2007 Wisconsin Badgers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2007 Wisconsin Badgers football Wisconsin Badgers logo.svg 125 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 21 24 9–4 5–3 Bret Bielema 2nd Paul Chryst 3rd Pro-style Mike Hankwitz 2nd 4–3 Tyler Donovan Matt Shaughnessy Jonathan Casillas Andy Crooks Ken DeBauche Ben Strickland Luke Swan 6th captain named each game Camp Randall Stadium Outback Bowl L 17–21 vs. Tennessee The 2007 Wisconsin Badgers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their second year under head coach Bret Bielema, the Badgers compiled a 9–4 record (5–3 in conference games), finished in fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 383 to 301.2007 Football Cumulative Statistics University of Wisconsin UWBadgers.com September 5, 2025 https://uwbadgers.com/sports/football/stats/2007 Against ranked opponents, the Badgers lost to No. 1 Ohio State and defeated No. 13 Michigan. They concluded the season with a 21–17 loss to No. 16 Tennessee in the Outback Bowl.2007 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Footbal September 5, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/2007-schedule.html They were ranked No. 24 and No. 21, respectively, in the final AP and Coaches polls. The team's statistical leaders included running back P. J. Hill (1,212 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns), quarterback Tyler Donovan (2,607 passing yards, 133.96 passer rating), tight end Travis Beckum (75 receptions for 982 yards), kicker Taylor Mehlhaff (105 points scored), and linebacker Jonathan Casillas (57 solo tackles, 96 total tackles). The team played its home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Schedule 2007 AP Central September 1 2:30 p.m. w y 7 Washington State Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI ABC 42–21 81,547 September 8 9:00 p.m. w y y 5 UNLV Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV Versus 20–13 38,250 September 15 11:00 a.m. w y 7 The Citadel Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI BTN 45–31 80,327 https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-a-high-five-effo/176677862/ Green Bay Press-Gazette A high-five effort September 16, 2007 July 14, 2025 Newspapers.com September 22 7:00 p.m. w 9 Iowa Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry ABC 17–13 82,630 September 29 2:30 p.m. w 9 Michigan State Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI ABC 37–34 82,164 October 6 11:00 a.m. l y 5 Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ESPN 26–31 57,078 October 13 2:30 p.m. l y 19 Penn State Beaver Stadium University Park, PA ABC 7–38 109,754 October 20 11:00 a.m. w y Northern Illinois Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI BTN 44–3 81,883 October 27 11:00 a.m. w y 25 Indiana Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI BTN 33–3 81,324 November 3 11:00 a.m. l y 19 Ohio State 1 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH BTN 17–38 105,449 November 10 11:00 a.m. w Michigan 13 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI ESPN 37–21 82,352 November 17 2:30 p.m. w y 24 Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN rivalry BTN 41–34 59,116 January 1, 2008 11:00 a.m. l y y 18 Tennessee 16 Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL Outback Bowl ESPN 17–21 60,121 Game-by-Game Statistics http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2007-2008/teamgbg.html University of Wisconsin-Madison 2011-10-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20110909033356/http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2007-2008/teamgbg.html 2011-09-09 dead Game summaries Washington State Cougars 14 0 7 0 Badgers 14 14 0 14 UNLV Badgers 0 9 0 11 Rebels 7 0 3 3 The Citadel Bulldogs 7 14 0 10 Badgers 7 14 10 14 Iowa Hawkeyes 0 10 0 3 Badgers 0 7 0 10 Michigan State Spartans 14 7 3 10 Badgers 7 20 7 3 Illinois 2007 Illinois Fighting Illini football team Badgers 0 6 13 7 Fighting Illini 7 10 7 7 Wisconsin's dreams of an undefeated season were snapped in Champaign-Urbana, as the Illini stunned the 5th ranked Badgers 31–25. A poor showing by the Badgers, combined with excellent efforts across the board for the Illini, sunk the Badgers, who fell to 2–1 in the Big Ten and 5–1 overall despite an incredible effort by QB Tyler Donovan, who completed 27 passes on 49 attempts for 392 yards and 2 TDs. Illinois's defense sacked Donovan twice and forced a pair of INTs (one by Vontae Davis, the other by Kevin Mitchell). Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall ran wild on the Badgers for 160 yards and 2 TDs on just 19 carries, and QB Juice Williams dissected Wisconsin through the air and on the ground. Williams completed 12 passes on 19 attempts for 121 yards, and ran for 92 yards on 14 carries. Penn State Badgers 7 0 0 0 Nittany Lions 10 14 7 7 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team Wisconsin RB P.J. Hill fumbled on his very first carry of the game, and Wisconsin simply collapsed in Happy Valley, losing 38–7 to Penn State. Wisconsin QB Tyler Donovan had a bad game, as he threw 2 INTs, was sacked 5 times, and averaged just 1.1 YPC on 11 carries. The Wisconsin defense, put in often impossible situations by the ineptitude of their offense (Wisconsin turned the ball over 3 times and committed 8 penalties), caved under pressure from Penn State. Wisconsin P Ken Debauche punted 6 times on the day. Penn State RB Rodney Kinlaw ran for 115 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, and WR Deon Butler caught 7 passes for 93 yards and the only passing touchdown of the day by either team. However, the leading receiver of the game was Wisconsin WR Kyle Jefferson, who caught 6 passes for 124 yards. Northern Illinois Huskies 0 0 3 0 Badgers 14 17 10 3 Indiana Hoosiers 0 3 0 0 Badgers 10 7 7 9 Ohio State 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team Badgers 3 0 14 0 Buckeyes 7 3 7 21 At one point in the game, Wisconsin led Ohio State 17–10, but a big 4th quarter from the Buckeyes offense and defense secured an eventual Ohio State victory. The game snapped a 2-game winning streak by the Badgers over Ohio State (from the 2003 and 2004 seasons) and improved Jim Tressel's record to 2–3 against Wisconsin. Michigan 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team Wolverines 0 7 0 14 Badgers 7 13 3 14 Wisconsin pounded Lloyd Carr's Michigan team 37–21 for their second consecutive home win over the Wolverines, and Bret Bielema's second win over a ranked opponent (his first was against Michigan State). Carr benched both QB Chad Henne and RB Mike Hart so they would both be healthy against Ohio State next week. Wisconsin rattled off 17 unanswered points to open the game; starting with a Travis Beckum touchdown reception off a 10-yard pass from Tyler Donovan, a Taylor Mehlhaff field goal, and a 2-yard TD run by Donovan. Michigan answered with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Mallett to WR Mario Manningham for their only score of the first half. Wisconsin got another Mehlhaff FG with 0:15 remaining in the half and led 20–7 at halftime. Both teams had a sluggish third quarter; the only points scored by either team came on a 19-yard FG by Taylor Mehlhaff for Wisconsin. However, Wisconsin and Michigan scored a pair of touchdowns apiece in the 4th quarter; Michigan getting a record setting 97-yard touchdown reception by Mario Manningham and a 26-yard TD pass from Mallett to WR Adrian Arrington and Wisconsin answering with a pair of touchdown runs by RB Zach Brown. Wisconsin's starting RB P.J. Hill managed a grand total of 14 yards on 5 carries. Zach Brown, his backup, ran for 108 yards on 28 carries with a pair of TDs. Wisconsin WR Paul Hubbard made 7 receptions for 134 yards, and TE Travis Beckum caught 6 passes for 106 yards with a touchdown reception. The Badgers improved to 8–3 on the year, and face 1-10 Minnesota next week in Minneapolis. With a win over Ohio State next week, Michigan could win the Big Ten outright. Minnesota Badgers 3 7 10 21 Golden Gophers 3 10 7 14 Tennessee Badgers 7 7 3 0 Tennessee 7 14 0 0 2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team 2008 Outback Bowl Personnel Roster 2007 Wisconsin Badgers f 9 Jr Travis Beckum TE y 68 Fr Gabe Carimi T y 43 Sr Andy Crooks TE C 12 Sr Tyler Donovan QB 39 So P. J. Hill TB y 19 Sr Paul Hubbard Paul Hubbard (wide receiver) WR y 1 Sr Luke Swan WR C 16 Fr Scott Tolzien QB y 63 Jr Kraig Urbik G y 2 Jr Jonathan Casillas LB y C 6 Sr Jack Ikegwuonu CB y 90 Jr Terrance Jamison DE y 11 Jr DeAndre Levy LB y 54 Jr Mike Newkirk DE y 7 FR Aaron Henry Aaron Henry (American football) DB y 3 Sr Ben Strickland CB C Fr Jay Valai DB y Fr Aubrey Pleasant DB y 94 Sr Ken DeBauche P y C 10 Sr Taylor Mehlhaff K y *Bret Bielema Paul Chryst – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Mike Hankwitz – Defensive coordinator Dave Doeren – Co-defensive coordinator/inside linebackers/recruiting coordinator Del Alexander – Wide receivers Bob Bostad – Tight ends/run game coordinator Kerry Cooks – Defensive backs Henry Mason – Associate head coach/wide receivers/assistant recruiting coordinator Randall McCray – Defensive line Bob Palcic – Offensive line John Settle – Running backs Regular starters PositionPlayerQuarterbackTyler DonovanRunning backP. J. HillFullbackChris PressleyWide receiverLuke SwanWide receiverPaul HubbardTight endTravis BeckumLeft tackleGabe CarimiLeft guardAndy KempCenter Marcus ColemanRight guardKraig UrbikRight tackleEric Vanden Heuvel PositionPlayerDefensive endMike NewkirkDefensive tackleJason ChapmanDefensive tackleNick HaydenDefensive endMatt ShaughnessyOutside linebackerDeAndre LevyMiddle linebackerElijah HodgeOutside linebackerJonathan CasillasCornerbackAllen LangfordStrong safetyAubrey PleasantFree safetyShane CarterCornerbackJack Ikegwuonu Team players selected in the 2008 NFL draft 2008 NFL draft Wisconsin Badgers Player Position Round Overall Selection NFL team Jack Ikegwuonu Cornerback 4 131 Philadelphia Eagles Taylor Mehlhaff Kicker 6 178 New Orleans Saints Nick Hayden Defensive tackle 6 182 Carolina Panthers Paul Hubbard Wide receiver 6 191 Cleveland Browns https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2008.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080501161755/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2008.htm 2008-05-01 2008 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com References Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin Badgers football seasons Wisconsin Badgers football