SMACKDOWN IN MADISON: BADGERS DESTROY THE SPARTANS

Heading into this season, Luke Fickell was firmly on the hot seat. Since then, the athletic department has taken steps to give Fickell a more fair chance, investing more and more in their football program and NIL. Now, Wisconsin has started the season 4-1 and has an easy Big Ten schedule ahead of them.

Wisconsin jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on a long 13-play, 75 play drive, resulting in a 20-yard touchdown pass to Tight End Jacob Harris. The Badger defense then came up with a big stop on 4th down, and took advantage of it with another touchdown drive, this time on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Harris. Harris also had the big, game-winning touchdown the previous week to beat Penn State.

The Wisconsin defense stood tall once again on a 12-play Michigan State drive that ended in another turnover on downs. Wisconsin would respond with a field goal, following a 16-play, 64 yard drive. Wisconsin’s first three drives totaled 34-plays, 198 yards and 17 points. Michigan State would finally get on the scoreboard at the end of the half with a field goal, set up by 30-yards worth of Wisconsin penalties.

Wisconsin would put the game away early in the first half with another forced turnover on downs, responding with another touchdown drive. This came on a 47-yard touchdown run from Quarterback Colton Joseph. From there, Wisconsin would force three punts and two more turnovers on downs, adding their 4th touchdown of the game. The Badgers would win 31-3 in dominant fashion. 

The absence of Running Back Cam Edwards for Michigan State was made clear in this game. The Spartans averaged just 2.8 yards on the ground. Edwards’ season ended the previous week vs Nebraska with a season-ending knee injury. He had 250 yards on the ground in his first two games with the Spartans after a 1,200 yard rushing season with the UConn Huskies. 

Michigan State Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic only threw for 103 yards on 32 passing attempts. The Spartans did not have a receiver go for over 30 yards. The defense also struggled, allowing ten 3rd and 4th down conversions and 373 total yards. Michigan State also had zero sacks and only 2 TFLs. Linebacker Dion Crawford led the team with eight tackles, making up for the loss of star Linebacker Jordan Hall. Clearly, the absences of Hall and Edwards, their best two players, really affected them against Wisconsin.

For Wisconsin, Colton Joseph threw for three touchdowns, despite only completing nine passes. He also ran for 141 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. The Badger running back room struggled on Saturday, averaging just over three yards per carry. Once again, Jacob Harris starred, highlighted by two touchdowns. Star Badger wide receiver Malachi Coleman also scored on a 46-yard touchdown, but it was his only catch of the game. Coleman has emerged as a potential early round draft pick for the Badgers as a rare 6'4 slot receiver.

Defensively, Wisconsin did not allow a touchdown, and forced five turnovers on downs. Thomas Heiberger and Charles Perkins each had a sack for the Badgers. Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa led the Badgers with 19 combined total tackles. They also had eight different players with a pass deflection. Wisconsin's defense is undeniably the strength of this team after returning more than half of the groups starters from a year ago.

Wisconsin was left out of the AP Poll once again, this time being the third team out. The team’s three hardest games are their next three games: at UCLA, vs USC, and at Iowa. The remaining schedule for the Badgers is weak, playing Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue and Minnesota. As of now it seems that the worst case scenario for the Badgers is wins over Rutgers, Maryland, and Purdue (three teams that are currently struggling), which would mean the Badgers would end with seven wins and a bowl game berth. The future is bright in Madison, and Luke Fickell is clearly on a mission to retain his job.