247Sports Says…Wisconsin’s first loss will come Week 1 to Penn State
Here’s what they had to say about the contest:
It’s quite the opening to the season for the Badgers, as they’ll take on Penn State and Eastern Michigan during the first two weeks before a bye that leads into a game at Notre Dame in Chicago and a home game against Michigan. The Nittany Lions started 0-5 last season but managed to win their last four games, which included a 22-10 win at Beaver Stadium over Wisconsin. Penn State has won the last five matchups between the two schools dating back to 2012. With new offensive coordinator Mike Yurchich getting a full offseason to work with Sean Clifford, expect bigger things from Penn State this season. As for the Badgers, facing this defense will be quite the test for Graham Mertz as he looks to bounce back after cooling off towards the end of 2020.
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What BadgersWire has to say:
I don’t disagree with the thought here as I’ve ranked the Penn State game as the second-hardest on the schedule. Anything can happen in Week 1 when two rebounding programs take the field.
But a rowdy Camp Randall full of fans that haven’t seen the Badgers in person in two years? That’ll play a big part. I won’t go out and say the Badgers win because it’ll be a tough test, but I see the Notre Dame game at Soldier Field as Wisconsin’s first loss.
But I will say this: it isn’t a make-or-break-the-season game. Wisconsin can take the loss and still win the Big Ten down the road. It’ll be about how Graham Mertz and the team look more so than the result of September 4’s contest.
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