LSU football vs. Wisconsin score, highlights: Tigers win 35-31 in ReliaQuest Bowl

LSU football entered the second quarter in a difficult situation, down 14-0 to Wisconsin on Monday in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

With the Badgers moving the ball at ease, things looked down for the No. 13 Tigers. But in the end LSU's offense — paired with timely plays from its typically shaky defense — resulted in its second consecutive 10-win season under coach Brian Kelly.

REQUIRED READING: Here's how No. 13 LSU rallied to beat Wisconsin without Heisman winner in Reliaquest Bowl

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, starting in place of Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, was electric against Wisconsin, completing 31 of 45 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns. He also led a game-winning drive, which ended in a four-yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr. with just over three minutes remaining.

The Tigers (10-3, 6-2 SEC) fought off a valiant effort from Badgers (7-6, 5-4 Big Ten) quarterback Tanner Mordecai, who threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon.

Perhaps the most important sequence for LSU came near the end of the game, as the Tigers sacked Mordecai on three consecutive plays. Wisconsin made it all the way to LSU's 27-yard line with under two minutes to go still needing a touchdown to claim the lead, before LSU swarmed Mordecai and forced a fumble to effectively end the game.

Nussmeier hopes his efforts were enough to earn him the starting gig next season, as the Tigers hope to improve their defense and maintain their electrifying offense.

Here are the updates and highlights from LSU's ReliaQuest Bowl victory over Wisconsin on Monday:

More: Malik Nabers receiving yards record: LSU WR sets Tigers' all-time career mark

LSU vs. Wisconsin score

LSU vs. Wisconsin live updates, highlights

Final: LSU 35, Wisconsin 31

Fourth quarter

2:36 p.m: Another sack! Tigers' Greg Penn III gets to Mordecai and forces a fumble, recovered by Da'Shawn Womack. That's the ballgame, folks.

2:35 p.m.: LSU defense coming up big again. Tigers get back-to-back sacks by Jordan Jefferson and Mekhi Wingo to set Wisconsin at fourth-and-25.

2:33 p.m.: Wisconsin makes it inside LSU territory. Getting interesting.

2:31 p.m.: Wisconsin isn't going away, as the Badgers are driving. Wisconsin needs a touchdown with under two minutes to go to stay alive.

2:30 p.m.: Nussmeier making a strong case to be QB1 next year, as he has completed 31 of 45 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns so far.

Touchdown, LSU: Tigers 35, Wisconsin 31

2:27 p.m.: Touchdown, LSU. Tigers gain their first lead of the afternoon on Nussmeier's four-yard touchdown to Brian Thomas Jr.

2:25 p.m.: Make that another long gain. Next play, Nussmeier throws to Brian Thomas Jr. for 43 yards. Tigers now knocking on the door.

2:24 p.m.: Huge gain for LSU as Nussmeier hits Kyren Lacy for 37 yards. That could get the drive going.

2:20 p.m.: Bit of a gutsy call to throw a deep shot pinned at your own goal line. Nussmeier attempts deep but it's incomplete. LSU then picks up the first down regardless on back-to-back rushes by Josh Williams.

2:16 p.m.: Not much room to work with for the Tigers, as Wisconsin's punt is downed at LSU's own 2-yard line.

2:15 p.m.: Huge sack by Mekhi Wingo on third-and-10 forces a Badgers punt. LSU defense stepping up big.

2:13 p.m.: LSU forces a third-and-8, but Mordecai passes to Kekahuna for a 24-yard gain. Badgers now at LSU's 34-yard line.

2:11 p.m.: Wisconsin starts with great field position at its own 41-yard line after the punt.

2:07 p.m.: LSU goes three-and-out after Nussmeier's pass on third-and-4 falls incomplete. Tigers going to need their defense to step up again.

2:02 p.m.: Necessary stop for LSU, who forces a Wisconsin punt on fourth-and-2. Tigers take over at their own 13-yard line.

2 p.m.: LSU allows a 12-yard run on third-and-6. Not ideal.

1:57 p.m.: LSU can't pick up the third down and punts. The Tigers' leaky defense likely can't allow a score here.

1:54 p.m.: LSU heads to the fourth quarter facing a 31-28 deficit but has the ball at third-and-15 after the TV timeout.

Third quarter

1:49 p.m.: Nice run for LSU's Noah Cain, who gains 12 on the up-the-middle run.

Field goal, Wisconsin: Badgers 31, LSU 28

1:46 p.m.: Wisconsin takes the lead, but LSU will definitely take allowing a field goal there instead of a touchdown. The Tigers' goal-line stand results in three points instead of seven.

1:43 p.m.: This game is as back and forth as it gets. Second play of Wisconsin's drive, Mordecai throws to Bryson Green for 31-yard gain to the one-yard line. Badgers started with great field position following the LSU penalty on the kickoff.

Touchdown, LSU: Tigers 28, Wisconsin 28

1:38 p.m.: Call stands. Touchdown Tigers. We got ourselves a ball game.

1:38 p.m.: Wisconsin calls a timeout to challenge the touchdown call.

1:35 p.m.: Touchdown, LSU. Nussmeier throws a perfect pass to Chris Hilton Jr. for a 14-yard touchdown. Hilton Jr. barely got his foot inbounds.

1:35 p.m.: Tigers still driving, as Nussmeier has completed back-to-back passes of 11 and 12 yards to Josh Williams and Kyren Lacy.

1:30 p.m.: LSU wishes it can have that one back. The Tigers run a reverse flea flicker back to Nussmeier, who has a receiver open downfield but misses left.

1:28 p.m.: Nussmeier's deep pass attempt to Brian Thomas Jr. draws a pass interference. LSU moving the ball again.

1:26 p.m.: Malik Nabers was shown without pads on the sideline. Looks like his afternoon is done after breaking the receiving record.

1:24 p.m.: Momentum flips in LSU's favor as Maason Smith sacks Mordecai to force a punt.

1:18 p.m.: LSU drove five plays for 75 yards in just under two minutes after Josh Williams ran for 17 yards and Nussmeier threw a 14-yard pass to Kyren Lacy.

Touchdown, LSU: Wisconsin 28, Tigers 21

1:16 p.m.: Crazy quick response for LSU, as Nussmeier launches a deep shot to Brian Thomas Jr. for a 38-yard touchdown. Nussmeier up to 238 yards and a score on the afternoon.

Touchdown, Wisconsin: Badgers 28, LSU 14

1:11 p.m.: Another one. Wisconsin running back Jackson Acker runs untouched into the endzone for a 33-yard score. LSU's defense is struggling.

1:04 p.m.: Third quarter is underway, with Wisconsin starting with possession.

Halftime: Wisconsin 21, LSU 14

Second quarter

12:38 p.m.: Wisconsin goes for it on fourth-and-1, but LSU stops the run play. Huge stop for the Tigers before halftime.

12:37 p.m.: Wisconsin lines up again, but LSU then calls a timeout.

12:35 p.m.: Wisconsin lines up on fourth-and-1 before calling a timeout. Badgers are in field goal range.

12:33 p.m.: Wow. Nussmeier forces a throw downfield with 35 seconds left and it's intercepted. Badgers take over again with a chance to score.

Touchdown, Wisconsin: Badgers 21, LSU 14

12:30 p.m.: Mordecai up to 13 of 17 passing for 210 yards and three touchdowns. LSU has no answers right now.

12:29 p.m.: Easy drive for Wisconsin, who drives 75 yards in 4 seconds to take back the lead. Mordecai hits Pauling for a nine-yard score.

12:27 p.m.: Badgers have 90 seconds and two timeouts before half. Plenty of time to take the lead.

Touchdown, LSU: Tigers 14, Wisconsin 14

12:24 p.m.: Freshman running back Kaleb Jackson rumbles into the endzone from 12 yards out to tie this up. Perfect response from the Tigers this quarter.

12:22 p.m.: LSU getting going again offensively. Josh Williams' 12-yard run brings the Tigers inside Wisconsin's 25-yard line.

12:17 p.m.: LSU stops Mordecai's scramble short of the first down, forcing the Badgers to attempt a 51-yard field goal, which misses to the left. Tigers take over at their own 33-yard line with under four minutes left in the half.

12:15 p.m.: Mordecai just threw a dime for a would-be touchdown, but the pass was dropped. LSU secondary continuing to have problems.

12:14 p.m.: LSU's defenders are really struggling to tackle so far. Trech Kekahuna just made a couple jukes look easy.

Touchdown, LSU: Wisconsin 14, Tigers 7

12:07 p.m.: Touchdown LSU. Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. plunges it in from a yard out to get the Tigers on the board, capitalizing on the nice field position. Tigers give the defender a chance.

12:06 p.m.: LSU putting together a nice drive here. Nussmeier just completed an impressive back-shoulder pass to Kyren Lacy to get into Wisconsin territory.

12 p.m.: LSU gets a much-needed stop after Wisconsin's holding penalty. A touchdown here would be a big momentum shift.

11:58 a.m.: LSU's secondary was nearly burnt again, but the 50-yard pass was negated by a Wisconsin holding.

11:57 a.m.: Mordecai is leaving it all out there in his final collegiate game. He just scrambled for an 11-yard gain to pick up a first down.

11:55 a.m.: LSU has no answers for Wisconsin's offense right now. Badgers getting whatever they want on the ground and through the air.

11:50 a.m.: Nussmeier's pass to Josh Williams falls just short of the first-down marker, forcing the Tigers to punt again. LSU needs a stop here before it gets ugly.

11:47 a.m.: Malik Nabers opted to play in the bowl game to break the LSU record for career receiving yards, and he did in the first quarter. Nabers now has over 3,000 career receiving yards.

11:45 a.m.: LSU heads into the second quarter facing a 14-0 deficit. With its current defensive play, the Tigers' offense is going to need to get it going to keep things from getting out of hand.

First quarter

Touchdown, Wisconsin: Badgers 14, LSU 0

11:42 a.m.: Second play of Wisconsin's drive, Mordecai throws a 60-yard touchdown to Will Pauling, who's up to 113 yards and a touchdown already. LSU missed two potential tackles on the play.

11:39 a.m.: A false start sets the Tigers back to third-and-15, before Nussmeier throws nine yards to Mason Taylor to make it fourth-and-6. Then, a Wisconsin substitution infraction makes it fourth-and-1, but the Tigers are stuffed on a Josh Williams run.

11:33 a.m.: Nice start to the drive for Nussmeier, who throws to Nabers for a 15-yard gain before finding tight end Mason Taylor for 25 yards.

11:32 a.m.: Wisconsin decides to punt after the timeout. LSU takes over at its own 15-yard line.

11:26 a.m.: LSU stops Wisconsin's play-action pass on third-and-2, to force a fourth down, but looks like the Badgers might go for it after calling a timeout.

11:24 a.m.: LSU goes three-and-out after Nussmeier's pass to Chris Hilton Jr. on third-and-2 goes for negative yards. Tigers forced to punt again.

11:21 a.m.: Mordecai goes 3 for 3 for 71 yards and a touchdown on three consecutive throws to start the drive. Not a great start for the Tigers defensively.

Touchdown, Wisconsin: Badgers 7, LSU 0

11:18 a.m.: Quick drive for Wisconsin, as Mordecai throws it up to Bryson Green for a 20-yard touchdown.

11:16 a.m.: Wisconsin takes over and gets a first down on a pinpoint throw to the sideline from Tanner Mordecai. On the next play, Mordecai throws to Will Pauling again for a 41-yard gain.

11:12 a.m.: Nussmeier's first drive of his first career start: 5 of 7 passing for 30 yards, including a near long gain on a deep throw, but Nabers was out of bounds.

11:09 a.m.: Nussmeier had Brian Thomas Jr. open on third-and-10, but just overthrew him. Tigers forced to punt.

11:07 a.m.: Nussmeier's first pass of his first start this season goes to Biletnikoff Award finalist Malik Nabers for a nine-yard gain. Good start for perhaps the Tigers' future signal caller.

11:06 a.m.: LSU won the coin toss and elects to receive.

Pregame

11:01 a.m.: Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels is on the sideline, but obviously will not play as he opted out to prepare for the upcoming NFL draft.

10:48 a.m.: LSU football posts a picture of QB1, Garrett Nussmeier:

10:45 a.m.: LSU coach Brian Kelly and Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell meet up before the game:

What channel is LSU vs. Wisconsin on today?

• TV channel: ESPN2

• Streaming info: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

LSU-Wisconsin will air live on ESPN2, with ESPN+ and the ESPN app among the available streaming options. The game can also be watched with Fubo, which offers a free trial for potential subscribers.

LSU vs. Wisconsin start time

• Date: Monday, Jan. 1

• Time: 11 a.m. CT

The Tigers and Badgers will kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Monday, Jan. 1 from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

LSU vs. Wisconsin betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, Jan. 1

• Spread: LSU (-9.5)

• Over/under: 58

• Moneyline: LSU -375 | Wisconsin +280

LSU football schedule 2023

Wisconsin 2023 football schedule

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This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU vs. Wisconsin score, highlights: Tigers win 35-31 in bowl game