MADISON, WIS. ? Jamaal Brimmer was a one-man wrecking crew for UNLV.

The junior strong safety returned a fumble for a score, set up two touchdowns with his first two career interceptions and had two sacks among his game-high 11 tackles as the Rebels stunned No. 14 Wisconsin, 23-5, Saturday.

“Ronnie Lott had those same kind of instincts,” said UNLV coach John Robinson, who tutored the former NFL star at USC. “He has a sense of the game. He is a wonderful player. He is one of the most instinctive players I have ever coached.”

The Badgers (2-1) lost Heisman hopeful running back Anthony Davis to a sprained left ankle on their second series and fell apart behind quarterback Jim Sorgi’s shaky performance in the rain at Camp Randall Stadium.

Sorgi was sacked eight times, overthrew eight receivers and had two of the Badgers’ five turnovers — their most in eight seasons.

Dwayne Smith, who replaced Davis, also fumbled twice as the Badgers failed to score an offensive touchdown at home for the first time since Nov. 25, 1995, when they tied Illinois, 3-3.

“Anthony, obviously, is a big part of our offense, but there are no excuses in this game,” Badgers coach Barry Alvarez said. “Their top tailback was out also.”

Junior Dominique Dorsey rushed 26 times for 100 yards for UNLV, which was without leading rusher Larry Croom, who strained his right thigh in a 46-24 loss to Kansas University last week in Lawrence.

“Their losing Davis early was a hurt to them,” Robinson said. “But we lost our tailback even earlier.”

Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi, right, is sacked by UNLV's Dietrich Canterberry in the first half. The Rebels, who lost last weekend against Kansas University, knocked off No. 14 Wisconsin, 23-5, Saturday in Madison, Wis.

UNLV (2-1) won despite having just 187 yards of total offense thanks to Brimmer’s two interceptions, which set up touchdown throws of six and eight yards from Kurt Nantkes to Earvin Johnson.

Davis sprained his left ankle at the end of a 10-yard run in the first quarter, his second carry of the game. He hobbled off the field and was fitted with a protective boot on the sideline, then taken for X-rays.

Davis, the nation’s leading rusher the past two seasons combined, had rushed for 414 yards, second-most in the nation, in the first two weeks.

Smith replaced him and quickly made a trio of mistakes.

First, he tripped over his own downfield blocker six yards from the goal line after a 37-yard catch and run with the Badgers trailing 3-0. He fumbled on the next snap, and end Chris Eagen recovered for UNLV.

After a punt, Smith fumbled again, and this time, Brimmer, one of the best strong safeties in the nation, returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead, and the Rebels never looked back.

“It’s a real sick feeling seeing your fans walk out with eight, nine minutes left,” safety Jim Leonhard said. “But I probably would have, too.”