# 1983 Wisconsin Badgers football team

The 1983 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 1983 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Dave McClain, the Badgers compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 5–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the Big Ten. Wisconsin played home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 10 | Northern Illinois* | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI | W 37–9 | 56,941 |
| September 17 | Missouri* | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI | W 21–20 | 65,044 |
| September 24 | No. 17 Michigan | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI | L 21–38 | 77,708 |
| October 1 | at Northwestern | Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL | W 49–0 | 32,180 |
| October 8 | No. 19 Illinois | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI | L 15–27 | 78,307 |
| October 15 | at Minnesota | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN (rivalry) | W 56–17 | 62,689 |
| October 22 | Indiana | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI | W 45–14 | 78,199 |
| October 29 | at No. 16 Ohio State | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH | L 27–45 | 89,203 |
| November 5 | No. 15 Iowa | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI (rivalry) | L 14–34 | 78,105 |
| November 12 | at Purdue | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | W 42–38 | 58,342 |
| November 19 | Michigan State | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI | W 32–0 | 54,204 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game ||||||

## Game summaries
### Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Michigan | 7 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 38 |
| Wisconsin | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
On September 24, 1983, Wisconsin lost to Michigan, 38–21, before a crowd of 77,708 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

### At Northwestern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Wisconsin | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 49 |
| Northwestern | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### At Ohio State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wisconsin | 14 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 27 |
| Ohio St | 7 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 45 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
* Date: October 29, 1983
* Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Clear, 55 °F (13 °C)
* Game attendance: 89,203
* Referee: Jim Kemerling
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
WIS – Gary Ellerson 2-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick), 11:34. Wisconsin 7–0.
OSU – Thad Jemison 19-yard pass from Mike Tomczak (Rich Spangler kick), 5:25. Tie 7–7.
WIS – Thad McFadden 20-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 2:50. Wisconsin 14–7.
Second quarter
OSU – Mike Tomczak 28-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 13:19. Tie 14–14.
OSU – Keith Byars 13-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 7:16. Ohio St 21–14.
OSU – Vaughn Broadnax 1-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 2:07. Ohio St 28–14.
WIS – Nick Toon 22-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 0:57. Ohio St 28–21.
Third quarter
WIS – Brett Pearson 7-yard pass from Randy Wright (kick failed), 11:36. Ohio St 28–27.
OSU – Rich Spangler 36-yard field goal, 4:41. Ohio St 31–27.
OSU – Keith Byars 3-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 1:36. Ohio St 38–27.
Fourth quarter
OSU – Roman Bates 14-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 12:48. Ohio St 45–27.
Top passers
WIS – Randy Wright – 23/39, 319 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT
OSU – Mike Tomczak – 12/14, 162 yards, TD
Top rushers
WIS – Joe Armentrout – 10 rushes, 40 yards
OSU – Keith Byars – 29 rushes, 174 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
WIS – Thad McFadden – 3 receptions, 108 yards, TD
OSU – Cedric Anderson – 4 receptions, 70 yards :

### At Purdue

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wisconsin | 7 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Purdue | 3 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 38 |
at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
* Date: November 12, 1983
* Game attendance: 58,342
Game information :
First quarter
WIS – Gary Ellerson 2-yard run (Kevin Rodhe kick). Wisconsin 7–0.
PUR – Tim Clark 20-yard field goal. Wisconsin 7–3.
Second quarter
WIS – Randy Wright 1-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 14–3.
PUR – Cliff Benson 18-yard pass from Scott Campbell (Tim Clark kick). Wisconsin 14–10.
PUR – Cliff Benson 1-yard pass from Scott Campbell (Tim Clark kick). Purdue 17–14.
WIS – Al Toon 73-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 21–17.
PUR – Lloyd Hawthorne 1-yard run (kick failed). Purdue 23–21.
Third quarter
WIS – Randy Wright 2-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 28–23.
Fourth quarter
PUR – Bruce King 17-yard run (pass good). Purdue 31–28.
WIS – Randy Wright 8-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick). Wisconsin 35–31.
PUR – Lloyd Hawthorne 3-yard run (Tim Clark kick), 2:35. Purdue 38–35.
WIS – Brett Pearson 13-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 0:32. Wisconsin 42–35.
Top passers
WIS – Randy Wright – 16/33, 317 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
PUR – Scott Campbell – 17/30, 181 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
WIS – Gary Ellerson – 21 rushes, 93 yards, TD
PUR – Mel Gray – 24 rushes, 106 yards
Top receivers
WIS – Al Toon – 8 receptions, 252 yards, TD
PUR – Jeff Price – 3 receptions, 66 yards :

## 1984 NFL draft

| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Randy Wright | Quarterback | 6 | 153 | Green Bay Packers |