What looked like a runaway victory after two-and-a-half quarters turned into a lesson learned as Wisconsin hung on to beat Northern Iowa 26-21 in front of 79,568 at Camp Randall. 
"I made reference to our guys and told them that any win is a good win, but on the same account, what we learned today is probably one of the most beneficial teaching tools we could ever secure," said Badgers head coach Bret Bielema in a post game press conference.
"A lot of cred should go to Northern Iowa. I've said it before, but I think they are probably the best FCS team we've faced," he continued.
Lessons began to be taught early on for Wisconsin, who could never pull away and allowed the Panthers to stay in the game too long.
The Badgers went straight to work to open the game, piecing together a 14-play, 61 yard drive, that ended in a 32-yard field goal by Kyle French giving Wisconsin a 3-0 lead, a score that would stick until midway through the second quarter.
Wisconsin stretched its lead to 6-0 when French connected again, thie time, from 35-yards out.
The Badgers found the end zone when Danny O'Brien hooked up with Jared Abbrederis on a 10-yard pass to make it 13-0 heading into halftime.
The second half appeared to be more of the same in the early going as the Panthers continued to struggle moving the ball and Wisconsin opened up with an 8 play, 60 yard drive, that ended with a 1 yard Montee Ball touchdown.
Up 19-0 the fans began to see this game as out of hand, but those who stuck around were treated to a heck of a game as Northern Iowa came storming back.
After their 4th 3 & out of the game they gave the Badgers a bit of their own medicine on a 13 play, 75 yard drive, that ended on a Sawyer Kollmorgen pass to Chad Owens for the first score of the game for the Panthers.
Wisconsin didn't open up the offense much but when they did O'Brien showcased his ability to chuck it deep, hooking up with Jared Abbrederis on a 53 yard touchdown pass early in the 4th quarter to make it a 26-7 game for the Badgers.
Abbrederis finished the game with 6 cacthes for 84 yards and the two touchdowns.
That's when things got interesting as the defense began to let up a bit and the Panthers pounced scoring on two long passes to running back David Johnson for scores (55yds and 31 yards) that moved the game to 26-21 with just 7:24 remaining in the game.
UNI head coach Mark Farley saw his squad begin to win the battles up front, the rest seemed fall in place.
"We started winning the line of scrimmage, I thought our offensive line started to protect and and gave Sawyer time," Farley said. " I thought our receivers started to make some great catches for him and finishing plays."
The Badgers went three and out on their next possession, leaving the door open for the Panthers to complete their comeback.
With a shade over five minutes remaining in regulation, UNI began with the ball at their own 25-yard line. A trio of completions brought the Panthers to the Wisconsin 41 yard-line, where they faced 4th and 1.
Ethan Hemer deflected Kollmorgen's pass attempt, effectively ending the threat.
Ball picked up 24 yards rushing in the final 2:46 to help the Badgers put the victory on ice.
Defensively, MIke Taylor led the way for Wisconsin with 13 tackles. Wilmot Wellington and Garrett Scott each recorded 15 for Northern Iowa.
O'Brien would finish the game 19-23 for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns (both to Abbrederis). Asked to grade his play O'Brien responded with a simple "I would grade it as a W."
That's about as fitting a way to put how this game turned out for Wisconsin – a W is a W – and lessons will be learned as the Badgers head west to face Oregon State next weekend in what will be the Beavers first game of the 2012 season.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
