MADISON (Interstat) — Wisconsin scored in every quarter and defeated Western Illinois 36-9 in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at Camp Randall Stadium. The Badgers evened their season record at 1-1, while the Leathernecks dropped to 1-2.

The Badgers struck on their first possession when Abu Sama III rushed up the middle for a 72-yard touchdown. The play was a first-down run, and Gavin Lahm made the extra point. Lahm later added a 30-yard field goal as Wisconsin built an early cushion. Western Illinois answered with a Ronan Culkin 27-yard field goal before the first quarter ended. The Leathernecks struggled to sustain drives but remained within striking distance because of Culkin’s leg.

Wisconsin continued to lean on its kicking game in the second quarter. Lahm converted a 49-yard field goal. Culkin connected again from 27 yards for Western Illinois, and Lahm closed the first-half scoring with a 51-yard field goal. The Badgers took a double-digit lead into halftime and kept the Leathernecks from reaching the end zone.

Western Illinois threatened in the third quarter when Kennedy McGill completed a short pass to T. Zolnosky. The pass was caught at the Wisconsin 1 and reached the end zone for an apparent 1-yard touchdown, but the play was nullified by a holding penalty. The Leathernecks settled for Culkin’s 34-yard field goal. Wisconsin responded with Darrion Dupree’s 28-yard touchdown run up the middle, and Lahm’s extra point restored a two-score margin.

In the fourth quarter, Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph found Chris Brooks Jr. on a short pass to the right. Brooks caught the ball at the Western Illinois 33 and went 33 yards for a touchdown. Lahm’s extra-point attempt failed, but the Badgers remained in control. Wisconsin added another touchdown later in the quarter to complete the 36-9 victory. Western Illinois, which moved the ball in spurts, could not find the end zone. The Leathernecks’ nine points all came on Culkin field goals.

Wisconsin’s special teams and ground game did much of the early work. Lahm made three field goals and multiple extra points. Abu Sama III and Dupree each broke free for long touchdown runs. Joseph added a scoring pass to Brooks. Western Illinois, meanwhile, leaned on Culkin, who made three field goals and accounted for all of the Leathernecks’ points. The Leathernecks’ offense moved into scoring range several times but could not finish drives with touchdowns.

The Leathernecks’ defense forced Wisconsin into field goals early, but the Badgers’ speed eventually produced touchdowns. Western Illinois’ best drive came in the third quarter, when McGill moved the offense near the goal line. The holding penalty wiped out the score and forced the Leathernecks to settle for three points.

Western Illinois’s listed key performers included defensive back Aa’zoriyon Bonner, from Sandusky, Ohio, 6-foot-3, 180 pounds; Cody Moss; receiver Christian Garrett, from Washington, D.C., 6-foot-3, 185 pounds; linebacker Nick Reinicke, from Dike, Iowa, 6-foot-4, 235 pounds; receiver Aric Johnson, from Aurora, Ill., 6-foot-1, 210 pounds; receiver Cam Edwards, from Louisville, Ky., 200 pounds; and receiver Petey Tucker, from Hyattsville, Md., 6-foot-2, 195 pounds.

Other listed contributors for the Leathernecks included Xavier Coleman, Jacob Kania, Cornell Conely, Israel Hiraldo, Josh Robinson, running back Avery Knight, from Chandler, Ariz., 6-foot-0, 185 pounds; running back Ihson Jackson-Anderson, from Flint, Mich., 5-foot-11, 182 pounds; quarterback Cason Carswell, from Mason, Mich., 6-foot-3, 190 pounds; Kennedy McGill, punter Luke Droegemueller, from Cumming, Ga., 6-foot-1, 180 pounds; Ronan Culkin, defensive lineman Cidney Johnson, from Baltimore, Md., 6-foot-4, 230 pounds; linebacker Anthony Stribling, from Pittsburgh, Pa., 6-foot-0, 225 pounds; Jamesly Jean Louis, Brayden Hapner, Alexie Sangster, defensive back DonPaul Keith, from River Rouge, Mich., 6-foot-1, 180 pounds; Tysean Griffin, defensive lineman Elijah Kongolo, from Long Island, N.Y., 6-foot-4, 230 pounds; Antonio Dobbins, Elia Ofosu, defensive back Jouvenson Romulus, from Hyde Park, Mass., 6-foot-2, 190 pounds; Jake Kruger and linebacker Justin Buckner, from Chicago, Ill., 5-foot-11, 205 pounds.

Wisconsin’s listed key performers included quarterback Colton Joseph, from Newport Beach, Calif., 6-foot-2, 200 pounds; kickers Sean West, from Mequon, Wis., 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, and Gavin Lahm, from Kaukauna, Wis., 6-foot-0, 213 pounds; defensive back Carson Van Dinter, from Kaukauna, Wis., 6-foot-3, 210 pounds; tight end Jacob Harris, from Westerville, Ohio, 6-foot-4, 245 pounds; cornerback Cairo Skanes, from Asheville, N.C., 6-foot-2, 190 pounds; and defensive back Marvin Burks Jr., from St. Louis, Mo., 6-foot-1, 201 pounds.

The Badgers’ list also included linebackers Thomas Heiberger, from Sioux Falls, S.D., 6-foot-4, 227 pounds; Tyreese Fearbry, from Pittsburgh, Pa., 6-foot-5, 227 pounds; Sebastian Cheeks, from Skokie, Ill., 6-foot-3, 220 pounds; and Cooper Catalano, from Richfield, Wis., 6-foot-1, 223 pounds; defensive lineman Dillan Johnson, from Plainfield, Ill., 6-foot-2, 293 pounds; safety Matthew Jung, from Neenah, Wis., 6-foot-3, 225 pounds; defensive back Javan Robinson, from Apopka, Fla., 6-foot-0, 170 pounds; receiver Eugene Hilton Jr., from Zionsville, Ind., 6-foot-0, 201 pounds; Chris Brooks Jr. and Nate Palmer.

The Leathernecks entered the game after a 65-14 home win over Northwestern of Iowa on Aug. 27 and a 41-10 home loss to Illinois State on Sept. 5. Western Illinois will return home to face Morehead State on Sept. 19 before beginning a stretch of road games at North Alabama on Sept. 26. The Leathernecks then host Tennessee State on Oct. 3, visit Southeast Missouri State on Oct. 17, host Tennessee-Martin on Oct. 24, visit Charleston Southern on Oct. 31, visit Eastern Illinois on Nov. 7, host Gardner-Webb on Nov. 14 and visit Lindenwood on Nov. 21.

Wisconsin opened its season with a 41-13 loss at Notre Dame on Sept. 6. The Badgers will host Eastern Michigan on Sept. 19 before traveling to Penn State on Sept. 26. Wisconsin then hosts Michigan State on Oct. 3, visits UCLA on Oct. 17, hosts Southern California on Oct. 24, visits Iowa on Oct. 31, hosts Rutgers on Nov. 7, visits Maryland on Nov. 14, visits Purdue on Nov. 21 and hosts Minnesota on Nov. 27.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Wisconsin 34, Western Illinois 19. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Wisconsin with a 99.3 percent probability to win.