Wisconsin Badgers Fall to Maryland After Late Fourth Quarter Collapse

For the second time in three weeks, the Wisconsin Badgers suffered a late-game collapse, falling to the Maryland Terrapins in a stunning defeat in College Park.

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Wisconsin Badgers On SI reported that the Badgers allowed a 39-yard catch-and-run on a game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Ryan Hopkins was then strip-sacked on the ensuing two-minute drill, setting up Maryland’s go-ahead field goal.

The defeat carries heavy weight for head coach Luke Fickell’s squad, mirroring similar late-game struggles from last season and raising immediate questions about the direction of the program in Madison.

Despite getting banged up in the first half, linebacker Mason Posa set the tone for the Wisconsin defense all afternoon, finishing with 13 tackles, one sack, and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. also stepped up, making an acrobatic, fingertip snag in the back of the end zone on a crucial two-point conversion. That marked Hilton’s second two-point conversion in as many weeks following his first career touchdown catch against Rutgers.

Ryan Hopkins regressed in his second career start, finishing 11-of-22 passing for 77 yards against Maryland’s 91st-ranked passing defense. The offensive line struggled against Maryland’s talented front seven, allowing constant pressure that disrupted Hopkins’ timing and reads.

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Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes called a bewildering game, including a fourth-and-one hand-off to tight end Ryan Schwendeman that resulted in a fumble. Grimes also dialed up a timid hand-off to running back Darrion Dupree and a quarterback draw to Hopkins on separate third-and-long plays inside the red zone.

Wisconsin also elected to throw the ball on first-and-goal from the two-yard line, resulting in an incompletion before a pass interference penalty bailed out the offense. Cornerback Eric Fletcher Jr. took a difficult angle trying to intercept the pass that Preston Howard took to the house for Maryland’s game-tying touchdown, while running back Abu Sama remained largely an afterthought with just two carries.