MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Utah State's Josh Thompson missed a 37-yard field goal with seconds remaining, allowing Wisconsin to hold on for a 16-14 victory Saturday night.
Thompson missed the kick wide right, preserving a win for the Badgers (2-1).
Trailing 14-3 at halftime, the Badgers got an 82-yard punt return from Kenzel Doe to begin their comeback, and Montee Ball scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 17-yard run late in the third quarter -- one of his 37 carries for 139 yards.
Utah State (2-1) built its first-half lead on a pair of touchdown passes from Chuckie Keeton, who was 18 of 34 for 181 yards.
Fast Facts
• Badgers win 18th-consecutive home game
• Last-minute FG miss halts Utah State rally
• Kenzel Doe's 82-yard punt return TD sparks Badgers
With Wisconsin leading 16-14, the Badgers' Drew Meyer shanked a punt to give the ball back to Utah State at the Wisconsin 45-yard line.
The Badgers' defense forced a punt, but Ball and the Badgers couldn't run out the clock and had to punt again.
Utah State took over on its own 32 with 1:38 left and no timeouts. Facing third-and-10 near midfield, Keeton was flushed out of the pocket and completed a 36-yard pass to Cameron Webb to put them in field goal range.
An offensive pass interference call backed Utah State up to the 30, but Keeton got 10 yards back - and Wisconsin burned a timeout with 29 seconds left.
After a short running play and a spike, Thompson - who didn't have a field goal attempt this season - missed the kick and a shot at the win.
The Badgers switched quarterbacks at halftime, with Joel Stave taking over for Danny O'Brien. But it took Doe's return to make it a game again, cutting the lead to 14-10 in the third quarter.
After a short punt by Utah State, Wisconsin put together a drive that finally included a third-and-short conversion by Ball.
Ball then found plenty of room to run on the left two plays later, scoring a 17-yard touchdown. The extra point attempt was blocked, and Wisconsin led 16-14 with 3:06 left in the third in what became the final margin.
The Aggies pounced on a blown coverage by the Badgers early on, as Keeton found Kerwynn Williams wide open for a 39-yard touchdown.
Wisconsin finally got a drive going late in the first quarter, but Ball was stuffed on third-and-goal from the 2 and the Badgers had to settle for a 19-yard field goal by Kyle French to cut the lead to 7-3 early in the second quarter.
French would miss a 36-yarder later in the quarter.
The Aggies, coming off a victory over in-state heavyweight rival Utah in overtime last week, struck again late in the half. Zach Virgil sacked O'Brien and caused a fumble, which Jake Doughty recovered at the Wisconsin 24.
Keeton then threw an 11-yard touchdown to Matt Austin, and Utah State took a 14-3 lead at the half.
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