The TaxAct Texas Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. This game pits teams from the Big 12 Conference against opponents from either the Big Ten Conference or the SEC Conference. The 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl was played on January 4, 2023 between the Wisconsin Badgers from the Big Ten and the Kansas State Wildcats from the Big 12.
Opening Summary
In the 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl, the Kansas State Wildcats defeated the Wisconsin Badgers by a score of 24-16. Kansas State came into the game with a 9-3 overall record after finishing 5-4 in Big 12 play. Wisconsin entered with a 6-6 mark after going 4-5 in the Big Ten. This was the first ever meeting between these two programs.
Kansas State junior quarterback Will Howard led the Wildcats on offense, throwing for 214 yards and a touchdown while also running for a score. Running back Deuce Vaughn added 106 rushing yards for K-State. Wisconsin’s offense struggled, with senior quarterback Graham Mertz throwing three interceptions in the loss. The Badger defense kept them in the game, limiting K-State to just 357 total yards.
With the victory, Kansas State finished the 2022 season with a 10-4 record. This was the best season for the Wildcats under head coach Chris Klieman. Wisconsin ended the disappointing year at 6-7, their first losing season since 2001. The Badgers struggled with consistency and quarterback play all season long in head coach Luke Fickell’s first year.
Game Recap
Kansas State received the opening kickoff and put together a promising drive into Wisconsin territory. But the drive stalled around midfield and the Wildcats had to punt it away. Wisconsin’s offense came out sluggish, going 3-and-out on their first possession.
The K-State defense forced another quick Wisconsin punt on the next drive. This time, the Wildcat offense capitalized. Will Howard led them on a 9-play, 84-yard touchdown drive capped off by a 15-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Malik Knowles. Kansas State took an early 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Wisconsin’s struggles on offense continued on their next drive. Graham Mertz was intercepted by safety Josh Hayes, giving K-State the ball back near midfield. The Wildcats drove down inside the redzone looking to expand their lead. But the Badger defense held firm and forced a short field goal. Kansas State went up 10-0 early in the second quarter.
The Badgers finally put together a solid drive in response. Running back Braelon Allen was the catalyst, ripping off a 23-yard run to set Wisconsin up in the redzone. But the drive stalled there and the Badgers settled for a 30-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 10-3.
Kansas State came right back with an impressive 75-yard touchdown drive. Deuce Vaughn broke loose for a 47-yard run, setting up a 4-yard touchdown plunge by Will Howard. The Wildcats took a 17-3 advantage into halftime.
Second Half
Wisconsin received the ball first to start the second half. They managed one first down before stalling near midfield. Kansas State took over looking to expand their lead. The Wildcat offense methodically drove down inside the 10-yard line. But the Badger defense held firm again near their goal-line. K-State settled for another short field goal to go up 20-3.
Desperate for points, Wisconsin went for it on 4th-and-3 from the Kansas State 36-yard line on the next possession. But Mertz was sacked for a loss, turning it over on downs. The Wildcat offense then delivered the dagger. Deuce Vaughn broke off a 60-yard run down to the Wisconsin 3-yard line. Will Howard punched it in on the next play, putting K-State up 27-3 late in the third.
Early in the fourth quarter, Wisconsin finally reached the endzone. Graham Mertz led a 13-play, 75-yard drive ending with a 2-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jackson Acker. But the 2-point conversion failed, leaving the score at 27-9.
Kansas State tried to milk clock on their next drive, but were forced to punt it away. Wisconsin took advantage of the good field position. Mertz connected on a 41-yard pass to Keontez Lewis, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Braelon Allen. The 2-point try was no good, cutting the deficit to 27-15 with just over two minutes remaining.
The Badgers attempted an onside kick but Kansas State recovered. The Wildcats were able to run out the rest of the clock to secure their first bowl victory since the 2019 Liberty Bowl. The final score was 24-16 after a late Wisconsin safety.
Game Stats
Here are some key game stats:
Team | First Downs | Rushing Yards | Passing Yards | Total Yards | Turnovers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas State | 19 | 206 | 214 | 357 | 0 |
Wisconsin | 16 | 97 | 162 | 259 | 3 |
Kansas State outgained Wisconsin 357 to 259 total yards. The Wildcats held a 206 to 97 advantage in rushing yards. Will Howard threw for 214 yards for K-State while Graham Mertz had 162 yards passing for the Badgers. Wisconsin turned the ball over three times on interceptions while K-State had no turnovers.
Individual Statistics
Passing
Player | Completions | Attempts | Yards | TD | INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Will Howard (KSU) | 12 | 19 | 214 | 1 | 0 |
Graham Mertz (WIS) | 11 | 18 | 162 | 1 | 3 |
Rushing
Player | Attempts | Yards | TD |
---|---|---|---|
Deuce Vaughn (KSU) | 23 | 106 | 0 |
Braelon Allen (WIS) | 19 | 51 | 1 |
Receiving
Player | Receptions | Yards | TD |
---|---|---|---|
Malik Knowles (KSU) | 4 | 54 | 1 |
Keontez Lewis (WIS) | 3 | 45 | 0 |
Will Howard distributed the ball to nine different receivers for Kansas State. Running back Deuce Vaughn led the Wildcats in rushing with 106 yards on 23 carries. For Wisconsin, receiver Keontez Lewis had a team-high 45 yards receiving while running back Braelon Allen led them with 51 yards on the ground.
Conclusion
In the end, Kansas State’s balanced offensive attack and turnover-free football propelled them to victory over Wisconsin in the 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl. The Wildcats were clearly the better team on this day. Will Howard’s efficient passing combined with Deuce Vaughn’s big-play running allowed K-State to control the game. Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s offense sputtered due to quarterback Graham Mertz’s three costly interceptions.
This win caps off an excellent bounce-back season for Kansas State after finishing just 4-6 in 2021. Head coach Chris Klieman now has the program headed in the right direction. For Wisconsin, the loss concludes a disappointing year where their weaknesses at quarterback and receiver really showed. The Badgers will look to regroup and return to Big Ten contention again in 2023.