Tag: wisconsin vs buffalo

WATCH: Badgers linebacker blows up Buffalo’s option play

Junior linebacker starts off season with a bang

The Badgers are coming off of a 38-17 win over Buffalo in Week 1 this past weekend and an unheralded star from the game was linebacker Jake Chaney. Chaney finished the contest with five tackles, including one for a loss.

Chaney is entering his third season with Wisconsin and he seems poised to take a step up in his junior campaign. Operating in a Badgers defense that no longer has top edge rusher Nick Herbig (Steelers), Chaney could be the explosive outside linebacker that slides into that role.

Wisconsin went without a sack in the 21-point victory over Buffalo, but they will need to get after the quarterback this week versus Washington State on the road and beyond.

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CHECK IT OUT: Best pics from Badgers 38-17 win over Buffalo

Successful first game at Camp Randall for Luke Fickell

The Badgers football team won their 2023 opener Saturday versus Buffalo, defeating the Bulls 38-17 at Camp Randall in the official start of the Luke Fickell era in Madison.

After a slow start in the first half, Wisconsin came alive down the stretch outscoring Buffalo 24-7 in the second half. The running backs in particular put on a show for their home crowd.

Chez Mellusi sprinted through the whole Buffalo defense for an 89-yard score with just under nine minutes in the third quarter, igniting the audience after a relatively slow stretch for the Badgers offense.

Braelon Allen later added two rushing scores of his own and on the day, Allen ran for 141 yards on 17 carries. Combined with Mellusi’s 157 yards and two touchdowns, the running backs had 298 yards and four scores.

Quarterback Tanner Mordecai had a solid day as well, completing 24 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, though he did also have two balls intercepted on the day.

Here are some of the best images from Wisconsin’s victory:

Camp Randall comes alive on Chez Mellusi touchdown

Mellusi gets loose for impressive touchdown

After going into halftime with a meager 14-10 lead, the Badgers and their fans came alive when running back Chez Mellusi broke loose for an 89-yard rushing touchdown with 8:28 left in the third quarter.

Wisconsin’s lead reached 11 points following the successful extra-point attempt by kicker Nathanial Vakos. Fans and media from across the internet weighed in on social media.

Here is a look at how Badger fans reacted to Mellusi’s second score of the game, setting a new career-high:

Transfer cornerback could miss 2023 season

New cornerback could miss season opener

The Badgers football season is set to begin Saturday versus Buffalo at Camp Randall, but transfer cornerback Michael Mack could be forced to sit it out. The former Air Force player had his NCAA clearance waiver denied, making him ineligible to play.

Mack transferred to Madison this offseason after four seasons with Air Force and he was expected to be a big part of Wisconsin’s secondary in 2023. During his final two campaigns with Air Force, the cornerback recorded 69 combined tackles with an interception and four pass deflections over 20 contests.

If he misses Saturday’s opener and any other subsequent games, true freshman Jonas Duclona could step into a significant role.

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WATCH: Top wide receiver mic’d up at practice

Chimere Dike shows us behind-the-scenes

The 2023 Badgers football season is three days away and the team’s top wide receiver and captain Chimere Dike was mic’d up at practice.

Dike was selected as a captain this week and he is coming off of a career year in Madison. The wide receiver reeled in 47 catches for 689 yards and six scores through the air last season and he will look to build upon that in his senior campaign.

Last season he was operating with quarterback Graham Mertz, who is now with the Florida Gators. This year, Dike will be catching passes from SMU-transfer Tanner Mordecai in his first campaign with the Badgers.

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