After failing to score a touchdown in its first three games, Wisconsin took a 21–0 lead over San Diego State in the second quarter.
Defensive end Dave Ahrens had three sacks, and the Aztecs were held to minus four net rushing yards.
[18] On October 11, Indiana defeated Wisconsin, 24–0, in front of a homecoming crowd of 51,029 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
Indiana's defense held Wisconsin to 204 yards of total offense (only 65 in the second half) and had seven tackles for loss.
When fans refused to reduce the noise, the officials struck all three Wisconsin timeouts and then assessed two delay of game penalties, giving Michigan a first down at the one-yard line.
Butch Woolfolk then scored on a one-yard run[23] On November 15, Wisconsin defeated Northwestern, 39–19, in Evanston.
[24] The Wildcats finished the season 0–11 and in the midst of a 34-game losing streak that began on September 22, 1979, and ended on September 25, 1982 at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin On November 22, in the annual battle for Paul Bunyan' Axe, Wisconsin defeated Minnesota, 25–7, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
[25] Cole started in place of John Josten, who had re-injured an ankle the previous week versus Northwestern.