Tag: braedyn locke

Wisconsin quarterback captains dominant passing attack in win vs. Purdue

Wisconsin quarterback captains dominant passing attack in win vs. Purdue

Wisconsin starting quarterback Braedyn Locke dominated during the Badgers’ 52-6 victory against the Purdue Boilermakers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday.

Locke, who saw his first action after starter Tyler Van Dyke went down with a season-ending injury in Week 3 against the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, nearly doubled his passing yard output from a week ago.

Locke’s first stellar passing sequence arrived when he tossed a 52-yard bomb to wide receiver Vinny Anthony II for a touchdown towards the tail end of the first quarter. After tossing a pair of interceptions to Purdue’s Kyndrich Breedlove, Locke found his groove.

The redshirt sophomore led the Badgers on five scoring drives in the second half en route to a 52-6 victory over the Boilermakers. He connected on 69-yard and 25-yard scores to wide receiver Trech Kekahuna and leaned on playmaker C.J. Williams on multiple third-down passing plays.

While Purdue’s secondary is one of the weakest in the sport, the performance was unquestionably the best of Locke’s 2024 campaign thus far with the Badgers. He finished with 359 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and a 180.8 passer rating.

Here are a few of his biggest plays of the day:

Locke and company will return to the field against unranked Rutgers and Northwestern on Oct. 12 and Oct. 19, respectively, before squaring off against No. 7 Penn State, Iowa, No. 6 Oregon in its ensuing three contests.

With questions looming about Locke’s passing capabilities for the remainder of the 2024 slate, he will look to continue the momentum he discovered against the Boilermakers against a collection of the conference’s most formidable opponents down the stretch.

Wisconsin reaches home game scoring milestone in win vs. Purdue

Wisconsin reaches home game scoring milestone in win vs Purdue

Wisconsin football recorded its most points in a Big Ten home game since 2014 in its 52-6 victory over Purdue on Saturday.

The last time UW surpassed the 52-point mark at home came against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2014 (59 points). Former UW running back legend Melvin Gordon recorded an FBS-record 408 rushing yards in the triumph. At the time, Nebraska held the No. 16 ranking in the country while Wisconsin boasted the Associated Press’ No. 20 position in the nation’s hierarchy.

The Badgers absolutely dominated the Boilermakers on both the offensive and defensive end in the blowout home victory. The win marks UW’s 18th consecutive triumph over Purdue and the most points against the Boilermakers since the Badgers’ 62-point output in 2011.

Wisconsin accumulated 597 combined passing and rushing yards on the day. Quarterback Braedyn Locke threw for 359 passing yards and three touchdowns on the day, and wide receiver Trech Kekahuna reeled in a career-best six passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

Running back Tawee Walker also led Wisconsin’s backfield with 94 rushing yards three touchdowns. He, alongside Dilin Jones, Cade Yacamelli, Darrion Dupree and Gideon Ituka, accounted for 234 rushing yards behind a sturdy offensive line.

While Purdue is far from the Big Ten’s best, the output is a big victory for the Badgers following a 38-21 debacle against the USC Trojans a weekend ago. The team will continue its journey towards bowl season against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Oct. 12.

RECAP: Wisconsin dominates Purdue en route to first Big Ten win of 2024 season

Initial thoughts on Wisconsin’s dominant win over Purdue

Wisconsin notched its first Big Ten win of the 2024 season with its 52-6 blowout victory over Purdue.

The score tells the story — the Badgers mostly dominated the game from start to finish.

Related: Wisconsin fans react to dominant victory over Purdue: ‘Badgers are back’

That dominance started early when a Purdue muffed punt led to a quick 12-yard touchdown from Badgers RB Tawee Walker. Wisconsin then added another touchdown before the end of the first quarter with a 52-yard strike from QB Braedyn Locke to WR Vinny Anthony.

That 14-0 lead was trimmed to 14-6 by two Purdue field goals. But that’s as close as the Boilermakers got the rest of the afternoon. Wisconsin added to its lead with a clutch touchdown drive before halftime, then hit another gear after halftime with a 31-0 second-half margin.

The Badgers’ performance against Purdue was badly needed after back-to-back losses against top teams No. 1 Alabama and No. 11 USC, respectively. USC’s 28-0 second-half margin built a cupboard full of questions. This win against a poor Purdue team does not answer all of them, but it at least gets the season headed back in the right direction.

QB Braedyn Locke finished the afternoon with 20 of 31 passing for 359 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. WR Trech Kekahuna was the star of the afternoon with six receptions, 134 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Other notable performances include WR Vinny Anthony (two receptions, 66 yards, one touchdown), RB Tawee Walker (19 carries, 94 yards, three touchdwons) and WR C.J. Williams (four receptions, 60 yards).

Wisconsin improves to 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in Big Ten play with the win. Purdue drops to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play. The Badgers are back in action on Oct. 12 at Rutgers.

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Photo gallery from Wisconsin’s disappointing loss to No. 13 USC Trojans

Photo gallery from Wisconsin’s disappointing loss to No. 13 USC Trojans

The Wisconsin Badgers football team lost to USC 38-21 on Saturday. It was the second straight blowout loss for Luke Fickell’s squad.

Wisconsin was coming off of their bye week and quarterback Braedyn Locke took over as the full-time starter following Tyler Van Dyke’s season-ending knee injury versus Alabama on Sept. 14.

The Badgers took advantage of three first h-lf turnovers from the Trojans, taking a 21-10 lead into the break with running back Tawee Walker scoring two touchdowns in the second quarter.

The second half was the complete opposite story for Wisconsin as they fumbled a punt return, which led to a USC touchdown on the following possession. They also failed to convert on fourth down deep in Trojans’ territory in the third quarter.

USC quarterback Miller Moss hit his stride following halftime, throwing for two touchdowns in the second half, while also adding a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown.

Braedyn Locke finished his day with 180 passing yards and a touchdown, while also throwing a pick-six to Mason Cobb in the fourth quarter. Tawee Walker compiled 55 yards and two scores on 12 carries.

For USC, Miller Moss produced 308 passing yards and three touchdowns while adding 17 rushing yards and a score on five rushes. Wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane had a monster day, reeling in 10 catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

The Badgers will look to get back on track when they host Purdue at Camp Randall on Saturday in Week 6. In the meantime, here are some of the best pictures from Wisconsin’s Week 5 loss to the Trojans:

Wisconsin QB Braedyn Locke: Rest of 2024 ‘an opportunity to show what I can do’

Wisconsin QB Braedyn Locke: Rest of 2024 ‘an opportunity to show what I can do’

The Wisconsin Badgers have entered an all-too-familiar position with their starting quarterback.

Veteran starter Tyler Van Dyke will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, leaving redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke to take his place under center. It is the second time in as many seasons that Luke Fickell’s team must rely on the underclassman backup after an injury to the starter. The same happened in 2023 when Tanner Mordecai missed a month with a hand injury.

Related: Wisconsin updated depth chart for Week 5 vs. USC includes new starters at quarterback, tight end

The Badgers should be better equipped to handle the situation this time around. Unlike in 2023, the staff got a bye week to reevaluate the team and reconfigure the offense to Locke’s strengths. The instant performance when Locke entered against Iowa last season and against Alabama two weeks ago should not be held against the staff or OC Phil Longo.

The next few weeks of play, however, can be.

All of those signs point toward better results from Locke and the offense than during the same situation last season. The team got a week to prepare, the offensive personnel is a year older in the system and the offensive line is arguably the strength of the team. But most importantly: Locke himself should be much improved after another year of development in Longo’s system. If Wisconsin wanted to create a ‘quarterback factory,’ Locke should be the first proof of concept.

Expectations for the redshirt sophomore through the rest of the season should surpass his tallies of 777 passing yards, 5.1 yards per attempt, 5 touchdowns and 1 interception on 50% completion in limited action in 2023.

How is Locke handling the situation? The Badgers new starter met with the media on Tuesday and discussed stepping in as starter entering Week 4 after losing the starting job to Van Dyke in training camp:

“I do know that this is an extremely great opportunity for me, and an opportunity to show what I can do,” Locke said. “I definitely don’t take that lightly. I’m thankful for it. You don’t wish that Tyler [Van Dyke] goes down or anything like that. You hate it for him. But I have to step in, I have to do my job. So yea, I’m extremely excited and I’m ready to do what I can do.”

Locke and the Badgers are back in action on Saturday in their Big Ten opener at No. 13 USC at 3:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. CT. USC’s defense is improved from its FBS-worst standing over the last few years. It still ranks No. 65 in ESPN SP+’s latest update. Locke and the Badgers offense should have little trouble putting points on the board.

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Wisconsin Badgers vs. USC Trojans: Series history, all-time record

Wisconsin Badgers vs. USC Trojans: Series history, all-time record

Wisconsin (2-1) will travel to face No. 13 USC (2-1) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT in Los Angeles. It will be the eighth all-time meeting between the two programs and their first since the two teams squared off in the 2015 Holiday Bowl.

The Badgers have gone 1-6 against the Trojans to this point, though they won that Holiday Bowl matchup 23-21. That was the first matchup between the schools since 1966.

Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave completed 18 of 27 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown while running back Corey Clement added 67 yards and a score on 19 carries. The victory secured the team’s second straight bowl win, a streak that ultimately reached five years in a row (2014-2018).

Prior to the Holiday Bowl in 2015, all six of Wisconsin’s prior contests with USC came from 1953-1966, all of which they lost.

USC enters Week 5 of the 2024 college season 2-1 on the year, dropping their contest this past weekend 27-24 on the road to Michigan in a battle of two ranked teams. The Wolverines were able to churn out 290 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground in the game.

Wisconsin will be entering Saturday’s contest in Los Angeles with Braedyn Locke as their new starting quarterback, replacing Tyler Van Dyke after he suffered a season-ending knee injury versus Alabama on Sept. 14. The Badgers will likely look to rely on their running game similar to Michigan to take down the Trojans in Week 5.

Luke Fickell discusses QB Tyler Van Dyke’s possible return to Badgers in 2025

Luke Fickell discusses QB Tyler Van Dyke possible return to Badgers in 2025

There are more pressing matters to the Wisconsin Badgers than whether veteran quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will use a medical redshirt year and return to the program in 2025.

The team is 2-1 through three games, though it hasn’t shown the improvements many expected to see after a sub-par 2023 season. It now begins Big Ten play this Saturday at No. 13 USC. A strong showing during the conference schedule is pivotal to the future of the Luke Fickell era with the program.

Related: Wisconsin updated depth chart for Week 5 vs. USC includes new starters at quarterback, tight end

Nevertheless, there is the future-looking question of Wisconsin’s quarterback situation entering 2025.

Van Dyke would be eligible to use a medical redshirt season since his injury occurred during Wisconsin’s third game of the year. He could return, Wisconsin could find a veteran transfer for a third consecutive season, or Braedyn Locke could take the job.

A lot will be decided by Locke’s play as the Badgers’ starter through the rest of 2024.

Fickell addressed the situation when meeting with the media on Monday. 247Sports Evan Flood noted that the Wisconsin head coach left the door open for Van Dyke’s potential return.

Flood also noted the same for veteran defensive lineman James Thompson Jr., who suffered a significant injury during training camp.

Wisconsin has badly missed Thompson Jr. through its first three weeks of the season. His potential return in 2025 would be significant news as Fickell continues to develop his recently-recruited defensive personnel.

Van Dyke’s return, meanwhile, should be revisited after the season concludes. Wisconsin should not hesitate to move to Locke long-term if he excels through the rest of this season.

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TV channel, start time revealed for Wisconsin Badgers Week 5 game against USC

Start time revealed for Wisconsin Badgers Week 5 game against USC

The Wisconsin Badgers will travel to play the No. 11 USC Trojans in Week 5 of the 2024 football season. It will be the Badgers’ Big Ten opener after they sat idle during Week 4.

The game, as recently announced, will be at 3:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. CT next Saturday, Sept. 28.

UW received its start time on Saturday following a six-day selection by television networks. CBS will broadcast the game with Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell on the call.

This will mark the second time Wisconsin has played at 3:30 p.m. ET in 2024. Luke Fickell’s team previously squared off against the South Dakota Coyotes during that timeslot in Week 2. It will be the team’s second-consecutive nationally-televised game after losing to No. 4 Alabama on Fox Big Noon Kickoff.

Lincoln Riley’s squad will enter the Week 5 contest following a 27-24 defeat at the hands of the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor on Sept. 21. Just 37 seconds bridged the gap between a victory and defeat for USC in its first Big Ten football game in its illustrious history.

If anything, the back-and-forth should cause Badger fans some concern for their first road and conference game of the season. Outside of his pick-six sequence late in the third quarter, experienced quarterback Miller Moss handled the stout Michigan defense quite well.

UW’s defense, meanwhile, is clearly worse than what the Wolverines can offer. On Sept. 14, Wisconsin allowed 42 points to the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide at Camp Randall.

To put that into context, Alabama quarterback Jaden Milroe threw 17 passes in the 42-10 thumping. Moss’ fewest completion attempts in a single game this season is 30.

Sure, USC may take a hit in the latest AP poll. In the end, the Trojans are a better overall team than Wisconsin in every single unit on the field.

Fickell and company will look to prove their doubters wrong at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 28.

Wisconsin football Week 5 opponent suffers heartbreaking loss vs. Michigan

Wisconsin football Week 5 opponent suffers heartbreaking loss vs. Michigan

The No. 11 USC Trojans lost dramatically to the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Saturday.

USC, which had generated a steady passing attack all game, lost 27-24 in the final minute of its first conference game as a member of the Big Ten.

The outcome is certainly notable considering Wisconsin will travel to Los Angeles to play USC at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 28.

The game’s first four possessions, two from both USC and Michigan, ended in punts before the Wolverines leaned on Kalel Mullings and their run game. Mullings ripped a 53-yard run off in Michigan’s third possession to put his team ahead 7-0 late in the first frame.

Wolverines RB Donovan Edwards followed Mullings’ rush with a 41-yard strike of his own early in the second to extend Michigan’s lead to 14. The Trojans would execute on a field goal before the half ended, as Sherrone Moore’s team walked into the locker room with an 11-point edge.

USC quarterback Miller Moss captained a 12-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half and bring the Trojan deficit to four, 14-10. On his next possession, Moss gift-wrapped an interception to future NFL star cornerback Will Johnson, who returned the pick 42 yards to the end zone.

Moss responded with two more passing touchdowns to Jay Fair and Ja’Kobi Lane, but Michigan would ultimately prevail.

Shortly after ripping off a 63-yard rush on a crucial third down play late in the fourth quarter, Michigan’s Mullings reached the end zone for the second time to push the Wolverines ahead 26-24 with just 37 seconds remaining in the game.

USC quarterback Miller Moss would bring the Trojans up to their 37-yard line, but it was too little, too late. Michigan turned USC over on downs.

Although USC lost, Moss looked crisp for a majority of his throws. He threw 51 times against a stout defense, which suggests Riley and company may lean heavily on its passing attack against a struggling UW secondary.

USC’s defense, which has received criticism over the past few years, also appeared more than respectable in Ann Arbor. The Trojans forced a pair of fumbles and recorded two sacks against the Wolverines.

If Wisconsin hopes to contend against the Trojans, it will need to generate points early and often. In other words, the team will need to look much different than it did against the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide on Sept. 14.

How former Wisconsin QB Myles Burkett has performed at Albany in 2024

How former Wisconsin QB Myles Burkett has performed at Albany in 2024

Wisconsin starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke’s recent ACL injury has prompted Badger faithful to question the readiness of UW’s quarterback room for the remainder of the season.

Following Van Dyke’s injury, Wisconsin turned to redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke to captain the offense. He did so for the remaining three-quarters of what became a blowout loss to Alabama and will continue to do so for the remainder of the season.

Locke finished Saturday’s nationally-televised bout with 13 pass completions for 125 yards and a touchdown. For now, Fickell will continue to place his trust in Locke. Regardless, some fans have wondered where those in Wisconsin’s 2023 quarterback room have gone.

One of those players is Myles Burkett. Following a 2023 campaign in which he didn’t see any action, the Franklin, Wisconsin native transferred to Albany for a new opportunity.

Through three games as the Great Danes’ starter, Burkett has totaled 53 completions, 761 passing yards and three touchdowns. In his most recent game vs. Idaho, he completed over 60% of his throws for 290 passing yards.

The former Badger has performed well overall during Albany’s 1-2 start to the season.

Burkett played in two games for the Badgers in 2022. Most of his playing time came in a blowout win against New Mexico State on Sept. 17.

Locke, meanwhile, started three games in 2023 after former quarterback Tanner Mordecai went down with an injury. He led the Badgers to a fourth-quarter comeback victory against Illinois on Oct. 21 and became the first Wisconsin freshman quarterback to notch a pair of 240+ yard passing performances in a season.

Clearly, there’s a difference in talent between the two players. Burkett now plays at the FCS level, and Locke has received plenty of snaps at the Big Ten level. Still, fans seem discouraged by his lack of consistency in limited action against the Crimson Tide.

The redshirt sophomore will certainly earn his stripes if he performs well for the rest of the season. The Badgers square off against No. 11 USC, Rutgers, No. 10 Penn State, Iowa, No. 9 Oregon and No. 22 Nebraska in seven of their final nine games of the season.