1962 Wisconsin Badgers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1962 Wisconsin Badgers football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 2 2 8–2 6–1 Milt Bruhn 7th Ron Vander Kelen Pat Richter Steve Underwood Camp Randall Stadium Big Ten champion Rose Bowl L 37–42 vs. USC The 1962 Wisconsin Badgers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wisconsin as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1962 Big Ten season. In their seventh year under head coach Milt Bruhn, the Badgers compiled an 8–2 record (6–1 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 285 to 88.1962 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Footbal June 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/1962-schedule.htmlWisconsin Football 2020 Fact Book University of Wisconsin 184 June 26, 2025 https://archive.org/details/wisconsin_202303/Wisconsin%20Football%2C%202020%20Media%20Guide/page/145/mode/1up The Badgers were ranked No. 2 in the final AP and UPI polls, both released in early December. This remains the highest season-ending ranking in program history.http://www.afca.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9300&ATCLID=639517 Year-by-year Final Coaches' Polls American Football Coaches Association January 14, 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110102020522/http://www.afca.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9300&ATCLID=639517 January 2, 2011 http://www.appollarchive.com/football/index.cfm Poll Archive Associated Press January 14, 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100525154117/http://www.appollarchive.com/football/index.cfm May 25, 2010 Wisconsin met No. 1 USC in the 1963 Rose Bowl, the first bowl game in college football history to pair the top two ranked teams in the nation.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EOoVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5852%2C211909 Milwaukee Sentinel Bochat Rel This is it! Badgers, USC in big one January 1, 1963 9, part 2 August 3, 2018 January 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200127051728/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EOoVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5852%2C211909 dead https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=azlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z-gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7070%2C83802 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Zimmermann Paul (Los Angeles Times) Badgers bent on bowl vengeance; Wisconsin winless in two classics January 1, 1963 12 The Badgers played home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin opened the season by crushing New Mexico State and then subdued Indiana 30–6. On October 13, they defeated Notre Dame 17–8, which gave them a number 10 ranking. The Badgers then defeated the Iowa 42–15, which moved them up to fifth. A 14–7 loss to Ohio State the following week dropped Wisconsin out of the polls (top ten only). On November 3, the Badgers defeated struggling Michigan on the road, 34–12. This set up following week's homecoming game versus No. 1 Northwestern at Camp Randall Stadium. Eighth-ranked Wisconsin soundly defeated Northwestern 37–6, and moved up to fourth in the next poll. A win at Illinois set up a No. 3 Wisconsin vs No. 5 Minnesota battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. Wisconsin won 14–9, securing the Big Ten title and the berth in the Rose Bowl, as well as a season-ending No. 2 ranking. At the time, the two major polls (AP, UPI) released their final editions prior to the bowl games, so Wisconsin's runner-up rank went unchanged after the bowl loss. However, the game was still a de facto national championship game as the winner would receive the Grantland Rice Trophy.Badgering Doesn’t Faze Richter: Wisconsin: One of the stars of 1963 Rose Bowl comeback returns as the school’s athletic director. Wolf Bob https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-29-sp-185-story.html March 29, 1990 October 7, 2024 Los Angeles TimesJenkins Dan https://vault.si.com/vault/1967/09/11/this-year-the-fight-will-be-in-the-open https://web.archive.org/web/20200924083031/https://vault.si.com/vault/1967/09/11/this-year-the-fight-will-be-in-the-open dead September 24, 2020 This Year The Fight Will Be In The Open Sports Illustrated September 11, 1967 January 23, 2024 Quarterback Ron Vander Kelen won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the most valuable player in the Big Ten, and end Pat Richter was a consensus first-team All-American. Schedule 1962 AP September 29 w y New Mexico State Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 69–13 40,495 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-bruhn-watches-61-b/169827310/ The La Crosse Tribune Bruhn watches 61 Badgers in 69–13 rout of Aggies September 30, 1962 April 7, 2025 Newspapers.com October 6 w Indiana Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 30–6 41,354 https://www.newspapers.com/article/palladium-item-wisconsins-badgers-whip/193930962/ The Palladium-Item and Sun-Telegram Wisconsin's Badgers whip Indiana's Hoosiers, 30–6 October 7, 1962 March 22, 2026 Newspapers.com October 13 w y Notre Dame Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 17–8 61,098 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-badgers-defeat-irish/193685174/ Omaha World-Herald Badgers defeat Irish, 17–8, as Richter stars October 14, 1962 March 22, 2026 Newspapers.com October 20 w 10 Iowa Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry 42–14 60,297 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-second-period-explos/193932592/ Council Bluffs Nonpareil Second period explosion buries Hawkeyes, 42–14 October 21, 1962 March 22, 2026 Newspapers.com October 27 l y 5 Ohio State Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 7–14 82,540 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-buckeyes-nip-wisconsin-1/193934174/ The Daily Pantagraph Buckeyes nip Wisconsin, 14–7 October 28, 1962 March 22, 2026 Newspapers.com November 3 w y Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI 34–12 53,789 U-M Scores, but -- Badgers Win, 34–12 Detroit Free Press Joe Falls November 4, 1962 1F https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38840572/um_scores_but_badgers_win_3412/ Newspapers.com November 10 w y 8 Northwestern 1 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 37–6 65,501 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-badgers-explode-s/193934669/ The La Crosse Tribune Badgers explode, shock top-ranked Wildcats 37–6 November 11, 1962 March 22, 2026 Newspapers.com November 17 w y 4 Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 35–6 36,762 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-wisconsin-virtuall/193932179/ Enquirer and News Wisconsin virtually earns Rose Bowl bid on 35–6 win November 18, 1962 March 22, 2026 Newspapers.com November 24 w 3 Minnesota 5 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry 14–9 65,514 https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-wisconsin-beats/193935098/ Green Bay Press-Gazette Wisconsin beats Gophers 14–9, wins Big 10 title November 25, 1962 March 22, 2026 Newspapers.com January 1, 1963 l y y 2 USC 1 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl 37–42 98,698 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news-battling-badgers-a/189653334/ The Indianapolis News Battling Badgers are hailed for heroic Rose Bowl finish January 2, 1963 March 22, 2026 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1962 Wisconsin) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/295114 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics March 22, 2026 Game summaries vs New Mexico State 1962 New Mexico State Aggies football team #fff #eee Wisconsin Badgers white;text-align:center; autocollapse New Mexico State Aggies (1–1) at Wisconsin Badgers (0–0) – Game summary September 29 Saturday 1:30 p.m. CDT Aggies 0 0 6 7 Badgers 13 21 35 0 Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI 40,495 Statistics NMSUWISC First downs 0 0 Plays–yards 0–0 0–0 Rushes–yards 0–0 0–0 Passing yards 0 0 Passing: comp Completions–att Attempts–int Interceptions 0–0–0 0–0–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 0:00 0:00 Team Category Player Statistics New Mexico State Passing Rushing Receiving Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving NMSU WISC collapsed 13 69 vs Indiana 1962 Indiana Hoosiers football team #fff #eee Wisconsin Badgers white;text-align:center; autocollapse Indiana Hoosiers (2–0) at Wisconsin Badgers (1–0) – Game summary October 6 Saturday 1:30 p.m. CDT Hoosiers 0 0 6 0 Badgers 7 7 10 6 Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI 41,354 Statistics IUWISC First downs 0 0 Plays–yards 0–0 0–0 Rushes–yards 0–0 0–0 Passing yards 0 0 Passing: comp Completions–att Attempts–int Interceptions 0–0–0 0–0–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 0:00 0:00 Team Category Player Statistics Indiana Passing Rushing Receiving Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving IU WISC collapsed 6 30 vs Notre Dame 1962 Notre Dame FIghting Irish football team #fff #eee Wisconsin Badgers white;text-align:center; autocollapse Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1–1) at Wisconsin Badgers (2–0) – Game summary October 13 Saturday 1:30 p.m. CDT Fighting Irish 0 0 0 8 Badgers 10 0 7 0 Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI 61,098 Statistics NDWISC First downs 0 0 Plays–yards 0–0 0–0 Rushes–yards 0–0 0–0 Passing yards 0 0 Passing: comp Completions–att Attempts–int Interceptions 0–0–0 0–0–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 0:00 0:00 Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving ND WISC collapsed 8 17 vs Iowa (Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry|Heartland Trophy) 1962 Iowa Hawkeyes football team Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry Heartland Trophy #fff #eee Wisconsin Badgers white;text-align:center; autocollapse Iowa Hawkeyes (2–1) at No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers (3–0) – Game summary October 20 Saturday 1:30 p.m. CDT Hawkeyes 7 7 0 0 No. 10 Badgers 0 28 14 0 Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI 60,297 Statistics IOWAWISC First downs 0 0 Plays–yards 0–0 0–0 Rushes–yards 0–0 0–0 Passing yards 0 0 Passing: comp Completions–att Attempts–int Interceptions 0–0–0 0–0–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 0:00 0:00 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving IOWA WISC collapsed 14 42 at Ohio State 1962 Ohio State Buckeyes football team #fff #eee Wisconsin Badgers white;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers (4–0) at Ohio State Buckeyes (2–2) – Game summary October 27 Saturday 12:00 p.m. CDT No. 5 Badgers 0 7 0 0 Buckeyes 7 0 0 7 Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH 82,540 Cloudy, wind SSW 15 mph, 44 F CBS Bill Flemming and Johnny Lujack Statistics WISCOSU First downs 12 16 Plays–yards 56–217 71–246 Rushes–yards 34–106 61–213 Passing yards 111 33 Passing: comp Completions–att Attempts–int Interceptions 7–22–0 3–10–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 0:00 0:00 Team Category Player Statistics Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving Ohio State Passing Rushing Receiving WISC OSU collapsed 1 1:11 Ohio State RecTD Warfield Sparma 21 good Van Raaphorst 0 7 2 5:31 Wisconsin RecTD Scott Vander Kleen 47 good Kroner 7 7 4 7:16 Ohio State RushTD Mummey 1 good Van Raaphorst 7 14 7 14 at Michigan 1962 Michigan Wolverines football team #fff #eee Wisconsin Badgers white;text-align:center; autocollapse Wisconsin Badgers (4–1) at Michigan Wolverines (1–4) – Game summary November 3 Saturday 12:30 p.m. CDT Badgers 7 7 0 20 Wolverines 12 0 0 0 Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI 53,789 Statistics WISCMICH First downs 0 0 Plays–yards 0–0 0–0 Rushes–yards 0–0 0–0 Passing yards 0 0 Passing: comp Completions–att Attempts–int Interceptions 0–0–0 0–0–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 0:00 0:00 Team Category Player Statistics Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving Michigan Passing Rushing Receiving WISC MICH collapsed 34 12 vs No. 1 Northwestern 1962 Northwestern Wildcats football team #fff #eee Wisconsin Badgers white;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 1 Northwestern Wildcats (6–0) at No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers (5–1) – Game summary November 10 Saturday 1:30 p.m. CST No. 1 Wildcats 0 0 0 6 No. 8 Badgers 7 3 21 6 Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI 65,501 Statistics NUWISC First downs 0 0 Plays–yards 0–0 0–0 Rushes–yards 0–0 0–0 Passing yards 0 0 Passing: comp Completions–att Attempts–int Interceptions 0–0–0 0–0–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 0:00 0:00 Team Category Player Statistics Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving NU WISC collapsed 6 37 at Illinois 1962 Michigan Wolverines football team #fff #eee Wisconsin Badgers white;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers (6–1) at Illinois Fighting Illini (1–6) – Game summary November 17 Saturday 1:30 p.m. CST No. 4 Badgers 21 7 7 0 Fighting Illini 0 6 0 0 Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL 36,762 Statistics WISCILL First downs 0 0 Plays–yards 0–0 0–0 Rushes–yards 0–0 0–0 Passing yards 0 0 Passing: comp Completions–att Attempts–int Interceptions 0–0–0 0–0–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 0:00 0:00 Team Category Player Statistics Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving WISC ILL collapsed 35 6 vs No. 5 Minnesota (Paul Bunyan's Axe) 1962 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry Paul Bunyan's Axe #fff #eee Wisconsin Badgers white;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 5 Minnesota Golden Gophers (6–1–1) at No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers (7–1) – Game summary November 24 Saturday 1:30 p.m. CST No. 5 Golden Gophers 0 6 3 0 No. 3 Badgers 0 7 0 7 Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI 65,541 Wisconsin Halts Minnesota, 14-9 https://www.nytimes.com/1962/11/25/archives/wisconsin-halts-minnesota-149-late-badger-score-clinches-big-ten.html The New York Times November 25, 1962 September 4, 2023Two Goofs Kill the Gophers https://vault.si.com/vault/1962/12/03/two-goofs-kill-the-gophers https://web.archive.org/web/20210616204215/https://vault.si.com/vault/1962/12/03/two-goofs-kill-the-gophers dead June 16, 2021 Sports Illustrated December 3, 1962 September 12, 2023 Statistics MINNWISC First downs 0 0 Plays–yards 0–0 0–0 Rushes–yards 0–0 0–0 Passing yards 0 0 Passing: comp Completions–att Attempts–int Interceptions 0–0–0 0–0–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 0:00 0:00 Team Category Player Statistics Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving MINN WISC collapsed 9 14 vs No. 1 USC—1963 Rose Bowl 1962 USC Trojans football team 1963 Rose Bowl #fff #eee Wisconsin Badgers white;text-align:center; autocollapse 1963 Rose BowlNo. 2 Wisconsin Badgers (8–1) vs. No. 1 USC Trojans (10–0) – Game summary January 1, 1963 Tuesday 3:45 p.m. CST No. 2 Badgers 7 0 7 23 No. 1 Trojans 7 14 14 7 Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA 98,698 James Cain (AAWU) NBC Mel Allen and Bill Symes Statistics WISCUSC First downs 0 0 Plays–yards 0–0 0–0 Rushes–yards 0–0 0–0 Passing yards 0 0 Passing: comp Completions–att Attempts–int Interceptions 0–0–0 0–0–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 0:00 0:00 Team Category Player Statistics Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving USC Passing Rushing Receiving WISC USC collapsed 37 42 Statistics and awards The Badgers gained an average of 144.3 passing yards and 172.7 rushing yards per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 122.3 passing yards and 110.0 rushing yards per game.1962 Wisconsin Badgers Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 25, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/1962.html After missing the 1961 season due to injury and being declared academically ineligible in 1962, quarterback Ron Vander Kelen won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference and was also selected as Wisconsin's most valuable player.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174341/index.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20100917135029/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174341/index.htm dead September 17, 2010 Vander Kelen Sports Illustrated September 9, 2010 John Underwoord July 4, 2011Wisconsin Football 2020 Fact Book, p. 140. During the 1963 season, Vander Kelen completed 91 of 168 passes (54.2%) for 1,181 yards, 12 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 128.5. He also finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Senior end Pat Richter tallied 38 receptions for 531 yards and five touchdowns. He was a consensus first-team pick on the 1962 All-America team and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting for 1962. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. Halfback Ralph Kurek led the team with 367 rushing yards. Richter and guard Steve Underwood were the team captains.Wisconsin Football 2020 Fact Book, p. 145. Seven Wisconsin players received first-, second- or third-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press International (UPI) on the 1963 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Richter at end (AP-1, UPI-1); Vander Kelen at quarterback (AP-1, UPI-1); Roger Pillath at tackle (AP-2, UPI-3); Steve Underwood at guard (AP-2, UPI-3); Jim Schenk (AP-2, UPI-3); Lou Holland at halfback (AP-3, UPI-3); and Don Carlson at end (AP-3).Gophers Ring the Bell The Blade, Toledo, Ohio (AP story) 24 November 27, 1962 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19621127&id=hv1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LAEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5933,3324883Spartans Saimes and Behrman Get All-Big Ten Team Berths; Bell-Richter, Unanimous Joe Mooshil The Owosso Argus-Press (AP story) November 27, 1962 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1978&dat=19621120&id=wDsiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IqsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2954,5201566Pick Big Ten All-Star Squad Galesburg Register-Mail November 27, 1962 12 https://www.newspapers.com/image/2315535/?terms=cvercko%2Bwarfield%2Bcoaches Junior center Ken Bowman played ten seasons with the Green Bay Packers, winning three consecutive NFL titles under head coach Vince Lombardi. Roster E Pat Richter QB Ron Vander Kelen 1963 NFL draft Wisconsin Badgers Player Position Round Pick NFL club Pat Richter End 1 7 Washington Redskins Gary Kroner Back 7 93 Green Bay Packers https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1963.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071223114147/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1963.htm 2007-12-23 1963 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com No Wisconsin Badgers were selected in the 1963 American Football League draft. References Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin Badgers football seasons Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Wisconsin Badgers football