For a matchup that looked like a mismatch on paper, No. 23 Washington spent most of the first half making life far more difficult than it needed to be. The Huskies entered Camp Randall Stadium as big favorites over a 2–6 Wisconsin team that has struggled to move the ball all season, yet the opening 30 minutes were defined by stalled drives, mental lapses, and injuries that left the Huskies searching for stability on both sides of the ball.
The tone was set early. Washington sliced into Badger territory in just three plays on its opening drive, only to stall on a 4th-and-short when Denzel Boston was hit short of the sticks on a questionable play call.