wisconsin indiana preview – Syndication Server

WATCH: Wisconsin releases a hilarious hype video for this weekend’s game

The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers are set to face off against the 5-1 and No. 10 ranked Indiana Hoosiers tomorrow after yet another idle week…

The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers are set to face off against the 5-1 and No. 10 ranked Indiana Hoosiers tomorrow after yet another idle week due to a COVID-19-related cancelation.

One of the best things about college athletics during today’s age is each team’s social media presence and the hype videos they release.

Leading up to Saturday’s contest, the Wisconsin Badgers released one of the best ones I can remember featuring a hilarious performance from comedian Charlie Berens.

Enjoy:

Ope, hey there guy, glad we caught ya

Listen, it's been a long week.
But ya just gotta hang on til Saturday.
Let @CharlieBerens tell ya

OK, so keep 'er movin', Go Badgers,
and tell your folks we says hi. pic.twitter.com/F6x9aMz0cv

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) December 4, 2020

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CST as the Badgers look to improve to 3-1 on the season and enter the final week of the regular season with momentum.

Indiana Preview:

Wisconsin vs. Indiana: Eight players to watch

Football games are often decided by the performances of the best players on the field. We saw in wins against Illinois and Michigan what…

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.

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:

Five keys to a Wisconsin victory over Indiana on Saturday

It’s game week yet again for head coach Paul Chryst and the 2-1 Wisconsin Badgers. After yet another idle week the Badgers return to the…

It’s game week yet again for head coach Paul Chryst and the 2-1 Wisconsin Badgers.

After yet another idle weekend, the Badgers will return to the field three days from now and face the 5-1 and No. 10-ranked Indiana Hoosiers.

This hasn’t been the season that many had scripted for the Badgers, as through six weeks the team has missed as many games as they’ve played, two of which because of COVID-19 outbreak within their program and one because of an outbreak at Minnesota.

Despite no longer being eligible for the Big Ten Championship game due to the conference’s six-game requirement, Wisconsin gets to close their regular season with two ranked teams in Indiana and No. 24 Iowa and still has a shot at facing Ohio State during the conference’s “championship week” on December 19.

But that’s all down the road, and the focus right now is on the Michael Penix Jr.-less Indiana Hoosiers that will travel to Camp Randall this weekend.

This isn’t the Indiana team we’ve seen Wisconsin defeat 10 times in a row. However, it also isn’t the team we’ve seen this season with Penix Jr. under center.

Here are five things the Badgers must do on Saturday if they want to bounce back after the Northwestern loss and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive:

HC Paul Chryst discusses the possibility of Michael Penix Jr. missing Saturday’s contest

A report surfaced today that Indiana starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is expected to miss the remainder of the season after…

A report surfaced today that Indiana starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is expected to miss the remainder of the season after injuring his knee during the team’s victory against Maryland this weekend.

#IU QB Michael Penix Jr is expected to miss the rest of the season because of the lower leg injury he suffered on Saturday, per source.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 30, 2020

The news is a big blow to the 5-1 and No. 10-ranked Hoosiers, as they’re in the middle of an impressive season and Penix Jr. currently leads the conference in nearly every passing statistic.

Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Indiana and was asked about preparing to face the Hoosiers with a backup under center.

“You try to do your best. Obviously when you don’t have as much film which makes it a little more challenging,” Chryst said. “You know what they’re trying to do offensively and their quarterback has been playing at a high level. We don’t know for sure but we certainly know the possibility, so you try to do your best in your preparation.”

The Hoosiers are likely to be led by redshirt sophomore Jack Tuttle, a player who has thrown only 16 collegiate passes, 5 of which coming this season. So even though Chryst said preparation will be key heading into the contest, there is practically no film on Tuttle to go off of and not much of a track record to go off of.

One notable fact that Chryst did not bring up, however, is the Badgers did offer Tuttle back in 2016 and he made two unofficial visits to campus.

What is known about this whole situation is the Indiana offense is sure to look different without their star quarterback Penix Jr. under center, something which may prove to be a big break for a Wisconsin team that yet again is coming off an idle week after the Minnesota game was canceled due to COVID-19 cases within the Gopher football program.

The Badgers and Hoosiers will take the field at 2:30 CST on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium, with the Hoosiers looking to stay alive in the race for the Big Ten East and the Badgers looking to improve to 3-1 on the season.

REPORT: Indiana starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is out for the season

The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers will return to the field (for what seems like the fifth time) on Saturday and face off against the 5-1 and…

The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers will return to the field (which seems like the fifth “return” they’ve had) on Saturday and face off against the 5-1 and No. 10-ranked Indiana Hoosiers at Camp Randall Stadium.

Indiana has put together an impressive season thus far, starting the year 4-0 with wins against Penn State and Michigan before falling to top-ranked Ohio State by only seven points.

Their leader and best player, Michael Penix Jr, injured his leg last weekend against Maryland, however, and according to a report from Bruce Feldman will now miss the remainder of the season.

#IU QB Michael Penix Jr is expected to miss the rest of the season because of the lower leg injury he suffered on Saturday, per source.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 30, 2020

Along with playing the sports’ most important position and being immensely talented, he’s put together the best season-long performance the Big Ten has seen from the position.

Here is how his stats rank in the conference:

Pass attempts: first
Completions: first
Passing touchdowns: first
Total yards: first
Passing yards: first
Total touchdowns: first
Adjusted passing yards-per-attempt: second

He’s been practically unstoppable and has proven to be the spark the Indiana program needed.

The Badgers will now face the Penix Jr.-less Hoosiers on Saturday which will help their chances at bouncing back from the loss at Northwestern and improving to 3-1 on the season.