Ball drop: Badgers win Duke's Mayo Bowl, break trophy

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 30: The Wisconsin Badgers celebrate their victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons after winning the Duke's Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 30, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared

The Wisconsin Badgers captured the Duke's Mayo Bowl and the trophy that came along with it.

And then they broke it.

RELATED: Check out the new and improved FOX Sports app

While dancing around to celebrate his team's 42-28 victory over Wake Forest on Wednesday, quarterback Graham Mertz dropped the football-shaped piece of Lenox crystal, leaving it shattered on the floor of the locker room after it fell off its base.

"We just wanted everybody to have a piece of that trophy," Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst joked.

That would seem appropriate.

Mertz accounted for three touchdowns and Wisconsin turned four second-half interceptions, all by different players, into 21 points to turn a close game into a near-rout of the Demon Deacons. Five players scored touchdowns for the Badgers.

Mertz, a redshirt freshman, threw for 130 yards and ran for two short TDs as Wisconsin (4-3) finished a rocky 2020 season on a high note.

"Yeah, I dropped it," Mertz said sheepishly. "That's on me. It happened."

The Badgers might be willing to forgive him.

With the game tied at 21 late in the third quarter, Noah Burks intercepted Wake Forest's Sam Hartman on a pass in the flat when the intended receiver failed to turn his head around. Burks returned the ball 41 yards to set up a 14-yard scoring strike from Mertz to Mason Stokke on a wheel route, giving the Badgers their first lead.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android.

Featured

Duke's Mayo Bowl: Badgers pound Wake Forest in 2nd half; win 42-28

The Wisconsin Badgers squared up against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

Featured

Chicago Bears eye playoffs heading into finale with Packers

The Chicago Bears head into the final week with their eyes on the Green Bay Packers and their chances to grab a playoff spot still alive.

Featured

Frustrated JJ Watt unleashes postgame tirade about effort

Frustration boiled over for star J.J. Watt after the Houston Texans dropped their fourth straight game on Sunday.