes unblocked off of the right side and straight to the quarterback, it's hard not to point the fingers at the right tackle.

Illinois has some strong pass rushers, but freshman quarterback Carter Smith was under pressure and on the run way too much in this game, and the right side of the line seemed to be the more troublesome side.

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Stud: Offensive Coordinator Jeff Grimes

The Badgers' offense is far from a well-oiled machine, but offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes had a solid day of play-calling to get the offense looking better than it has for a lot of the season.

Wisconsin's first touchdown came on a WR reverse to Vinny Anthony Jr. that had the defense fooled to cap off a 16-play drive that took over nine minutes off the clock.

Then he called the run that Dupree sprang free for 84 yards and the longest play of the season for the offense, before Grimes went to the wildcat for Dupree's second touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The play-caller kept the offense simple enough for freshman quarterback Carter Smith to keep the offense moving, without getting too basic or predictable for the defense to catch up to.

That was a kitchen-sink kind of drive from the #Badgers and OC Jeff Grimes. 16 plays, 80 yards, 9:30 on the drive. Lot of different looks and counters to what Wisconsin's shown in recent weeks.
— Colten Bartholomew (@CBartWSJ) November 23, 2025

Stud: LB Mason Reiger

Reiger didn't finish with the same eye-popping production as Peterson, but his disruption set up his teammates to finish plays with big tackles.

He did the dirty work that gave Illinois fits, and he still added an impressive sack of his own when he right around an Illini tight end on the way to a big hit on Altmeyer.

Reiger is a well-rounded disruptor, setting a firm edge in the running game and generating pressure wherever he lines up on passing downs.

This win was another strong performance that we've come to expect from him just about every week.

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