Wisconsin at BYU, Provo, Ut., Sept. 16, 2017 | Photo by BYU Photo/Jaren Wilkey

PROVO – BYU couldn’t get in the end zone and dropped Saturday’s game 40-6 against No. 10/12 Wisconsin at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

“Congratulations to Wisconsin,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said. “You can see why they’re highly ranked. I was disappointed with the result, obviously. We need to play consistently better on both sides of the ball.”

Sophomore quarterback Beau Hoge made his first career start at BYU, filling in for injured Tanner Mangum. He completed 11 of 20 passes for 111 yards with two interceptions. Ula Tolutau led the Cougar ground attack with 58 yards on 13 carries. Micah Simon pulled in three receptions for 60 yards.

Fred Warner, Micah Hannemann and Butch Pau’u each had seven total tackles for the BYU defense. Corbin Kaufusi notched four tackles and a sack.

Wisconsin at BYU, Provo, Ut., Sept. 16, 2017 | Photo by BYU Photo/Jaren Wilkey

On BYU’s first possession, Hoge was picked off deep in Cougar territory. The BYU defense limited Wisconsin to a 23-yard field goal with 9:42 on the clock for a 3-0 Badger lead.

BYU responded with its own field goal to tie the game at 3-3 with three minutes left in the first quarter. Rhett Almond made a 31-yard field goal after the offense went 61 yards on 14 plays. Tolutau had five carries for 38 yards on the drive.

As the first-quarter clock ran out, Wisconsin found the end zone for the game’s first touchdown. Jonathan Taylor’s 1-yard run crossed the goal line and put Wisconsin up 10-3.

Haflway through the second quarter, the Badgers took a 17-3 lead after a 9-yard touchdown pass from QB Alex Hornibrook to Quintez Cephus.

Wisconsin scored another touchdown with 25 seconds left in the half. Hornibrook connected with Cephus for 15 yards to make it 24-3 for the Badgers.

A 50-yard pass play from Hoge to Simon set up a field goal attempt for Almond at the end of the first half. He made the 32-yarder for a 24-6 BYU deficit at the half.

An 18-yard touchdown pass from Hornibrook to A.J. Taylor made it 31-6 for Wisconsin with three minutes left in the third quarter.

Hornibrook threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game halfway through the fourth quarter. He found Troy Fumagalli in the middle of the end zone for a 19-yard pass that gave the Badgers a 38-6 lead.

Hoge was sacked for a safety 30 seconds after Wisconsin’s touchdown to extend the Badgers lead to 40-6, which they held as the game clock ran out.

The Cougars have a bye next week and will return to action on Sept. 26 at Utah State. That game will be televised on CBS Sports Network with radio broadcasts on KSL (1160 AM/102.7 FM) and BYU Radio (Sirius XM 143).

Box score: wisc-byu