Replay: LSU 35, Wisconsin 31 in the ReliaQuest Bowl

Tanner Mordecai’s final game was one of the most prolific ever for a Wisconsin Badgers quarterback. It just didn’t result in a win.

The senior completed 27 of 40 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-31 loss to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl Monday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. His passing yards were the fifth-highest single-game total in Badgers history.

The effort almost allowed UW (7-6) to upset the 13^th-ranked Tigers, who rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to win.

Here's how the game unfolded in reverse chronological order.

Wisconsin, LSU combined for 998 total yards

The complete stats can be found here.

LSU defense bends but doesn't break on UW's final possession

Down, 35-31, with 3 minutes to go, the Badgers drove 60 yards in eight plays to the LSU 19.

Then everything fell apart.

Second and 2, LSU 19 - UW quarterback Tanner Mordecai fumbled as he was sacked. Receiver Vinny Anthony recovered the ball the not before the Badgers lost 13 yards on the play.

Third and 14, LSU 32 – Mordecai sacked for a 10-yard loss.

Fourth and 25, LSU 43 – Mordecai dropped for a sack and 3-yard loss, fumbling in the process. LSU recovers Game over.

Final: LSU, 35, Wisconsin 31.

Garrett Nussmeier’s third TD pass gives LSU lead

Wisconsin had LSU pinned deep, but gave up an eight-play, 98-yard touchdown drive that took 3:02 off the clock.

Back-to-back passes from Garrett Nussmeier of 37 yards to Kyren Lacy and 43 yards to Chris Hilton Jr. gave the Tigers a first down at the Badgers 7.

Two plays later Nussmeier hit Brian Thomas Jr. gave LSU its first lead of the afternoon.

Score: LSU 35, Wisconsin 31, 3:08 fourth quarter

Atticus Bertrams, Will Pauling pin LSU deep in UW territory

UW special teams deliver with 35-yard punt from Atticus Bertrams that Pauling downed at the LSU 2. The Tigers take over with 6:10 left in the fourth quarter.

The statistics through three quarters

Nathanial Vakos FG gives Badgers lead

UW QB Tanner Mordecai is 5 yards away from his first 300-yard game of the season. Three of his completions have gone for at least 35 yards.

The latest, a 36-yard gain to Bryson Green, set up Nathanial Vakos’ 21-yard field goal with 1:18 left in the third quarter.

Green’s catch gave Wisconsin a first and goal from the 1, but Mordecai was dropped for a 5-yard loss on second down and Jackson Acker gained just 3 yards over the next two plays. Wisconsin was forced to kick the field goal.

Score: Wisconsin 31, LSU 28, 1:18 third quarter.

Garrett Nussmeier strikes again, LSU ties game

Not counting the end of the first half, LSU has scored touchdowns on four of its last five possessions.

The latest came on a 14-yard pass Garrett Nussmeier lobbed to Chris Hilton Jr. with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter. Hilton got one foot in bounds on the play, a call that stood after a replay review.

Here are Nussmeier’s numbers so far: 25 of 34 for 293 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Score: Wisconsin 28, LSU 28

Garrett Nussmeier goes deep, LSU cuts into Badgers lead

Wisconsin allowed just two gains of 20 yards or longer in the first half. It took LSU just five plays to get an explosive gain in the second quarter.

Garrett Nussmeier went over the top of the Badgers' defense for a 38-yard touchdown pass to Brian Jones Jr. The extra point that followed cut Wisconsin’s lead to 28-21 with 10:33 left in the third quarter.

Score: Wisconsin 28, LSU 21, 10:33 third quarter.

With Jackson Acker’s TD, UW doubles up LSU

This is exactly what you want to happen when your team has the ball first in the second half.

The Badgers closed the first half with a touchdown drive that broke a 14-14 tie. They opened the second half with an eight-play, 75-yard possession that took 2:46 off the clock.

Jackson Acker closed that possession with his longest run of the season, a 33-yard touchdown during which he that he cut back and then used his speed to run away from the Tigers secondary.

Earlier in the drive Acker came on for Cade Yacamelli, who was hobbled after a 6-yard gain on the second play of the possession. Left tackle Jack Nelson also went down during the possession – he left the field under his own power – and was replaced by Nolan Rucci for the rest of that drive.

Score: Wisconsin 28, LSU 14, 12:14 third quarter

Ricardo Hallman gets seventh interception of season

After UW took a 21-14 lead with 47 seconds left in the first half sophomore cornerback Ricardo Hallman picked off his seventh pass of the season and returned the ball 10 yards to the LSU 45.

Hallman made a great break on a ball thrown to the middle of the field, beating Brian Thomas Jr. to spot for the ball.

Though the Badgers didn’t capitalize on the turnover, it denied LSU’s offense, which heated up late second quarter, one last chance to put points on the board before the half.

The Badgers get the ball first in the second half.

Here is a look at the first half statistics

Tanner Mordecai masterful in 2-minute offense

At the end of the first half, Tanner Mordecai has completed 14 of 20 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns. He entered play with six TD passes for the season

His work during the final 2 minutes sparked the Badgers to a 21-14 lead at the break. He completed 5 of 5 passes for 60 yards o that possession. He used his feet to extend plays on a 22-yard gain to Trech Kekahuna that gave the Badgers a first and goal on the 9 as well as on the 9-yard touchdown pass to Will Pauling with 47 seconds left in the half.

Score: Wisconsin 21, LSU 14, 47 seconds second quarter

Back-to-back TD drives allow LSU to tie game

The early momentum Wisconsin enjoyed is gone. LSU gained 127 yards in 15 plays in its last two possessions.

Harold Perkins Jr. capped the first of those possessions with a 1-yard TD run.

Kaleb Jackson finished off the second of those possessions with a 12-yard touchdown run, which after Damian Ramos’ extra point, tied the game with 1:28 left in the first half.

Score: Wisconsin 14, LSU 14, 1:28 second quarter

Sideline catch aids LSU's first TD drive

LSU's Harold Perkins Jr, completed an eight-play, 60-yard drive midway through the second quarter with a 1 yard run that, with the extra point, cut the Badgers' lead to 14-7.

But the play UW fans may have wanted to get a closer look at came earlier in the drive.

LSU had a first-and-10 situation at UW 47, Tigers QB Garrett Nussmeier completed a 21-yard pass to Kyren Lacy along the sideline. It was the kind of play that usually merits a second look, but LSU hurried to the line and snapped the ball before UW could give much thought to challenging the play.

To be honest, the replays shown on TV didn’t provide any conclusive evidence that the play wasn’t a catch but it was really close.

Score: Wisconsin 14, LSU 7, 6:00 second quarter

A look at some of the first quarter numbers

Here is look at some of the first quarter stats. The lesson here is that time of possession is sometimes overrated.

______________________UW___________LSU

Score_________________ 14____________ 0

Rushing yards ________20____________11

Passing yards_________127___________82

Time of possession___4:51__________10:09

Big-play Badgers do it again

It’s early but Wisconsin looks like the better team so far.

The Badgers needed just two plays to reach the end zone for a second time. Tanner Mordecai and Will Pauling connected on a 60-yard scoring play with 23 seconds left in the first quarter, but Pauling did most of the work. The redshirt sophomore made two tacklers miss on the slant and waltzed into the with ease.

Score: Wisconsin 14, LSU 0, 23 seconds first quarter

Tanner Mordecai is on target on UW's first drive

Tanner Mordecai starts the game in impressive fashion.

He went 3 for 3 on the Badger's first possession for 73 yards. He hit Will Pauling for a 12 yards on a third-and-5 play, then connected with Pauling for a 41-yard gain along the sideline. That set up a first down at the LSU 20. This time Mordecai went to the right side of the field where he found Bryson Green for a touchdown. Mordecai showed nice touch on that throw to get the ball over the reach of the defensive back.

Score: Wisconsin 7, LSU 0, 8:28 first quarter

Wisconsin vs LSU football game time

The Badgers and Tigers kick off the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa at 11 a.m.

What channel is Wisconsin vs. LSU Monday?

• TV: ESPN2

• Stream: You can stream the game on the ESPN App through your television or streaming carrier. FUBOTV also offers a free trial.

• The announcing team of Brian Custer (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst) and Lauren Sisler (field reporter) will call the action.

How can I listen to the Wisconsin vs. LSU game on the radio?

• Radio: FM-97.3 and AM-920 in Milwaukee and AM-1310 and FM-101.5 in Madison, plus a statewide network of stations.

Matt Lepay (play-by-play), Mark Tauscher (analyst) and Patrick Herb (sideline reporter) will be on the call for the game

More: What channel is Wisconsin vs. LSU on Monday? Time, TV, streaming, odds for Badgers' game vs. Tigers in ReliaQuest Bowl

Wisconsin vs. LSU predictions by Journal Sentinel reporters

Jeff Potrykus: LSU 31, Wisconsin 21

Mark Stewart: LSU 27, Wisconsin 14

Take a closer look at our reasoning for the picks.

Wisconsin 2023 football schedule

LSU 2023 football schedule

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin vs. LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl, score, game updates, TV