Tag: Badger Football

Nebraska true freshman quarterback predicts win vs. Badgers

Nebraska true freshman quarterback predicts win vs. Badgers

Nebraska true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola predicted a Cornhuskers over the Badgers on Nov. 23.

Following Nebraska’s 28-20 loss to the USC Trojans in Los Angeles on Saturday, Raiola did not lack confidence when asked about the adjustment process moving to new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen.

“We’re only gonna keep building on it these next two weeks,” Raiola said. “We’ll get the win next week and get us to a bowl.”

He was referring to Nebraska’s 11th game of the season vs. the Wisconsin Badgers. Like UW, the Cornhuskers are on a multi-game losing streak dating back to October.

Raiola’s crew has dropped four consecutive contests, to No. 5 Indiana, No. 2 Ohio State, UCLA and USC. The Badgers, meanwhile, have lost three straight to No. 4 Penn State, Iowa and No. 1 Oregon.

Through 10 games as a true freshman this season, the Georgia native has registered 203 completions, 2,112 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. Earlier this season, he led his group to a signature win over Shedeur Sanders and the No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes in Lincoln.

Raiola has attracted a decent amount of media attention this season because of his uncanny physical resemblance to Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. His level of play, however, is far from that caliber — during the four-game skid he’s thrown just two touchdowns to six interceptions.

Wisconsin hasn’t dropped a game to Nebraska since 2012. The Badgers will look to continue that streak when the two teams meet on Saturday.

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell cryptic about Badgers play-calling plan after Phil Longo firing

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell cryptic about Badgers play-calling plan after Phil Longo firing

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell offered an update on Wisconsin’s play-calling situation on Monday. Or, he purposely avoided giving one.

Fewer than 24 hours after Wisconsin fired offensive coordinator Phil Longo, Fickell fielded several questions from the media in his weekly press conference on Monday.

When asked about his play-calling plans going forward, Fickell offered somewhat of a cryptic response.

“Why does it matter?” Fickell said. “The offense will be run, and those guys will do a lot of things collaboratively. I don’t think it’s really important as to who is calling it. I guess it gives you the ability to point a finger at somebody. It’s not one of those things I think is that important. Sometimes I think it’s overrated in some ways, but it’ll be a collaborative group and those guys will have to work a lot together.”

Taken literally, Fickell’s answer would be troubling. The more reasonable explanation is that he wanted to avoid questions on the topic — something that wasn’t going to be able to do after firing Longo just one day earlier.

If Wisconsin’s current three-game losing streak, culminating in the crushing 16-13 loss to No. 1 Oregon on Saturday, impacted Fickell’s long-term vision for the program enough to make a significant coaching move, there was likely a plan in place when the move was made.

If Fickell’s explained blueprint is the way Wisconsin goes, wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton, running backs coach Devon Spalding and tight ends coach Nate Letton are in position to work together to kick-start the offense. In reality, one of them will likely emerge as the play-caller.

Fickell also added that Guiton will inherit quarterback coaching responsibilities alongside his role with the wide receivers.

UW will continue to gear up for its Nov. 23 road game against Nebraska.

Luke Fickell clarifies Badgers starting quarterback moving forward

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell clarifies Badgers starting quarterback moving forward

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell offered a firm update on the Badgers’ quarterback situation on Monday.

When asked by media about redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke’s status as UW’s starting quarterback, Fickell didn’t hesitate. Locke will remain the team’s starter.

The update arrives two days after UW dropped its marquee matchup against No. 1 Oregon. Wisconsin led 13-6 at the beginning of the final quarter before allowing 10 points to the top-ranked Ducks. Locke struggled in the contest, completing 12 of 28 passes for 96 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The update also arrives the day after Wisconsin fired offensive coordinator Phil Longo.

Fresh off a three-game losing streak and after that coaching change, UW looks to regroup for its Nov. 23 game with Locke under center.

In nine games this season, Locke has completed 129 pass attempts for 1,514 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. He is up to 10 turnovers in seven starts since taking over for Tyler Van Dyke after his injury.

Wisconsin’s other option at the position is true freshman Mabrey Mettauer. The four-star recruit has attempted just one collegiate pass, and he appears far from ready for high-stakes game action.

Given Locke’s sample size as the starter this season, fans can expect more of the same from the second-year Badger. Taking care of the football is critical for Wisconsin to take care of business against rival Nebraska.

The Badgers and Cornhuskers are scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Wisconsin welcomed two Badger legends back to Camp Randall for game vs. No. 1 Oregon

Wisconsin welcomed two Badger legends back to Camp Randall for game vs. No. 1 Oregon

Wisconsin football welcomed a pair of iconic Badger alumni back to Camp Randall for its marquee matchup vs. No. 1 Oregon on Nov. 16.

2016 consensus First-team All-America team member Ryan Ramczyk served as UW’s honorary captain during the opening coin toss, while 2014 Heisman Trophy runner-up Melvin Gordon was honored at halftime of the 16-13 loss.

Ramcyzk, who played offensive line at Wisconsin from 2015-16, started all 14 games of the 2016 season at left tackle for head coach Paul Chryst. He was selected with the No. 32 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2019.

He has been sidelined for the entire 2024 season with the Saints after starting in all 101 of his appearances with New Orleans from 2017-2023.

Gordon, meanwhile, was honored to a chorus of applause during the first quarter. Wisconsin took time to celebrate the former Badger on the 10-year anniversary of his 408-yard explosion against Nebraska on Nov. 15, 2014.

In 2014, Gordon wrapped up his final year in Madison with 2,587 rushing yards. He was picked No. 15 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers before making a pair of Pro Bowls in 2016 and 2018.

Even though the Badgers dropped the contest to the Ducks in nail-biting fashion, the team’s commitment to honoring its alumni is evident. The team also took time to celebrate Heisman winner Ron Dayne in its game vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide earlier this season.

Wisconsin will be back in action on Nov. 23 vs. the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln.

Big Ten dominates top five of US LBM Coaches Poll after Week 12

Big Ten dominates top five of latest US LBM Coaches Poll after Week 12

Wisconsin lost to No. 1 Oregon 16-13 on Saturday, falling to 5-5 on the season and 3-4 in Big Ten play.

The Badgers have now lost three consecutive contests after their impressive three-game win streak to open October.

The US LBM Coaches Poll is conducted weekly throughout the college football regular season and the Badgers have been out of contention for the majority of the 2024 season.

After Week 12, the top five didn’t change much. Oregon is still No. 1 after its win over the Badgers,  Ohio State stayed at No. 2, Texas remained at No. 3, while Penn State and Indiana rounded out the top five, moving up one spot each ahead of Week 13.

Here’s a look at the full Week 12 US LBM Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports:

Rank Team Record Points
1 Oregon Ducks 11-0 1,375 (55)
2 Ohio State Buckeyes 9-1 1,316
3 Texas Longhorns 9-1 1,263
4 Penn State Nittany Lions 9-1 1,158
5 Indiana Hoosiers 10-0 1,109
6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9-1 1096
7 Alabama Crimson Tide 8-2 996
8 Georgia Bulldogs 8-2 993
9 Ole Miss Rebels 8-2 984
10 Miami Hurricanes 9-1 847
11 Tennessee Volunteers 8-2 823
12 SMU Mustangs 9-1 744
13 Boise State Broncos 9-1 714
14 Texas A&M Aggies 8-2 646
15 BYU Cougars 9-1 633
16 Clemson Tigers 8-2 569
17 Army Black Knights 9-0 509
18 Colorado Buffaloes 8-2 464
19 South Carolina Gamecocks 7-3 379
20 Tulane Green Wave 9-2 280
21 Iowa State Cyclones 8-2 268
22 Arizona State Sun Devils 8-2 251
23 UNLV Rebels 8-2 93
24 Memphis Tigers 9-2 77
25 Kansas State Wildcats 7-3 67

Schools Dropped Out

No. 18 Washington State; No. 21 Missouri; No. 22 LSU; No. 24 Louisville;

Others Receiving Votes

Washington State 65; Illinois 56; Missouri 44; Syracuse 18; James Madison 11; Duke 9; Pittsburgh 7; Louisiana 5; Louisville 2; Vanderbilt 1; Sam Houston 1; LSU 1; Colorado State 1;

Photo gallery from Wisconsin football’s narrow loss to No. 1 Oregon

Best photos from Wisconsin’s narrow loss to No. 1 Oregon in Week 12

The Wisconsin Badgers lost to No. 1 Oregon 16-13 on Saturday night at Camp Randall Stadium. The loss marked Wisconsin’s third in a row, as the team is now 5-5 on the season and 3-4 in Big Ten play.

The Badgers looked markedly better on the defensive side of the ball versus the Ducks, limiting the No. 1 team in the country to a season-low 16 total points. That output came thanks to big plays in key moments, starting with Nyzier Fourqurean’s interception off Dillon Gabriel in the first quarter.

Wisconsin entered the halftime break up 10-6, in a strong position to pull the upset win.

The Badgers then got a stop to open the second half before embarking on a nearly nine-minute, 16-play drive that ended with a field goal. It expanded Wisconsin’s lead to 13-6, which remained the score to open the fourth quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Gabriel was able to complete a 15-yard pass to tight end Terrance Ferguson to convert a fourth-and-nine. The Ducks finished off the drive with a touchdown on the ground by running back Jordan James, knotting the game up at 13-13.

Oregon later added a field goal with less than three minutes left in the game and the Badgers weren’t able to answer, falling 16-13.

Wisconsin will now travel to face Nebraska at Lincoln Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23. In the meantime, here some of the best photos from Wisconsin’s almost historic upset against the Ducks:

WATCH: The play that decided Oregon’s win over Wisconsin

WATCH: The play that decided Oregon’s win over Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Badgers nearly clinched an upset win over No. 1 Oregon on Saturday night. Unfortunately, the Ducks executed when it mattered most.

The Badgers, who had lost two straight games to Big Ten opponents, were on the precipice of their first signature win of the 2024 campaign.

The team led 13-6 at the start of the fourth quarter. Oregon faced a fourth-and-nine at the Badgers’ 41-yard line, where a defensive stop could become the game’s defining moment.

Instead, Oregon registered that defining moment.

Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel scrambled to the left, fired off his left foot and hit tight end Terrance Ferguson through heavy traffic. With the catch, the Ducks completed the first down and generated momentum for a touchdown drive.

From that point on, UW was outmatched. The Badgers failed to score for the remainder of the contest, and Oregon left with a 16-13 win.

A win for Luke Fickell’s program could have shifted the Badgers’ momentum for the rest of the 2024 season. Now, the team sits at 5-5 entering a road test against Nebraska next weekend.

Former Wisconsin linebacker continues dominant 2024 season with Eagles

Former Wisconsin linebacker continues dominant 2024 season with Eagles

Former Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun delivered another signature performance for the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football.

After being named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday, Baun captained the Eagles defense to its sixth straight win in a 26-18 victory over the division rival Washington Commanders.

Baun recorded 15 tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass deflection in the triumph. He also denied Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels from moving the chains on a key fourth-down play late in the fourth quarter.

Down 12-10 at the Eagles’ 26-yard line, Washington elected to go for it on the short fourth-down sequence with hopes of reaching the end zone and shaving time off the clock. Daniels fielded the snap and scrambled to the right before Baun fended off an offensive lineman and executed the tackle.

Here’s the full play:

On the season, Baun has now recorded 102 total tackles, an NFL-best 64 solo tackles, five tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two sacks and one interception.

The season for Baun is nothing short of incredible. In four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, Baun notched just 88 total tackles. In just one season, he has suddenly turned into one of the best inside linebackers in the NFL.

Baun will be back in action on Nov. 24 when the Eagles face off against the Los Angeles Rams.

Wisconsin class of 2025 defensive tackle commit named Ohio D-4 Defensive Player of the Year

Wisconsin class of 2025 defensive tackle commit named Defensive Player of the Year

Wisconsin class of 2025 defensive tackle commit Drayden Pavey was named Ohio D4 Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday.

Pavey, who pledged his commitment to UW on Oct. 22, earned the nod after a dominant senior season with Taft High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. The class of 2025 prospect registered 87 total tackles, 52 solo tackles 11.5 sacks, 24 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery in 11 games during his final high school season.

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound recruit flipped to the Badgers roughly three months after initially committing to Purdue. He became Wisconsin’s 24th commitment of its 2025 cohort, a bunch that On3 currently considers the eighth-best in the Big Ten.

247Sports currently ranks the three-star defensive tackle as the No. 737 overall player in the class of 2024, the No. 85 player at his position and the No. 29 recruit from his home state of Ohio. Pavey is the fourth defensive linemen in Wisconsin’s class of 2025 alongside three-stars Torin Pettaway, Wilnerson Telemaque and Xavier Ukponu.

Pavey’s spectacular output at Taft should certainly encourage Badger fans. Given the program’s struggle to secure defensive line commitments early in the 2025 recruiting window, Pavey looks like he’s the real deal.

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Oregon Ducks: Series history, all-time record

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Oregon Ducks: Series history, all-time record

The Wisconsin Badgers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) will host the No. 1 Oregon Ducks (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT. It will be the seventh all-time meeting between the two programs.

The Badgers and Ducks have split their six prior matchups, but Oregon comes in on a three-game win streak, including Rose Bowl wins in 2011 and 2019.

The Ducks defeated Wisconsin 28-27 in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2020 with quarterback Justin Herbert leading the Ducks to a game-winning drive with less than eight minutes left while trailing 27-21.

In the contest, Herbert was limited to 14 completions on 20 pass attempts for 138 yards and an interception, but he did score three times on the ground, churning out 29 rushing yards in the game.

Over on the Badgers’ side of things, quarterback Jack Coan completed 23 of 25 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, also throwing an interception in the contest. Wide receiver Quintez Cephus was on the receiving end of the touchdown, finishing his day with 59 yards and the score on seven receptions.

Oregon enters Saturday’s matchup after a 39-18 win over Maryland in Week 11, reaching the 30-point threshold for the ninth game in a row. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel had 183 passing yards and three touchdowns in the win.

Wisconsin was idle in Week 11 after getting crushed by Iowa 42-10 on the road in Week 10, losing their second game in a row. Luke Fickell and his squad have a tough task ahead of them against the top team in the country for their first meeting as Big Ten foes Saturday.