Football games are often decided by the performances of the best players on the field.
We saw in wins against Illinois and Michigan what the Badger offense is capable of when quarterback Graham Mertz is at the top of his game. We then saw in the loss to Northwestern what the team looks like when Mertz struggles.
There are countless other variables at play, but what makes good teams great is how their best players perform when the spotlight is turned on.
Related: Opinion: A Big Ten rule is close to taking away the remaining credibility of the 2020 season
Now, I say all of that to contradict myself, as the result of the 2-1 and No. 18-ranked Wisconsin Badgers’ contest this weekend against 5-1 and No. 10-ranked Indiana Hoosiers may end up coming down to the performance of the replacement for Hoosier star quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Before Penix Jr. tore his ACL last weekend, the upcoming contest between the two teams was shaping up to be a Mertz–Penix Jr. battle with each young quarterback having a shot to make crucial plays and lead their team to victory.
Each team’s best players will still play a role, but with Penix Jr. out there are now some under-the-radar names to watch out for this weekend.
Here are eight players to watch when Wisconsin and Indiana take the field on Saturday:
Game preview: