Preview: Can Wisconsin shock the nation with a win over Oregon?
By Brendan Wolf STAFF WRITER
The Wisconsin Badgers football team will welcome the No. 1 Oregon Ducks to Camp Randall on Saturday night in what may be their biggest challenge of what has already been a season full of tough opponents.
The Badgers and Ducks will face off for the seventh time in history and their first as Big Ten opponents. They last met in the 2020 Rose Bowl, where Wisconsin suffered a onepoint loss in Pasadena.
With only three games remaining in the regular season, the Badgers are just one win away from achieving bowl eligibility, looking to extend a streak of 22 consecutive bowl appearances.
It may be a tall task for Wisconsin to earn both their sixth win of the season and a bowl berth this weekend since Oregon earned the No. 1 spot in college football for the first time since 2012 just two weeks ago.
Oregon, on the other hand, is seeking its first national championship in head coach Dan Lanning’s third year at the helm. The Ducks are looking to remain the top-seed in the projected College Football Playoff bracket. Oregon is currently undefeated at 10-0 after defeating Maryland last Saturday.
The Ducks are led by sixthyear quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who arrived in Eugene following a two-year stint at the University of Oklahoma from 2022 to 2023 after beginning his career at the University of Central Florida in 2019. Gabriel currently sits second in the NCAA record books for career passing yards, just 1,504 yards shy of former Houston quarterback Case Keenum. Gabriel is also a candidate for the Heisman trophy, looking to join Marcus Mariota as the only Ducks player to win the award.
In Oregon’s matchup against Maryland, Gabriel broke the NCAA record for total touchdowns in a career. Gabriel’s total now sits at 180 and will have several opportunities to pad his lead in the record books.
While Gabriel is a Heisman candidate, don’t get the wrong idea — he doesn’t carry the team.
Fifth-year wide receiver Tez Johnson and junior running back Jordan James are the two supplementary stars in the Ducks’ prolific offense. But Johnson won’t start against the Badgers after he suffered a shoulder injury against Michigan. Johnson has eight receiving touchdowns on the season and also has served as Oregon’s primary punt returner, bringing a punt back for a touchdown against
Boise State on Sept. 7.
Oregon will look to receivers Traeshon Holden and Evan Stewart to fill the void left by Johnson’s absence. Both have had positive moments during the season: Holden recorded 149 receiving yards against Michigan, and Stewart had 149 receiving yards and a touchdown in a key win against No. 2 Ohio State.
Oregon running back Jordan James is set to play in the backfield against the Badgers defense, who have struggled to stop the run this season. The Badgers rank 91st of 134 FBS teams in rushing yards allowed per game. James ranks 16th in the nation with 946 rushing yards, and should have a big day if the Wisconsin defense has not fixed their issues over their bye week.
The Ducks have one of the most potent offenses in the nation, ranking seventh in third down conversion rate, 11th in total yardage and 19th in scoring offense. Gabriel also currently leads the country in completion percentage. If the Badgers want to pull off the upset, they will have to step up defensively to keep themselves in the game.
Wisconsin’s passing defense has been the bright spot of a shaky unit. The Badgers allow the sixth fewest passing yards per game in the
country, and with Johnson out, the efficiency of Oregon’s passing game could be affected.
This year’s Oregon team might be known for their high-flying offense, but that doesn’t mean they are a slouch defensively. Like the Badgers, the Ducks limit passing yards, allowing the 19th fewest passing yards per game. The Ducks have recorded nine interceptions this season, something quarterback Braedyn Locke will have to be aware of when taking the field, as he has thrown at least one interception in each of his last six starts.
The Badgers will need to play their best offensive game of the season to have a chance at the win. Despite showing success against lesser opponents, they have struggled to score against real competition. Locke will need to have a mistake-free game and the offensive weapons around him will have to step up. Individually, the receiving corps have had successful stretches of play, but it will all need to come together on Saturday night.
The Badgers have not had many recent opportunities to knock off the No. 1 team in the country. In the last 15 years, both matchups against the top-ranked school have unsurprisingly come against Ohio State.
In the 2019 Big Ten Championship, the No. 8 Badgers lost to the Buckeyes 34-21 after racing to an early lead. In the 2010 season, No. 18 Wisconsin knocked off Ohio State 31-18 in Madison, sparking a run to the 2011 Rose Bowl.
While the Badgers are not aiming for a Rose Bowl appearance this year, a win would go a long way. Under head coach Luke Fickell, the Badgers are 0-5 against top 25 opponents. If that were to change this weekend, the outlook for the rest of the season will be much more positive.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m., as the Badgers air on NBC’s Saturday Night Football for their third consecutive game.
Matchup history: Oregon Ducks and Wisconsin Badgers
By Spencer Teman STAFF WRITER
Before the Wisconsin Badgers and Oregon Ducks meet at Camp Randall Stadium for the first time as Big Ten conference foes, it’s time to review some memorable history between the two storied college football programs.
This heavily anticipated showdown will be the seventh time the two schools have faced off dating back to the first matchup in 1977. The teams met during the 1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2011 and 2019 seasons. The Badgers took the first three contests, but the Ducks have had the Badgers’ number for the previous three meetings.
These two teams last met in Pasadena, California, for the Rose Bowl in 2020. The game ended as an epic thriller that unfortunately favored the Ducks. This is one of two Rose Bowl matchups that have featured the two schools.
The 2020 Rose Bowl showcased several notable future NFL talents including Justin Herbert, Jonathan
Taylor, Kavyon Thibodeaux, Jake Ferguson and more. Herbert decided the outcome with an eventual gamewinning rushing touchdown.
The Ducks return to Madison for the first time since 2000 to take on the Badgers Saturday. Last time, Wisconsin was ranked No. 5 in the country and defeated the Ducks 27-23. Saturday will be the first game between the two programs where Oregon is not a member of the Pac12. With the addition of the Ducks to the Big Ten, the two programs will now face off more regularly as future matchups are already scheduled for the 2025 and 2028 seasons.
The Badgers will go into their anticipated rivalry with the Ducks fresh off of a bye week with a 5-4 record. The Ducks, on the other hand, come in as the No. 1 team in the nation, led by potential Heisman candidate Dillon Gabriel. Wisconsin has a tall task ahead of them as they host the Ducks under the lights on Saturday.
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Welcome to the Big Ten: An Oregon fan’s guide to gameday at Wisconsin gameday
By Annika Bereny
Dearest Oregon fans, Your first year in the Big Ten conference has almost come to an end, and it’s been a pretty good one. Ranked No. 1 for two weeks in a row now, you’ve dominated a new conference that critics said you’d struggle in.
But game days at No. 2 Ohio State and unranked Illinois don’t compare to the atmosphere you will face this weekend in Camp Randall Stadium, home to Wisconsin Badgers football.
Up until now, you’ve only traveled to Purdue and Michigan and witnessed their atmospheres. Purdue fans care more about basketball than their unranked football team and can be dismissed as creating a tough atmosphere, but Michigan, too, has struggled this season and their fairweather fans may not have brought the excitement to your matchup. So, this weekend Badgers fans welcome you to the big leagues in the sunny (hopefully) confines of Camp Randall to get your first taste of real Big Ten football.
This is what you should expect on your first ever gameday in Madison on Saturday.
While you’ve just missed the Capitol Square farmer’s market, the Square and State Street still have plenty of places to start your gameday off bright and early. Short Stack Eatery on State Street and Mickey’s Dairy Bar on Monroe are two classics, but be warned, there will be long lines. It’s around this point that you’ll start to see fans already decked out in their Badgers gear.
In Madison, the party always starts early.
Tailgates line the houses around Camp Randall and Langdon Street. There will be so many tailgates, you can’t miss them. At the bars, too, red-clad students, alumni and fans pour out onto the street as they catch up on their college football and get ready for Wisconsin to take the field.
Take the day to explore America’s best college town.
Today, the duck hunt is on, and you’ll likely see a few crass banners hanging off of student houses antagonizing your dear mascot, Puddles.
But don’t let that ruffle your feathers, Midwest friendliness is near its peak in Wisconsin. And even if you’re on the other team — as long as that team isn’t Minnesota — you’ll be welcomed to Madison with open arms.
Once the sun has set and kickoff looms on the horizon, get to the game early. While you likely won’t have as much trouble getting in as the students stuck outside of gate five, it’ll give you time to take a lap around Camp Randall and enjoy the stadium for all it has to offer.
Quick tip: get a pretzel, specifically at Ben’s Pretzels outside of the student section. Make sure to shake some cinnamon sugar over it for the perfect game day snack. As you walk around, some fans waddle about sluggishly in passing, but that’s just another essential part of a gameday in Madison.
While the student section fills up, one of the most beautiful things you’ll likely notice about Badgers football is the community. Thousands of alumni and community members flock to the game, sporting that Badgers spirit at all times. Once a Badger, always a Badger.
At the end of the half, every-
What’s happening with Wisconsin football recruiting?
By Otto von Sothen STAFF WRITER
The biggest difference between former Wisconsin football head coach Paul Chryst and current head coach Luke Fickell is recruiting.
While many may be nostalgic of Chryst’s run-game success that led the Badgers to the Rose Bowl in 2020, college football has greatly shifted since the inception of Name, Image Likeness (NIL).
Fickell became head coach in 2022 after Wisconsin fired Chryst. This came after Fickell’s rebuild of University of Cincinnati into a 13-1 team in 2021.
But it’s now two years into the “Fickell experiment,” and it hasn’t been as beautiful as fans hoped.
Wisconsin isn’t competing with top competition in the Big Ten conference — it saw a 7-6 record last season and currently sits at 5-4 so far this season (3-3 against Big Ten opponents).
Fickell’s early struggles may be because he inherited a malfunctioning program, and there is still a lot of mess to clean up, especially in regards to recruiting.
one links arms and sings Wisconsin’s official alma mater anthem, “Varsity.” Regardless of your school or your rooting bias, “Varsity” is one of the best parts of the game, and you should participate, even if just with your fellow Ducks.
And then, after the third quarter, comes the most anticipated moment of your trip: “Jump Around.” You will know the waiting game is over when the student section race plays on the big screen — and section O inevitably loses. Then, the first note of “Jump Around” will play, and the stadium lights up. The student section screams as Camp Randall begins to shake.
Enjoy yourself, jump around and have a little fun! But know that you will be winded after the song concludes, no matter how healthy you think you are.
At the conclusion of the game when Wisconsin has miraculously upset No. 1 ranked Oregon, stick around for the Fifth Quarter. Even if the student section has ducked out and the stadium is growing barer by the minute, the Fifth Quarter should be an essential part of your first gameday in Madison. Wisconsin’s marching band is often considered one of the best in the nation, and the Fifth Quarter is the celebration of tradition here at Wisconsin. The marching band plays all of the Badgers classics for just a bit of fun after the game.
After you head out of Camp Randall, delight in your first gameday in Madison and resolve to come back every time the two schools face each other.
You may be a Duck today, but in Madison, we all bleed Badger red.
Posa is the Badger’s biggest recruit and is a four-star linebacker from Albuquerque, New Mexico. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he’s the No. 15 linebacker in the country, according to 247 Sports. Posa chose the Badgers over offers from powerhouses such as Alabama, Oregon and Texas A&M. He is also a state champion in wrestling, translating well to football.
Posa is a great athlete who can cover a lot of ground and different positions on the field.
Throughout his high school career, Posa has put up great numbers every year, recording a total of 176 tackles, 16 sacks and six interceptions through his sophomore and junior years.
Cameron Miller
The two previous recruiting classes before Fickell’s arrival ranked 44th in the country in 2022 and 58th in 2023, according to 247 Sports. Fickell’s recruiting class this year ranked 23rd, and the Badgers currently sit at 28th for the 2025 recruit team rankings.
That is a big contrast. Fickell is able to land high-caliber out-ofstate recruits. For example, Fickell recruited Dillin Jones (fourth best player in the state of Maryland), Xavier Lucas (Florida) and Darrion Dupree (Illinois) last year, and they have all known rather consistent snaps this season.
Here’s the incoming recruiting class that Fickell and his staff have assembled for the incoming freshman class, according to 247 Sports:
Mason Posa (LB) 4 star
Logan Powell (OT) 4 star
Hardy Watts (IOL) 4 star
Nicolas Clayton (Edge) 3 star
Cameron Miller (WR/CB) 3 star
Nolan Davenport (OT) 3 star
Michael Roeske (OT) 3 star
Eugene Hilton Jr (WR) 3 star
Cooper Catalano (LB) 3 star
Jaimier Scott (CB) 3 star
Remington Moss (S) 3 star
Emmett Bork (TE) 3 star
Jahmare Washington (CB) 3 star
Landyn Locke (QB) 3 star
Drayden Pavey (DL) 3 star
Nizyi Davis (TE) 3 star
Grant Dean (S) 3 star
Samuel Lateju (LB) 3 star
Xavier Ukponu (DL) 3 star
Luke Emmerich (ATH) 3 star
Erik Schmidt (K)
Here are some notable recruits that fit offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s “air-raid” offense.
Mason Posa
True freshman defensive back Xavier Lucas has been a large part of the defense getting more consistent snaps (80.7 PFF grade, one of the best freshmen in the country).
Linebacker Mason Posa hopes to deliver the same next year.
Cameron Miller plays wide receiver but played cornerback in high school and has starter potential at the college level in both positions. Miller had offers from some of the best programs in the country — Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Texas A&M — but he chose the Badgers. In his junior year of high school, Miller recorded 59 catches for 1342 yards, 15 touchdowns, 39 tackles and two interceptions.
Eugene Hilton, Jr.
Composite four-star recruit Eugene Hilton’s name might sound familiar — he’s the son of NFL wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. In his junior season, Hilton recorded 46 receptions, 836 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns.
It’s been a while since Wisconsin last landed two highcaliber wide receiver recruits like Hilton and Miller.
Logan Powell and Hardy Watts
Current Badgers starter and senior Jake Renfro is set to graduate following the 2024 season, and his spot on the offensive line needs to be filled. Logan Powell and Hardy Watts are two four star offensive linemen who could step in.
Carter Smith
Recently, exciting rumors for all Badgers fans have been circulating: quarterback Carter Smith has decommitted from Michigan, and the Badgers are favored to land him. The Fort Myers, Florida native will visit Madison for the Badgers’ matchup against Oregon. Smith is currently ranked 155th on ESPN’s class of 2025 list and is the 20th-best quarterback in the nation, according to 247 Sports, and fourth per Rivals.
Through his first three years of high school, Smith recorded over 7,000 passing yards alongside over 70 passing touchdowns and 44 rushing touchdowns. With Smith, the Badgers could have a threeman race for the starting quarterback role next year between current starter Braedyn Locke, freshman Mabrey Mettauer and Smith.
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Key players to watch: Wisconsin vs Oregon gameday
The Badgers are set to face off against the No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks in a matchup featuring several standout players.
By Matt Rosenthal & Sophia Ross STAFF WRITER & SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The Wisconsin Badgers will host the No. 1 ranked team in the country for the first time since 2010. The No. 1 Oregon Ducks have proved to be formidable this season, currently boasting a 10-0 record after defeating several ranked opponents, including No. 13 Boise State and No. 2 Ohio State.
As the newcomer to the Big Ten conference, Oregon has asserted itself into the premature discussion of a national championship title.
Wisconsin, on the other hand, has had much more of a rocky reason. The Badgers are currently 5-4 following a difficult defeat to the Iowa Hawkeyes before heading into an inconveniently timed bye week.
Despite the nearly opposite records, both teams have talent that will aid in their respective performances this upcoming Saturday.
WISCONSIN:
Tawee Walker
Wisconsin’s star running back has made quite a statement in his first season with the Badgers. The Oklahoma transfer has scored 10 touchdowns for Wisconsin this
season, making him the 20th Badger to hit that milestone. Walker has not been as explosive during the last two losses against Iowa and Penn State, but he is certainly an essential part of this Badger offense. After showcasing his abilities in earlier games, dropping 198 yards, 24 carries and three touchdowns against Rutgers, Walker proved just how much he can give to his Wisconsin team.
Hunter Wohler
Senior safety Hunter Wohler has long been viewed as a leader on this Wisconsin team, and the Badgers will be relying on both his command of the team and his abilities on Saturday. Wohler led the team in tackles with 11 when facing off against the then No. 3 Nittany Lions. This marked his first double-digit game of the season but the seventh of his career. Against as dynamic of an offense as Oregon, the Badgers will be relying upon Wohler big.
CJ Williams
Junior wide receiver CJ Williams got off to a slow start this season, but he has slowly worked his way into Wisconsin’s
rotation and has become a key piece to Wisconsin’s offense. Williams totaled two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown in his last game against Iowa. Hopefully, Williams can be the spark the Badgers offense has so desperately needed this season, especially against topranked opponents.
Nathaniel Vakos
A position not often recognized, Wisconsin kicker Nathaniel Vakos has stood out among the turmoil in the Badgers football season. The junior from Avon, Ohio made his mark on the university record books against then-No. 3 Penn State when he drilled in a 50-yard field goal on the first drive of the game. This successful kick made Vakos the first Badger to ever nail four 50-yard-plus makes in a career. Wisconsin will look to Vakos to keep Saturday’s match within reach, though ideally, the Badgers will be looking for seven-point score increments.
OREGON:
Dillon Gabriel
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s performance has been
lights-out this season for the Ducks. The graduate transfer from Oklahoma is a Heisman frontrunner and leads the Big Ten conference with 2,848 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. Just last week, in the Ducks’ 39-18 win over Maryland, Gabriel broke the NCAA all-time record for touchdowns responsible for. Case Keenum previously held the record at 178, but Gabriel’s three touchdowns for the day surpassed that quickly. If Wisconsin wants to win, the Badgers defense needs to find a solution to Gabriel’s domination.
Jordan James
Oregon’s star running back Jordan James is expected to play in Saturday’s matchup against Wisconsin after exiting the game against Maryland early with an unspecified injury. Prior to the Ducks’ game against the Terrapins, James had five 100-yard-plus performances. James sits at fourth in the Big Ten with 94.6 yards per game, accumulated from the 946 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns he’s completed on 166 carries. If playing, he will prove to be a crucial part of Oregon’s offensive strategy against Wisconsin.
Terrance Ferguson
Senior tight end Terrance Ferguson is just one spot away from cementing himself as Oregon’s all-time leader in alltime receptions and receiving touchdowns. Ferguson’s 119 all-time receptions and 14 receiving touchdowns place him second to Ed Dickson’s 124 and Josh Wilcox’s 15. The Oregon tight end returned to action last week against Maryland after having to sit out the Ducks two previous matches due to illness. As a dynamic offensive weapon for the Ducks, Oregon will be hoping Ferguson continues plowing ahead not only to break the two records mentioned but help pull out a win for the team on Saturday.
Matayo Uiagalelei and Jordan Burch
Two of the key contributors to Oregon’s success this season come from the dominant defensive line pair of Matayo Uiagalelei and Jordan Burch. They are the Ducks’ top two leaders in sacks, with 7.5 and 6.5 respectively. The duo’s ferocious play style will lead to a tough matchup for the Badgers’ offense.
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Column: The Badgers can’t keep up with football powerhouses. Why?
By Kayla Dembiec STAFF WRITER
The Wisconsin Badgers are gearing up for their matchup against No. 1 Oregon this weekend. It’s been rough sledding for the Badgers, who’ve been outscored 23-70 in their past two games against Iowa and No. 3 Penn State.
The Badgers have struggled in both Big Ten conference play and against ranked opponents, a common pattern for Wisconsin football under second-year head coach Luke Fickell. During his tenure, the Badgers are 8-7 in conference matchups and a whopping 0-5 against ranked teams — including bowl games.
It seems Fickell and the Badgers can’t get over the hump.
Growing pains
For decades, Wisconsin football has been known for its strong rushing attack, powerful offensive line and elite defense. It was old-fashioned football at its finest. This isn’t the style of offense that Fickell runs.
Fickell found success with the Cincinnati Bearcats with the ‘air raid’ offense, particularly in 2021 when the Bearcats finished 13-1 and became the first group of five
programs to be selected for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Once Fickell arrived in Madison, many fans expected the ‘ground and pound’ offense to immediately shift to Fickell’s ‘air raid’ offense. But these are unrealistic expectations, and growing pains are normal in a major shift in offensive philosophy. Change doesn’t always happen immediately, which is why it seems like the Badgers have lost their identity these past couple of seasons.
Wisconsin needs players that fit Fickell’s ‘air raid’ scheme to run a cleaner and more efficient offense. Strong recruiting classes will be essential if the program wants to get back to its previous football standard.
Miscues
Despite the growing pains, Wisconsin has had opportunities to knock off ranked opponents. Last season, the Badgers only trailed the undefeated No. 3 Ohio State by seven heading into the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes ultimately pulled away, scoring a touchdown to extend their lead with just over five minutes remaining.
The Badgers had a 21-10 half-
time lead over No. 13 University of Southern California in Los Angeles in September, but a muffed punt gave all momentum to the Trojans, who then scored 28 unanswered points.
Two weeks ago, Wisconsin entered the locker room at the half leading against an undefeated No. 3 Penn State 10-7 behind a roaring student section. The crowd was silenced in the third quarter after a game-changing pick-six thrown by quarterback Braedyn Locke killed all the momentum they had. The Nittany Lions put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, ending Badger Barstool’s dream of carrying the Camp Randall goalposts to Lake Mendota.
It isn’t that the Badgers haven’t had chances to win big games, they just have yet to cash in. They’re due for a big upset.
Talent recession
The biggest reason Wisconsin has struggled against these strong opponents boils down to talent. The Badgers simply don’t have a good enough roster to compete with ranked teams. Hopefully, this changes in the coming years and Fickell can bring in some high star recruits. But at the moment,
Wisconsin football is in a talent recession.
The Badgers always seem to have an elite running back on their roster, but they have been lacking that for the past few years. Sure, Braelon Allen was a great player, but the now-Jets draftee was not the same caliber as players like Jonathan Taylor, Melvin Gordon and Ron Dayne.
Historically, the Badgers offensive line has also been a major strength. Superstars like Joe Thomas and Pro Football Hall of Fame center Mike Webster have come from Wisconsin’s program. Not every player will be elite, but the Badgers standard for an offensive line is to win the battle in the trenches.
The Badgers have lost this bat-
tle against opponents like Penn State and Ohio State, a crucial reason as to why they continue to lose these big games.
Wisconsin has a good football team, but it isn’t good enough for the new era of the Big Ten conference. Opponents will take advantage of miscues, which have plagued the Badgers over the past couple of seasons. Simply put, they’ve lost their identity — and a team without an identity won’t win big games. However, it’s important to remember that good things take time. Fans need to be patient and trust the process. Hopefully, Fickell and the Badgers can figure it out and get back to the program’s standard.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither is Wisconsin football.
Column: With No. 1 Oregon coming to town, Badgers will try not to
By Jacob Szczap SENIOR STAFF WRITER
As the Wisconsin Badgers prepare to host the No. 1 Oregon Ducks in primetime at Camp Randall Stadium, much of the outlook on their season has already been determined. The 5-4 Badgers have disappointed in head coach Luke Fickell’s second year at the realm.
But there are still three games left on the docket, and while the current state of Wisconsin’s football program may be grim, the games are played for a reason. The Badgers have yet another opportunity to beat a premier opponent against topranked Oregon. A victory on Saturday would be the signature win that would flip the script on an unfulfilling season.
If this type of talk sounds familiar, it should. Oregon is now the third top-five team to visit Camp Randall this season. Against the other two, the then-No. 4 Alabama and
embarrass themselves
then-No. 3 Penn State, Wisconsin failed to capture the big win it so desperately needed. This Saturday, a final opportunity awaits.
But the way Wisconsin has played recently makes the chances of pulling off a major upset seem miniscule. In fact, the goal this week should be to survive without an embarrassment. If that cannot happen, the idea of bringing about serious coaching personnel changes will need to be discussed.
Coming off an eye-opening 42-10 squandering against Iowa two weeks ago, Wisconsin seems in complete disarray. The offense, led by a largely incompetent quarterback, hasn’t formed any sort of real chemistry. After years of consistent success, the defense has considerably regressed under new leadership. Two years into the Fickell era, Wisconsin does not have an identity and it seems more unlikely by the game they will find one at this point in the season.
All this with the nation’s No. 1 team com-
ing to town? Certainly not ideal.
Over their last two games, Wisconsin’s offensive ineptitudes have been magnified. Quarterback Braedyn Locke continues to struggle, having thrown an interception during every game he has started this season. Locke threw a back-breaking pick-six against Penn State that turned the tide against the Badgers. Against Iowa, Locke’s two interceptions halted any sort of momentum. His eight touchdown passes on the season match the eight interceptions he’s thrown.
If Locke continues to trend in the wrong direction against Oregon, could changes be made? After all, the final two games could offer Fickell a look into whether true freshman Mabrey Mettauer is the answer for the future at the quarterback position.
Locke isn’t the only person who has felt the heat over the past week. Offensive coordinator Phil Longo was supposed to turn Wisconsin into a high-powered modern offense. But after his group’s latest performance, questions about his future with the program have emerged.
Longo’s seat will grow hotter if Wisconsin’s offense continues its downward spiral.
On the other side of the ball, Mike Tressel’s defense has failed to find any sort of identity. Upon his arrival, the goal was to mesh the elite parts of former defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s scheme with what worked for Tressel at Cincinnati.
But thus far, it seems like Wisconsin’s defense is an identity-less, lost squadron.
The 42 points his group surrendered in Iowa City was the most the Badgers had allowed to Iowa in almost 50 years. With a highscoring Oregon offense led by Heismancandidate quarterback Dillon Gabriel, things won’t get any easier.
However sideways things have gone since
Fickell’s arrival, the head coach isn’t going anywhere. Athletic director Chris McIntosh isn’t going to give up on his signature hire after two years. And Fickell is fielding a team largely made up of players that former head coach Paul Chryst recruited. Fickell signed a seven-year contract back in 2022 and should receive at least four years to make things right at Wisconsin.
But for coordinators Longo and Tressel, the same comfort cannot be felt. Just because Fickell’s job is presumably safe doesn’t mean there isn’t immense pressure on him to win, and the lack of success on both sides of the ball could make Fickell rethink his vision for his coaching staff. He isn’t afraid of cutting ties with coaches when the time calls for it, as the letting go of former offensive line coach Jack Bicknell, Jr. last offseason showed.
A blowout against Oregon would further expose Wisconsin’s schematic weaknesses and put more pressure on Fickell to make changes.
Now more than ever, Wisconsin runs the risk of falling into a deep pit of mediocrity. If things don’t change on both sides of the ball, why should Longo and Tressel’s jobs be safe? Would Fickell really feel comfortable sticking with a system that for two seasons has proven ineffective?
“There’s going to be a lot of guys, myself included first and foremost, that are going to have a self-check, and look in the mirror, and really kind of self-evaluate what they’re willing to do moving forward,” Fickell said after the Iowa loss.
If Wisconsin cannot avoid an embarrassment against Oregon, Fickell will have to start making some tough decisions. The self-check he talked about a couple of weeks ago may come down to the gutting reality of cutting ties with the key staff he brought to Madison.
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gameday
Three keys to victory for Wisconsin
By Tejas Rao STAFF WRITER
The Wisconsin Badgers football team (5-4) will welcome the No. 1 Oregon Ducks to Camp Randall on Saturday for their tenth game of the season.
The Badgers have performed quite average recently, with two consecutive losses against Iowa and Penn State.
The Oregon Ducks are one of two undefeated teams left in the Big Ten conference and have decimated their opponents with only a couple of close calls. This Oregon team is potentially the best-performing team in the country, and there are a couple of crucial reasons for this.
Oregon possesses star talent, with players such as quarterback Dillon Gabriel, running back Jordan James and wide receivers Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart. Similarly, on the defensive end of the football, defensive back Jabbar Muhammad and defensive line Derrick Harmon bring the same elite talent to the Ducks. Oregon also doesn’t appear to have any obvious weaknesses that create holes in their playing style on the field, manage the pocket well and ease their rushing on a variety of plays.
But Wisconsin could pull off the biggest upset of the season and make up for their recent losses. Here are three keys to a Badgers win on Saturday.
Improve the offensive line’s ability to create gaps for rushing the ball against hard defenses
In the Badgers’ last game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, they only managed 134 rushing yards on 28 attempts compared to Iowa’s 345 yards on 54 attempts, according to the UW Badgers website. And five out of Iowa’s six touchdowns
came from successful rushing plays, while the Badgers’ only touchdown of the game was a 25-yard pass from quarterback Braedyn Locke to wide receiver C.J. Williams. Wisconsin’s 4.4-yard average per rush against Iowa will hardly suffice this Saturday against Oregon’s defensive line. The Badgers offensive line must find ways to create gaps for rushing the ball to give a significant number of opportunities to running backs Tawee Walker and Darrion Dupree to show what they can do.
As reported by the UW Badgers website, during the Badgers’ three-game win streak earlier in the season against Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern, rushing was at 5.6 yards on average. This could result in a better start for Wisconsin against the Ducks if Wisconsin’s defense gets good stops on the other side.
Higher pass completions from Locke
In the Badgers’ past two losses, Locke threw one interception against Penn State, essentially the game-ender for Wisconsin, and two interceptions against Iowa. Both quarterbacks from Penn State and Iowa combined for zero interceptions.
If head coach Luke Fickell and his team want to push the ball forward against the Ducks, Locke’s pass completion must improve on Saturday. When the Badgers won three in a row during last month, Locke had a 64.76% pass completion. But so far in November, he has achieved only 52.05% pass completion.
Locke’s ability to combine with wide receivers and tight ends are paramount to improving his pass completion and to get that football to the endzone
THIS WEEK’S BIG GAMES
6 Tennessee at 11 Georgia
Athens, Ga.
6:30 p.m. Saturday
ABC
17 Clemson at Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pa. 11 a.m. Saturday
ESPN
Utah at 18 Colorado Boulder, Co. 11 a.m. Saturday Fox
24 Missouri at 23 South Carolina Columbia, Sc. 3:15 p.m. Saturday ESPN
against Oregon’s defense.
Locke will look for key receivers Williams, Vinny Anthony II and Will Pauling as well as tight ends Tucker Ashcraft and Riley Nowakowski.
Utilize more ‘Nickel Defense’ formations on the defensive side of the football
The Ducks prioritize a certain type of offense known as the “blur offense” — coined by former head coach Chip Kelly, according to Sports Illustrated. They make it all about maintaining fast paces to the line quickly, run plays in rapid succession and use a no-huddle approach to keep the defense off balance and wear them down.
This Ducks squad is quite effective at running a spread offense with multiple wide receivers, creating space across the field. The spread formation helps open up running lanes while allowing the quarterback to read the defense and make quick decisions on whether to hand off, run or pass.
This is where the “Nickel Defense” formations on the defensive side of the football come into effect.
This kind of defense plays five defensive backs that add extra speed on the field. This could help counter Oregon’s spread formations and keep them to a three-and-out. Having more defensive backs will also allow the Badgers defense to match the speed of Oregon’s receivers, making it easier to stop quick passes and points.
It’s safe to say that the Badgers will have to bring an impressive and monumental change to their playbook— and make a marked improvement over how they played for the past couple of games—to emerge victorious against the Oregon Ducks this weekend.
Oregon (10-0)
Ohio State (8-1)
Texas (8-1)
Penn State (8-1)
Indiana (10-0)
BYU (9-0)
Tennessee (8-1)
Notre Dame (8-1)
Miami (9-1)
Alabama (7-2)
Ole Miss (8-2)
MAGGIE SPINNEY/THE DAILY CARDINAL
gameday
What we’ve learned through nine games of Badgers football
By Yadi Chavez STAFF WRITER
As the Wisconsin Badgers football team heads into their final three weeks of the 2024 season, they hope to get rid of any resemblance of the past two games against Penn State and Iowa.
The Badgers had much to look forward to at the start of the season, but top-ranked Alabama and Penn State tested their might, and No. 1 Oregon won’t be a cakewalk either.
While the expanded 18-team Big Ten conference brought excitement for new matchups this year, Wisconsin hasn’t made any big statements about the state of their football program even when given several chances to do so.
Several questions remain for the future of the Wisconsin football program. Here’s what we’ve learned about the team through nine games.
2025 could see another quarterback change
Bringing in a talent like Tyler Van Dyke through the transfer portal for the 2024 season seemed like a smart move from Wisconsin’s perspective. Van Dyke had his ups and downs during a three-year tenure as the starter at the University of Miami, but showed flashes of quarterback play that would greatly benefit head coach Luke Fickell’s offense.
Through his first two games at Wisconsin, Van Dyke played solid, but not amazing in nonconference games the Badgers were expected to win big. Van Dyke totaled two touchdowns, 406 passing yards and had a 60.3% completion percentage. Going into week three against top-ranked Alabama, the pressure was high for the Badgers to at least show their ability to keep up with the Tide. Van Dyke didn’t make it out of the first quarter.
A brutal ACL tear put Van Dyke on the shelf for the rest of the season, thrusting redshirt
sophomore Braedyn Locke into the starting spot yet again. Locke started three games in the 2023 season after then-starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai went down with injury in the Badgers’ 15-6 loss against Iowa. Even with the disappointment of Van Dyke’s injury, Locke had some experience in the role that he could now build on.
Locke has started in six games this season, totaling nine touchdowns, eight interceptions, 1,293 passing yards and a 57.8% completion percentage. Locke seemed like he was maturing into the future starter role during the Badgers’ three-game stretch against Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern in October.
But then came subpar showings against then-ranked No. 3 Penn State and unranked Iowa that created serious doubt surrounding the legitimacy of another year with Locke as the starting quarterback.
Barring a spectacular final stretch from Locke, Fickell and his staff will almost surely keep their options open when deciding who will be their quarterback come 2025. Whether that’s giving freshman Mabrey Mettauer a shot, sticking with Locke or looking to the transfer portal once again remains to be seen.
Rushing attack can still be potent
Wisconsin football has historically relied on the run game for its success. You don’t get to 22 straight bowl games without having a successful game plan year in and year out.
Fickell’s hiring sought for the Badgers to adapt to an “air raid” offensive scheme that fit the modern style of college football. While it’s been a challenge trying to incorporate that this year, the rushing game has still proven to be a successful method of offensive attack for Wisconsin.
Senior running back Tawee Walker lands at eighth in the Big Ten rushing leaders list and third in Big Ten rushing touchdowns list. It’s safe to say that
The mascot matchup: A look into Bucky Badger vs Puddles the Duck
By Gabriella Hartlaub ARTS EDITOR EMERITUS
While the Wisconsin vs. Oregon football game will hold most fans’ attention, Saturday’s matchup also brings together two of the most recognizable mascots in college football: Bucky Badger and Puddles the Duck.
Walker’s addition to the team from the Oklahoma Sooners proved to be successful.
But Walker isn’t the only running back contributing to Wisconsin’s sixth most rushing yards in the Big Ten. Sophomore Cade Yacamelli and freshman Darrion Dupree combined for 480 yards on the ground. That number would surely be higher if Chez Mellusi didn’t step away from the team in October.
Walker will leave Wisconsin after this season, but the emphasis on running the ball doesn’t have to. Any good offense requires a good balance of pass and rush, and it seems like Wisconsin still has glimpses of that running game that has carried them for decades.
This isn’t the same Big Ten
Long gone are the days of Wisconsin positioning for the top spot in the Big Ten West. Now, Wisconsin has to compete with every other team in the expanded 18-team conference for standings. These are some harsh reminders that we are in a mediocre period for Wisconsin Badgers football.
Their second half collapse against USC, the slow-burn defeat at home versus Penn State and the disaster of a game against Iowa all revealed the same message. Whether they are a founding member or joined the conference this year, every Big Ten team will throw their best shot at Wisconsin.
Their 3-3 conference record gets even more sour to digest when you consider the missed opportunities in the USC and Penn State games, moments Fickell and the Badgers could’ve used to catapult themselves toward the top of the Big Ten.
The Wisconsin Badgers will face the No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks this Saturday. The Badgers will look to do everything they can to shock the nation. If they can’t? It’ll be another conference loss that solidifies how much tougher it has become to compete in the Big Ten.
While Puddles is older, both have a long history at their respective schools and have become cultural icons in college sports beyond football. Whether it be Puddles appearing at Oregon alum Sabrina Ionescu’s wedding earlier this year or Bucky appearing in the “Snyder cut” of “Justice League,” this weekend features a powerhouse versus powerhouse mascot matchup built on a century of history.
In the past, Wisconsin and Oregon have attempted to use live animals as their mascot. A live badger was brought to the sidelines of Wisconsin games during the late 1800s. But the badger was known to be violent and unpredictable and was soon surrendered to the Henry Vilas Zoo.
The University of WisconsinMadison decided the logical next step was to use a raccoon mascot named Regdab (“Badger” spelled backwards.) Regdab’s tenure was short because he was also an unpredictable live animal — and not a badger.
For the Ducks, the story was much simpler. In the 1920s, a local fraternity’s tradition of catching a live duck somewhere on campus and bringing it to sporting events became mainstream. All ducks were named Puddles, and the campus community became extremely protective of them. Because of this
ritual, campus security promised prosecution of anyone who disturbed the ducks. This tradition ended when the Humane Society questioned the school’s treatment of live animals in the 1940s.
While the Oregon’s sports teams are now proudly known as the Ducks, it wasn’t always that way. In the early 1920s, some weren’t happy about being associated with a duck.
“There is nothing brave, glorious or inspiring about [a duck’s] presence,” Harold Mangum, a Sports Editor for Oregon’s student paper, wrote in 1926.
But Bucky has one thing on Puddles: he’s never been recorded getting into a physical altercation with another school’s mascot. Not to say that it’s never happened — I’m sure any UW-Madison student could tell you that Bucky can put up a fight — but it’s never happened on national television. Puddles is not so lucky.
During Oregon’s 2007 season opener, national television caught Puddles in intense beef with the Houston Cougar mascot. Fists flew, chases ensued and at one point, Puddles engaged in what can only be described as a webfooted pile driver. Puddles was suspended for a game because of the incident.
The very first human in a Bucky Badger mascot involved someone wearing a paper mache Bucky head and boxing gloves, showing his readiness to fight for a win. Maybe one day, instead of football, Bucky and Puddles will duke it out for the title of Best College Mascot. For now, we’ll just have to settle for the football showdown on Saturday.
MAGGIE SPINNEY/THE DAILY CARDINAL
GREY SATTERFIELD/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Pius, John
Chaney, Jake
Mellusi, Chez
Hallman, Ricardo
Kekahuna, Trech
Fourqurean, Nyzier
Walker, Tawee
Curtis, Tackett
Williams, C.J.
Burroughs, Quincy
Delancy III, RJ
Lucas, Xavier
Pauling, Will
Jones, Dilin
Thomas, Jaheim
Anthony II, Vinny
Lowery Jr., Leon
Brown, Austin
Green, Bryson
Van Dyke, Tyler
Agard, Omillio
Mettauer, Mabrey
Griffin Jr., Joseph
Lofy, Max
Dupree, Darrion
Latu, Kamo’i
Henry, Tyrell
Zachman, Preston
Cheeks, Sebastian
Snowden, Amare
Spasojevic, Milos
LaCrue, Cole
Peterson, Darryl
Arnett, Owen
Locke, Braedyn
Heiberger, Thomas
Nordgaard, Langdon
Moore, Braedyn
White, Nate
Duclona, Jonas
Fane, Cam
Arnold, Jace
Berry-Johnson, Kyan
Gauthier, Landon
Thomas-Kumpula, Davion
Wohler, Hunter
Taylor, Justin
Yacamelli, Cade
Harper, Jay
O’Neill, Grady
Anderson, Haakon
Dunn, Raphael
Alliegro, Christian
Meyers, Gavin
Van Zelst, Nate
Moeller, Alex
Toombs, Angel
Ituka, Gideon
Acker, Jackson
Jarvis, Charlie S
Wisconsin Badgers Oregon Ducks
Nowakowski, Riley
Ashcraft, Tucker Lane, Mason
Seagreaves, JT
Jansey, Tyler
Bortolotti, Grover
Trudgeon, Jackson
Gloudeman, Zach
Solliday, Garrison
Dalloul, Tamer Van Dyn Hoven, Evan Bertrams, Atticus Cory, Ryan
Lafaele, Anelu Capper, Deed
Braam, Drew Heywood, Kevin Brunner, Joe Raymond, Cody Renfro, Jake
Mullens, Manny Witt, Aaron
Huber, Joe Weber, Hank Okla, Joey Brown, Evan McKinley, Duncan Durand, James Nelson, Leyton
Benzschawel, JP Barten, Ben
Nelson, Barrett Mahlman, Riley Kodanko, Kerry Jensen, Derek
Mandell, Emerson
Clifford, John Johnson, Dillan Lange, Peyton McDonald, Will Cubberly, Colin Nelson, Jack Brooks Jr., Chris Stec, Grant Vils, Nolan
McGohan, Jackson Booker II, Rob Thompson Jr., James Vakos, Nathanial Howard, Jamel
West, Sean Neal, Curt
Willor Jr., Ernest Hills, Elijah
Lane, Brandon McDonald, Cade Lahm, Gavin
Smith, Gianni
Pfeiffer, Cayson
Johnson, Tysheem Burch, Jordan Holden, Traeshon Bassa, Jeffrey Bryant Jr., Gary Ferguson, Terrance Johnson, Brandon Jacobs, Jestin Moore, Dante Savage, Kobe Florence, Jahlil Whittington, Noah Muhammad, Jabbar Stewart, Evan Gabriel, Dillon Manning, Dontae Reed, Nikko Moga, Luke Uiagalelei, Matayo Alexander, Kam Fields, Dakota McClellan, Jeremiah Thomas, Brock Woodyard, Peyton Dickey, Jurrion Laulea, Sione Lowe, Justius Terrell, Khamari Davis, Solomon Johnson, Tez Novosad, Austin Pleasant, Rodrick Kasper, Kyler Purchase, Blake Sadiq, Kenyon Hayes, Ryder Turner, Tyler James, Jordan Williams, Dylan Flowers, Aaron Riggs, Da’Jaun Harris, Jay Soelle, Connor Bynum, Ellis Platt, Brayden Lopa, Kingston Saint Paul, Jalen Cobbins, Brison Obidegwu, Ify Jackson, Devon Austin, Daylen Limar, Jayden Alford, Preston Boettcher, Bryce Haasenritter, Kilohana Porter, Ashton Barksdale, Xavier Grisham, Zach Winston, Emar’rion
Mothudi, Kamar Rushing, Cruz Pruitt, Jacob Davis, Timon Sappington, Atticus Straton, Will Sipos, Dane Caton, Kade Breland, Aydin Basso, Luke Grace, Zach Tuioti, Teitum Dunne, Luke Allers, Chip Rushing, Elijah Gray, Tionne Strother, Nishad Washington, A’Mauri Brooks, Devin Mixon, Jerry Harmon, Derrick Harper II, Marcus Ferguson, Trent Moore, Jaeden Crader, Fox Rossi, Kanen Dickey, JaJuan Whipple, Holden Delgado, Ty Cornelius, Ajani Boulton, Bryce CressAllen, Beau Mims, Auston Jaramillo, Bailey Pickard, Charlie Silva, George Laloulu, Iapani Rogers, Kawika Iuli, Dave McRoy, JacQawn Conerly Jr., Josh Bedford, Matthew Johnson, Jericho Wilson, Gernorris Moala, Lipe Gresham, Dillon Jones, Jaxon Pellum, Ryan Saleapaga, Roger Ressler, Jack Brashear, Travis Anderson, Darrian Pugliano, A.J. Herbert, Patrick Sims, Xadavien Bidwell, Brady Caldwell, Jamaree James, Ross Gardner, My’Keil Meadors, Grant Kinsman, Tyler Ware-Hudson, Keyon Duzansky, Nick Hurych, Gage Simmons, Josh Boyle, Andrew Green, Terrance
