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Northwestern QB Jack Lausch: 20-point loss to Wisconsin ‘didn’t reflect how we played’

Northwestern QB Jack Lausch shares his thought after Wisconsin’s 23-3 win:

Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch was not discouraged by his team’s performance in its 23-3 loss to Wisconsin on Saturday.

“I don’t think much changed [from last week’s win over Maryland],” Lausch began. “We executed well, we moved the ball well. That’s the crazy part about football, you get down in the red zone and if you don’t execute, the score doesn’t reflect how you move the ball sometimes. I thought as a whole we could have executed a lot better obviously. I think this was close. I think the score didn’t reflect how we played…I don’t think there’s far to go.”

Related: What Northwestern head coach David Braun and players said after loss to Wisconsin

He shares the sentiment after Saturday’s game saw Northwestern finish with 209 total yards — 82 of which come through the air. The Wildcats drove inside the Badgers red zone twice. The first trip ended with a blocked field goal and the second with a made 26-yard chip shot field goal.

Here is Northwestern’s full drive chart from the 20-point loss:

  • Four plays, 32 yards — punt
  • Six plays, 14 yards — punt
  • Three plays, two yards — punt
  • Four plays, eight yards — missed field goal
  • 11 plays, 65 yards — blocked field goal
  • Three plays, seven yards — punt
  • Three plays, two yards — fumble
  • 13 plays, 59 yards — field goal
  • Three plays, three yards — punt
  • One play, -18 yards — safety
  • Three plays, seven yards — punt
  • Three plays, -1 yards — punt

That is 12 total drives excluding a kneel-down to end the first half. One safety, seven punts, a fumble and three field goal attempts. That is not quite a dynamic afternoon from the offensive group.

The star of the game, then, was the Badger defense against a Wildcats offense that had shown some recent life. Saturday was the second time in three weeks Wisconsin held its opponent out of the end zone entirely. It has now allowed just 16 total points over that three-game stretch — that form directly coinciding with the start of the team’s three-game win streak.

Northwestern drops to 3-4 with the loss. It has solid strong form at times this season, including its 37-10 road win at Maryland. But an outing with 82 passing yards and 209 total yards often won’t be enough to beat top Big Ten competition.

Wisconsin is back on the field next Saturday against No. 3 Penn State.

Northwestern, meanwhile, moves forward with a road trip to Iowa. Lausch and the Wildcats offense will need to find significant improvement if the team is to reopen the possibility of bowl eligibility.

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Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell discusses playing in Northwestern’s temporary stadium

Luke Fickell discussed the odd location of Saturday’s game:

This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is not concerned with the context or the setting surrounding his team’s trip to Evanston, Illinois to face the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday.

That setting: Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium — a temporary facility built for the 2024 and 2025 seasons as Northwestern completes construction on the new Ryan Field.

Related: What Northwestern head coach David Braun said about Wisconsin football, Phil Longo and QB Braedyn Locke

For Badgers fans who haven’t followed this story, that means the days of a 3/4-empty Ryan Field with ankle-long grass are in the past. Wisconsin’s final game in that building was its 42-7 win over the Wildcats in 2022, Jim Leonhard’s first game as interim head coach.

Northwestern has since moved to this temporary setup. It is 2-2 in the new building this season with wins over Miami (OH) and Eastern Illinois, and losses to Duke and Indiana. Saturday will actually be the final game played there this season, as the Wildcats will move to play the remainder of its home games at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.

Here is a look at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium, a 12,000-seat practice field with one sideline abutting Lake Michigan.

Aug 31, 2024; Evanston, Illinois, USA; A general view of the temporary Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium where the Northwestern Wildcats will play the Miami (Oh) Redhawks in a football game. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Fickell was asked about playing in the unique setting during his media availability this week. He did not want to buy into the new stadium as any significant storylines.

“Wherever they ask us to play or tell us to play, we’ll play,” Fickell said. “If it’s a parking lot, we’ll play in a parking lot. I don’t think we got a whole lot to say after how we performed and how we played [against Northwestern] last year. So I couldn’t care less where we’re playing at and what the situation is.”

That performance he references is a 24-10 loss to the Wildcats at Camp Randall Stadium. The loss was the low point of the 2023 season for the Badgers, and was the game that led Northwestern to remove the ‘interim’ tag from head coach David Braun.

Fickell expanded on his message to the team and how the players should handle the trip.

“Anytime you go on the road in the Big Ten you’re going to have to handle some things,” Fickell continued. “Whether it’s a new stadium, whether it’s the wind. Whether it’s a locker room. It is what it is. Not going to spend a lot of time worrying about that. But obviously our guys will be aware that it’s not where they’ve probably played in the past or what they would expect. But again that can’t be any distraction or of any concern this week. Because we have a lot of work to do.”

Members of that 2022 team who currently start for the 2024 Badgers include WR Vinny Anthony, LT Jack Nelson, LG Joe Brunner, RT Riley Mahlman, TE Riley Nowakowski, DL Ben Barten and Curt Neal, OLB Darryl Peterson, ILB Jake Chaney, CB Ricardo Hallman and Austin Brown, and S Hunter Wohler and Preston Zachman.

A lot has changed since the 2022 Badgers led by Graham Mertz got Jim Leonhard his first win as a head coach. This trip to Evanston, Illinois guarantees to be different, both in the context surrounding the game and in its location.

All eyes should now turn to the weather forecast and the wind dial readings. Whether Fickell focuses on it or not, this new stadium setting has the chance to severely impact the on-field play.

Wisconsin and Northwestern will kick off at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT on the Big Ten Network.

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Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell discusses Chez Mellusi’s departure from Badgers program

Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell discusses Chez Mellusi’s departure from Badgers program

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell discussed Chez Mellusi’s recent departure from the Badgers program during his media availability on Monday.

The news broke last Thursday that Mellusi was stepping away from the program, reportedly to ‘continue rehabbing injuries that prevented him from playing to his expectation.’

Related: Wisconsin updated depth chart for Rutgers game sees true freshman running back enter two-deep

Fickell was not asked about the timeline surrounding Mellusi’s departure after Wisconsin’s 52-6 win over Purdue on Saturday. The focus of his postgame press conference was the team’s strong performance — including the stellar play of the team’s running back room.

Now that the dust settled on the win, Fickell took time to expand on Mellusi’s departure. Here is the full question and answer sequence:

Q: ‘I know this is last week’s news, but Chez stepping away from the program. What kind of conversations, if at all, did you have with him and how did that all play out?

Fickell: “Look, it’s not my spot to sit up here and to speculate on all of the things that are going through him. But I probably had a good hour, two hours, of conversation with him. Spent a lot of time with him. It just is what it is.

For him to be able to get away and try to get healthy, to be honest with you. We all have this expectation, that played the game. Your mind and your body have this expectation of how you are going to play. When you can’t do that it makes it really difficult. Sometimes, that’s because you can’t do it because, you know, maybe the opportunities aren’t there. Then sometimes deep down inside, maybe the health and things aren’t there. Sometimes as we get older, I compared it a little bit, I don’t want to say me, but at some point in time I stopped wrestling because where my mind was and where I wanted to be, I probably wasn’t, in a short amount of time, where I was going to get to.

So it was a little bit. It was a tough thing. But it wasn’t like ‘I’m outta here’ or ‘get out of here.’ We spent a lot of time together. Had a lot of conversations. We’ll continue to communicate. Who knows what it will lead to. That’s just one of those situations that’s not the easiest thing in the world. He’s been through a lot, he’s done a lot. I think his body just, right now, isn’t where his mind is.”

Wisconsin rushed for 228 yards on 5.6 yards per carry on Saturday against Purdue. Tawee Walker led the way with 19 carries, 94 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

The Badgers now move forward with Walker, true freshman Darrion Dupree and Cade Yacamelli as the top three at the position. The trio will be relied upon heavily as tough matchups remain against Rutgers (No. 44 in SP+), Penn State (No. 6), Iowa (No. 29), Oregon (No. 7), Nebraska (No. 26) and Minnesota (No. 41).

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Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer: WR Germie Bernard apologized to team after ‘Jump Around’ comment

Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer: WR Germie Bernard apologized to team after ‘Jump Around’ comment

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has been, as they say, ‘humble in victory’ after the Crimson Tide defeated Wisconsin 42-10 on Saturday.

He has been nothing but complimentary of Wisconsin’s gameday atmosphere and overall program after notching the first signature win of his Alabama tenure.

Related: After losing QB Tyler Van Dyke, what can make this Wisconsin football season a success?

That continued on Monday, when DeBoer made an effort to clarify that wide receiver Germie Bernard spoke with the Alabama team and apologized for his controversial postgame remarks on Wisconsin’s ‘Jump Around’ tradition.

Bernard, when meeting with the media postgame, said that the Crimson Tide were ‘ready to just shut that weak-a** jump song down.’ Those comments did not land well, which led to the apology that DeBoer described on Monday:

“Yeah I didn’t actually realize until yesterday, and actually [Germie Bernard] did come in and he owned it. I didn’t bring it up to him, I didn’t even know it happened until yesterday,” DeBoer said. “We want to be first-class. We slipped up a little bit there. And he addressed the team yesterday in our team meeting. And everyone knows who [Germie] is and respect the heck out of him…It was a great atmosphere. Wisconsin, the environment there, was great. I think our guys enjoyed that transition there inbetween the third and fourth quarter just as much as anyone. So nothing but respect for what the environment was and who they are as a program.”

Alabama now moves into its bye week before a marquee matchup against No. 1 Georgia on Sept. 28. Wisconsin does the same, with the next game being a road trip to No. 11 USC to open its Big Ten schedule.

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Luke Fickell delivers blunt assessment of Wisconsin’s 42-10 loss to No. 4 Alabama

Luke Fickell delivers blunt assessment of Wisconsin’s 42-10 loss to No. 4 Alabama

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell told reporters that he shared a clear message to his team after it suffered a 42-10 blowout loss to No. 4 Alabama on Saturday:

“If you haven’t had your a** whooped before, you just did,” Fickell explained. “It’s a good old-fashioned ass-whooping, at home, which hurts.”

Related: Takeaways from Wisconsin’s demoralizing loss to No. 4 Alabama

The blunt assessment came after mistakes plagued the Badgers the entire afternoon. Wisconsin lost two fumbles, missed a field goal and turned the ball over on downs. Alabama turned those four miscues into 28 points — the difference in the game.

The humbling final score tempers expectations for the rest of the season. Wisconsin faces a brutal Big Ten schedule with games against No. 11 USC, No. 8 Penn State, Iowa, No. 9 Oregon and No. 23 Nebraska. Improved play will be necessary to emerge with bowl eligibility.

Badgers fans certainly hope this loss is Wisconsin’s low point of the season. Otherwise, big-picture questions about the future of the program will persist.

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Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell: QB Tyler Van Dyke’s adversity at Miami ‘has made him who he is’

Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell: QB Tyler Van Dyke’s adversity at Miami ‘has made him who he is’

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell knows what former Miami transfer quarterback Tyler Van Dyke brings to the table.

Van Dyke was Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s prized transfer addition this offseason as the two coaches worked to recraft the Badgers roster with the goal of a resurgent 2024 season. He joins the program with years of starting experience and plenty of accolades. His collegiate career, however, has been anything but a linear path.

Related: These 13 Badgers can become household names as the 2024 football season goes on

The Glastonbury, Connecticut native first joined the Hurricanes program as a four-star recruit in the class of 2020. He spent little time before a breakout redshirt freshman season in 2021 that included a 62.3 completion percentage, 2,931 passing yards, 9.0 yards per attempt, 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions.

That season earned him ACC Rookie of the Year honors and the billing of one of the best young quarterbacks in the sport. Then the path got rocky.

Miami fired head coach Manny Diaz after the 2021 season and hired former Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal. That turnover eventually led to three offensive systems in as many years for Van Dyke. His efficiency plummeted as a result. Instead of a progression after a strong debut, the veteran quarterback regressed over the next two seasons as Miami went just 12-13. A 2,703-yard, 19-touchdown, 12-interception 2023 campaign was Van Dyke’s last at Miami before he entered the transfer portal this offseason and committed to Fickell and the Badgers.

The Badgers head coach joined CBS Sports HQ during Big Ten media days this week and discussed Van Dyke’s arrival in Madison, and specifically how his experience at Miami will help him grow and adapt in the Badgers’ offensive system.

“Tyler Van Dyke is a guy that’s been in three systems. He’s had three different offensive coordinators at Miami. He’s had to battle through a lot of ups and downs,” Fickell explained. “To me, that’s made him who he is. That’s given him the humility to get back up and continue to grow. He’s had to handle some of those adversities, and it showed when he walked in the door at our place. Because he was really humble, he was really embracing to all things and understood that this is going to be a competition.”

 

Fickell sells the quarterback battle as at true competition between Van Dyke and redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke. That is unlikely to be the complete truth given Van Dyke’s pedigree and the program’s decision to bring him in this offseason.

The rest of the comment should carry weight. Wisconsin enters 2024 after an adversity-filled 2023 campaign.  The program is in desperate need of a resurgence, a sentence that can also be applied to Van Dyke’s current situation and career path to this point.

There is an undercurrent of optimism that the Badgers’ stable offensive system with a strong offensive line, good rushing attack and terrific cast of weapons will allow the veteran quarterback to refind his 2021 form. If that happens, 2024 could be a turning point for both Van Dyke and for the Wisconsin program.

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Big Ten Team Previews: Indiana Hoosiers — Purdue Boilermakers — Illinois Fighting Illini — Northwestern Wildcats — Minnesota Golden Gophers — Nebraska Cornhuskers — Iowa Hawkeyes — Rutgers Scarlet Knights — Maryland Terrapins — Michigan State Spartans — USC Trojans — UCLA Bruins — Washington Huskies — Michigan Wolverines — Penn State Nittany Lions — Ohio State Buckeyes — Oregon Ducks — Wisconsin Badgers

Big Ten Position Previews: Quarterbacks — Running Backs — Wide Receivers — Offensive Lines — Tight Ends — Defensive Line — Linebackers — Cornerbacks — Safeties