Wisconsin Badgers become the nation's best at beating top ten teams

The Badgers' 92-71 victory over No. 10 Michigan State gives them back-to-back wins over top-10 teams.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Wisconsin's dominant 92-71 victory over No. 10 Michigan State on Friday night moves the Badgers (18-7, 10-4) into a tie for fifth place in the Big Ten with six games remaining in the regular season. The win gives Wisconsin back-to-back victories over top-10 teams, making them the nation's best at beating elite opponents.

Why it matters

Wisconsin's ability to consistently defeat top-10 teams, including three such wins this season, demonstrates the program's strength and competitiveness in the Big Ten. This success could boost the Badgers' postseason prospects and cement their status as one of the top teams in the conference.

The details

In the win over Michigan State, Wisconsin was led by graduate student Nick Boyd, who scored a game-high 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range. Junior John Blackwell also had a strong game, finishing with 24 points on 6-of-14 shooting, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line and 4-for-9 from deep. The Badgers shot 42.9% from 3-point range, making 15-of-35 attempts.

  • Wisconsin notched their third top-10 win of the season on February 13, 2026.
  • The Badgers have now won back-to-back games over top-10 teams for the first time since the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

The players

Nick Boyd

A graduate student who scored a game-high 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range.

John Blackwell

A junior who finished with 24 points on 6-of-14 shooting, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line and 4-for-9 from deep.

Greg Gard

The head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, who has led the team to 18 wins over AP top-10 opponents, tied for the third-highest mark in the Big Ten and 10th-highest total in the nation during his tenure.

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What they’re saying

“COME ONNNN🦡‼️”

— Mason Posa (Twitter)

“Another sensational Nick Boyd night extended that run to 22 out of 25 seasons, as the #Badgers delivered a third top-10 takedown by crushing Michigan State, 92-71.”

— Benjamin Worgull (TheBadgerNation)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Wisconsin's ability to consistently defeat top-10 teams, including three such wins this season, demonstrates the program's strength and competitiveness in the Big Ten. This success could boost the Badgers' postseason prospects and cement their status as one of the top teams in the conference.