Wisconsin Wins Game, Plus Respect : Big Ten: Badgers’ 20-16 victory over No. 12 Ohio State is first over ranked team in seven years.

MADISON, Wis. — It was more than merely a victory Saturday for the Wisconsin Badgers. It was a coming-out party for a program that hasn’t had a winning season since 1984.

The Badgers used the second-half passing of Darrell Bevell and a tough defense to upset No. 12 Ohio State, 20-16.

“We won a game and national respect today,” third-year Coach Barry Alvarez said after the Badgers beat a ranked team for the first time in seven years. “We haven’t had a major upset since I’ve been here. That was another one of our goals. We haven’t beaten a ranked team.”

Bevell, a 22-year-old freshman who spent 1990 and 1991 on a Mormon mission, led two third-quarter drives as the Badgers took a 17-10 lead.

And Wisconsin’s defense, which held Ohio State to 45 yards rushing, stopped a two-point conversion and then a final Buckeye drive with 2:15 left to preserve the victory before 72,203.

“We’ve always found a way to lose, but that’s all over now. Now we know how to win,” said cornerback Reggie Holt, who tackled quarterback Kirk Herbstreit on a fourth-down play at the Badgers’ 23 with 2:15 left.

“Coach told us in the locker room that we just took a real sharp right turn,” said Bevell, who completed 18 of 30 passes for 214 yards. He was 12 of 16 for 140 yards during the second half.

“We played a great game and showed we can overpower one of the best teams in the nation.”

Trailing by 20-10, Ohio State scored on Herbstreit’s three-yard pass to Brian Stablein with 4:29 left, capping a 76-yard drive.

Wisconsin then was called for a personal foul on the extra point. Ohio State decided to take the point off the board and go for two from the one-yard line, but Raymont Harris was stopped short, leaving the Buckeyes four points behind.

“We had a chance to win it with the two-point conversion,” Ohio State Coach John Cooper said. “I’m not very happy with anything we did today. They knocked us off the line and made plays, their quarterback completed third-down plays time after time.”

Gary Casper, who also picked off a pass and recovered a fumble, stopped Harris on the two-point try.

“I couldn’t believe they went for two,” Casper said. “It was just me and him in the hole, and I made the play.”

The Buckeyes (3-1) got the ball back at the Badgers’ 41 after a short punt and moved to the 26. On fourth and five, Herbstreit was dragged down by Holt after a three-yard gain.

“I was looking for Stablein or one of the backs,” Herbstreit said. “The pocket closed pretty quick, and I just tried to get the angle.”

Wisconsin moved for a first down and then ran out the clock.