Tag: Wisconsin Badgers

Steelers QB named recipient of 2024 Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award

Russell Wilson earns the 2024 Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award, adding another accolade to his legacy of leadership and community service.

The hits keep on coming for Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson. After a dominant Week 13 performance against the Cincinnati Bengals that saw Wilson throw for over 400 yards and 3 TDs, he has now received an incredible Big Ten honor. Wilson, who played his final collegiate season at Wisconsin, earned the prestigious 2024 Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award, which is given to former Big Ten athletes who exemplify leadership and humanitarianism.

The Steelers QB has not only personified leadership throughout his thirteen years in the NFL, but has also given back to the community, such as with his frequent visits to local children’s hospitals.

Wilson has also made history, as no recipient of the Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award has ever previously won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which Wilson accomplished back in 2020 for his incredible off-field generosity to the community.

It appears that every passing day proves why Wilson is not only the quarterback of the future for the Pittsburgh Steelers but also one of the kindest human beings to ever don the Black and Gold.

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Dusty May and Michigan basketball shock No. 11 Wisconsin with first loss

Big win for the Wolverines!! #GoBlue

New Michigan basketball head coach Dusty May promised early results and, boy, is he already delivering.

Right out of the gates, the Wolverines looked like a new team and one that can contend with anyone. But with Michigan losing in the second game to Wake Forest in Greensboro, there was some question as to whether or not this thing could really take off.

However, since then, Michigan destroyed teams in the Fort Myers Tip-Off, including Xavier, en route to a 6-1 record. But Tuesday night saw a different battle — playing on the road against a ranked Big Ten team. And that team being a pesky Wisconsin squad at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers looked better than the maize and blue in the early going, taking a commanding lead as Michigan started 2-of-14 from 3. But Michigan basketball fought back, with Vlad Goldin dominating in the middle. To start the second half, the Wolverines went on a run and erased the six-point halftime deficit.

But the two teams traded blows until late in the game, when the Wolverines took a three-point lead. And they managed to hold on to beat No. 11 Wisconsin, 67-64.

Here are the team leaders:

Player FG 3PT REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
Vladislav Goldin 9-16 0-1 5 1 1 3 2 24
Danny Wolf 7-11 2-4 7 5 3 5 1 20
Roddy Gayle Jr. 3-6 1-2 6 5 1 1 2 9
Nimari Burnett 2-7 2-6 7 1 1 2 1 8
Will Tschetter 2-4 1-3 2 0 0 0 0 5
Rubin Jones 0-2 0-2 2 1 1 1 0 1
Tre Donaldson 0-7 0-3 7 3 0 0 2 0
Sam Walters 0-3 0-3 1 0 0 0 0 0
LJ Cason 0-3 0-1 2 0 0 0 2 0

Up next, Michigan basketball hosts Iowa at Crisler Center on Saturday at 2 p.m. EST.

Another notable recruit decommits from Wisconsin’s class of 2025

Three-star wide receiver decommits from Wisconsin class of 2025

Three-star wide receiver Cameron Miller decommitted from Wisconsin’s class of 2025 on Tuesday.

The promising prospect committed to UW on May 15 over several other offers from programs such as Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M and Nebraska.

His decommitment follows Wisconsin’s in-season firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Miller had profiled as a slot receiver in Longo’s air raid attack.

“I would like to thank Coach Fickell, Coach Guiton, and Coach Longo for believing me and giving me the opportunity to play at the next level,” Miller wrote on X. “After talking with my family I’ve decided to recommit from the University of Wisconsin.”

247Sports currently considers the three-star prospect as the No. 488 player in the class of 2025, No. 74 wide receiver and 12 recruit from his home state of New Jersey. Shortly after Miller’s announcement, 247Sports insiders Evan Flood, Nick Osen and Brian Dohn all released crystal ball predictions forecasting Miller to land with the Kentucky Wildcats

Miller is the fourth class of 2025 talent to decommit from Wisconsin’s program. He follows three-star kicker Erik Schmidt’s flip to Notre Dame, three-star LB Brenden Anes’ flip to Tennessee and three-star defensive lineman Wilnerson Telemaque’s flip to West Virginia.

Luke Fickell’s program has, however, flipped top-ranked class of 2025 defensive lineman Jaylen Williams, four-star quarterback Carter Smith and three-star cornerback Cairo Skanes over the past month.

After Miller’s decision, Wisconsin’s class of 2025 ranks No. 23 in the nation with 24 players committed. Three-star Eugene Hilton Jr. is the only wide receiver to commit to UW’s 2025 cohort.

Former Wisconsin football assistant elevated to Chicago Bears interim offensive coordinator

Former Wisconsin football assistant elevated to Chicago Bears interim offensive coordinator

Former Wisconsin wide receivers coach Chris Beatty was named interim offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears on Monday.

The move follows the Bears’ firing of coach Matt Eberflus and the subsequent promotion of fellow Badger coaching alumnus Thomas Brown to interim coach on Friday.

Beatty, who joined the Bears’ coaching staff this offseason, has been serving as the wide receivers coach through Chicago’s first eight games. He now inherits an offensive coordinator responsibility that Brown has held since Nov. 12 — the day Chicago relieved Shane Waldron of his coordinator duties.

Despite holding the OC title, Beatty will not call the plays. Brown, who has received two promotions in less than one month, will continue to orchestrate the offensive blueprint from the sidelines, per NBC Sports.

Beatty’s connection to Wisconsin goes back to 2013 under former Badgers coach Gary Anderson. As wide receivers coach, Beatty captained a wide receiver room that featured Jared Abbrederis and Kenzel Doe.

The next season, he was accompanied by Brown (running backs coach) on the offensive side of the ball. That crew went 11-3 and secured a 34-19 Outback Bowl victory over Auburn.

Following his time in Madison, Beatty spent time as the running backs coach at Virginia (2015) and wide receivers coach at Maryland (2016-18) and Pittsburgh (2019-2020), before making the jump to the NFL level. There, he served Los Angeles Chargers’ wide receivers coach from 2021-23 before being hired by Chicago in 2024.

Beatty’s journey to the NFL level is almost identical to Brown’s. The two will look to bring the Bears back to the win column when they return to the field on Dec. 8 against the San Francisco 49ers.

Steelers’ T.J. Watt-Nick Herbig tandem lead NFL in one incredible statistic

Watt and Herbig dominate the NFL in forced fumbles, showcasing the Steelers’ success in drafting elite Badger edge rushers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers know how to draft Badger edge rushers. The Black and Gold’s Wisconsin alumni, OLBs T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig, are currently wrecking opposing offensive lines. An important statistic proves their success: the duo leads the entirety of the NFL in forced fumbles.

Watt and Herbig currently hold the first and second spots for most forced fumbles in the NFL, with five and four forced fumbles respectively. Combined, the edge-rushing tandem leads all other duos at their position with an impressive nine forced fumbles.

One incredible feat for fans to consider is that although Herbig is only one forced fumble away from being tied with Watt for the top spot, he has started seven fewer games than the 2021 D.P.O.Y.

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How will the inevitable return of OLB Alex Highsmith factor into the Wisconsin alumni edge-rushing tandem? Watt’s versatility in Week 13, which saw him line up all over the defense, could allow Highsmith and Herbig to play alongside him, creating an unstoppable Steelers pass rush.

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Notre Dame football flips the nations top 2025 specialist from Wisconsin

A big flip for the Irish

With the early signing period rapidly approaching, teams are looking to flip commitments which is exactly what Notre Dame football did on Monday afternoon.

The Irish were able to flip kicker [autotag]Erik Schmidt[/autotag] from the Wisconsin Badgers, giving them a solid option heading into next fall. Over the last few cycle, Notre Dame has used the transfer portal to fill its kicker need, but that shouldn’t happen this fall.

Schmidt is widely regarded as one of the best at his position, ranking as the No. 1 overall kicker in the country according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

The Wisconsin native decided that playing home wasn’t the best option for him, as the lure of playing for one of the most recognizable college football brands clearly stood out to him. Schmidt can punt and kick, so his versatility was important in the Irish’s pursuit of him.

Marquette’s Erik Schmidt (18) kicks off during the game against Sussex Hamilton at Hart Park on Friday, Oct.11, 2024.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

Wisconsin basketball ascends latest AP Poll after 8-0 start to 2024-25 slate

Wisconsin basketball ascends latest AP Poll after 8-0 start to 2024-25 slate

Wisconsin basketball landed at No. 11 in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll on Monday.

After being ranked No. 15 in the poll’s Week 5 installation, Wisconsin earned 903 points in this week’s update to claim the No. 11 spot in the hierarchy. UConn, which held the No. 2 position, and Houston, which boasted the No. 6 spot in Week 4, each fell out of the top 10 to elevate the Badgers.

Purdue (No. 8) is the only Big Ten squad ranked higher than Wisconsin on this week’s list. Oregon (No. 12) and Illinois (No. 23) are the two other Big Ten teams to make the top 25.

For context, UW received 666 points in Week 4 after securing wins over UT Rio Grande Valley, UCF and Pittsburgh from Nov. 18-24. Wisconsin’s Greenbrier Tip-Off-clinching win over Pitt, a team now ranked No. 18 in the poll, and 103-88 win over Arizona appear to hold some extra weight for voters.

Meltdowns from other squads also help the Badgers’ case. The Indiana Hoosiers dropped two straight to Louisville and No. 7 Gonzaga to drop out of the rankings, No. 20 North Carolina lost to both No. 2 Auburn and Michigan State, and No. 17 Houston lost to No. 10 Alabama and Notre Dame.

Wisconsin sensation John Tonje deserves a bulk of the credit for Wisconsin’s scorching start. The 6-foot-5 wing is averaging 22.9 points per game off 52.7% from the floor, over 42% from deep and nearly 95% from the charity stripe.

As a team, UW is averaging nearly 85.3 points per game off 46.8% from the field, 35.9% from beyond the arc and a blistering 86.4% from the free throw line.

Wisconsin’s next game is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CT vs. Michigan at the Kohl Center. The Badgers will then travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to face rival Marquette, the current No. 5-ranked team in the sport.

Former Wisconsin quarterback throws for over 400 yards in narrow divisional win

Former Wisconsin quarterback throws for over 400 yards in narrow divisional win

Former Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson threw for over 400 yards in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Wilson looked as dynamic as ever in the Steelers’ ninth win of the 2024 season. On the day, the UW alumnus completed 29 of 38 pass attempts for 414 passing yards and three touchdowns for a 126.4 quarterback rating.

The Seahawks legend recorded 257 of those passing yards before halftime, the most of any first half of his storied 13-year career.

Wilson made virtually every type of throw throughout the afternoon. He found ten different Steelers receivers and captained the team to seven scoring drives.

Arguably his most impressive throw came with under 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Up 27-24 at the Bengals’ 25-yard line, Wilson evaded pressure and launched a sidearm bullet to tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 25-yard touchdown. That extended the team’s lead to 10 entering the fourth quarter.

Wilson also found wide receiver Van Jefferson for a 43-yard gain late in the fourth frame to essentially ice the contest.

The former Badger great reminded fans of what he’s capable of. After enduring over two years of criticism for his performance as a Denver Bronco, Wilson looks like he could provide stability to a franchise in desperate need of a quarterback since the departure of future Hall of Fame QB Ben Roethlisberger.

Wilson is now 5-1 as the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2024. His sole loss came a week ago during the Thursday night snowstorm against Cleveland Browns, a game in which he completed a whopping 12 of 13 pass attempts for 203 passing yards and one touchdown on third and fourth down scenarios.

Wilson’s 9-3 Steelers will be back in action against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Dec. 8.

Wisconsin Badgers legend: Heisman Trophy ‘lost its legitimacy when Melvin Gordon lost’

Wisconsin Badgers legend: Heisman Trophy ‘lost its legitimacy when Melvin Gordon lost’

Wisconsin Badgers running back legend Montee Ball commented on the 2024 Heisman Trophy race on Sunday.

With the college football regular season officially in the books, the conversation surrounding the 2024 Heisman Trophy race has started to ramp up.

As of Dec. 1, Colorado Buffaloes’ wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is the heavy favorite to pocket the award. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who has registered 2,288 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns, is considered to be firmly in second.

Hunter, who projects to land in the top five of the 2025 NFL draft, is responsible for 92 catches, 1,152 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns this season. On defense, he recorded four interceptions, 11 pass deflections and 31 total tackles.

Ball sides with Jeanty, but connects it back to Melvin Gordon not receiving award in 2014:

“Jeanty deserves the Heisman but it is a popularity contest,” Ball said. “The award lost its legitimacy when Melvin Gordon lost.”

Most notably, the UW alumnus played alongside fellow running back legend Gordon from 2011-2012.

Gordon, who enjoyed a multi-year NFL career with the Chargers and Broncos, finished second to Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota for the Hesiman Trophy in 2014. That season, the Badger star tallied 2,587 rushing yards and led nation in rushing at 184.8 yards per game.

In retrospect, Gordon may have been snubbed. Only Oklahoma State legend Barry Sanders rushed for more yards in a single season. Mariota led the Football Bowl Subdivision in virtually every major statistic for a quarterback, but Gordon produced arguably the greatest season by any running back in college football history.

We’re seeing a similar situation with Hunter and Jeanty. The precedent heavily favors the more popular player. In this case, that’s Hunter.

The Heisman Trophy ceremony is slated for Dec. 14 in New York City.

Four Big Ten teams lead top ten of US LBM Coaches Poll after Week 14

Four Big Ten teams in top ten of US LBM Coaches Poll after Week 14

Wisconsin finished its 2024 season with a 24-7 loss to Minnesota in Week 14. The loss led the team to a closing 5-7 (3-6 Big Ten) record, missing a postseason berth for the first time since 2001.

The US LBM Coaches Poll is conducted weekly throughout the college football regular season, and the Badgers were far from consideration for the final two months of the 2024 season.

After Week 14,  Oregon remained at No. 1 after its win over Washington, Texas moved up to No. 2 following a victory against Texas A&M, while Penn State, Notre Dame and Georgia rounded out the top five. Other top teams from the Big Ten are Ohio State (No. 8) and Indiana (No. 9).

Here’s a look at the full Week 14 US LBM Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports:

Rank Team Record Points
1 Oregon Ducks 12-0 1,325 (53)
2 Texas Longhorns 11-1 1,272
3 Penn State Nittany Lions 11-1 1,192
4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 11-1 1,165
5 Georgia Bulldogs 10-2 1,104
6 Tennessee Volunteers 10-2 1,025
7 SMU Mustangs 11-1 977
8 Ohio State Buckeyes 10-2 976
9 Indiana Hoosiers 11-1 895
10 Boise State Broncos 11-1 840
11 Alabama Crimson Tide 9-3 733
12 South Carolina Gamecocks 9-3 700
13 Arizona State Sun Devils 10-2 665
14 Miami Hurricanes 10-2 646
15 Ole Miss Rebels 9-3 638
16 Iowa State Cyclones 10-2 565
17 Clemson Tigers 9-3 457
18 BYU Cougars 10-2 419
19 UNLV Rebels 10-2 255
20 Missouri Tigers 9-3 229
21 Illinois Fighting Illini 9-3 225
22 Colorado Buffaloes 9-3 215
23 Army Black Knights 10-1 196
24 Memphis Tigers 10-2 187
25 Syracuse Orange 9-3 108

Schools Dropped Out

No. 18 Tulane; No. 19 Texas A&M;

Others Receiving Votes

Texas A&M 90; Duke 39; Tulane 37; Louisville 18; Kansas State 15; Louisiana 11; Michigan 2; Georgia Tech 2; Miami (OH) 1; Iowa 1;