Wisconsin opened its 2023 season with a 38-17 win over Buffalo on Saturday. While reaction from that game will continue, the Badgers have shifted their focus to a road trip to Washington. It is the rematch of last year’s game in Madison, which Washington State won.
The Cougars were SP+’s No. 54 team entering the 2023 season. They had the 56th-ranked offense and 45th-ranked defense. During its Week 1 contest against Colorado State, the team looked much better than those marks on both sides of the football.
Washington State beat Colorado State, 50-24. The real story within the contest was quarterback Cam Ward going 37 of 49 passing for 451 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed for 40 yards and another touchdown.
Former FCS QB Cam Ward was dealing
Cam Ward threw for 451 yards and ran for 40 more while accounting for 4 TD’s in WSU’s 50-24 win over Colorado State
— NFL Draft Diamonds (@DraftDiamonds) September 3, 2023
Ward and the rest of the Cougars looked phenomenal. They should rise significantly in this week’s SP+ ranking, and they will pose a real threat to the Badgers on Saturday.
Welcome to the first Big Game Week of the Luke Fickell era at Wisconsin.