Bucky's Blind Side

All Things Badger Football, All the Time

  • What Does Success Look Like for Wisconsin Against Miami (OH)? Here’s What to Watch For:

    We are finally back! After an exceptionally long offseason due to Wisconsin failing to make a bowl game for the first time in over 20 years, Badger football kicks off tonight in Madison. Coming to town: a scrappy Miami of Ohio team led by star QB Dequann Finn. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because the Badgers were rumored to be targeting Finn in the portal before ultimately acquiring Tyler Van Dyke last Summer. Glass half full says this is a good thing because Wisconsin should be very familiar with his tendencies, while the haters are preparing for him to scramble away from our defense all night.

    Wisconsin comes into the game as substantial favorites (17.5 points) but I think most fans would agree simply winning isn’t enough tonight. After a very disappointing start to the Luke Fickell era, and a daunting schedule ahead, the Badgers need to show fans things are changing for the better in Madison. If there’s any hope this team is going to be better than last year, here are the things you should be watching for tonight:

    Dominant the Trenches

    With Longo long gone the Badgers hope new OC Jeff Grimes can bring back a brand of football Wisconsin fans are used too. All the chatter from camp is how this offense looks a lot more like Wisconsin teams of old. Expect a wide zone-base, pro style balanced offense that blends physicality up front, with a dynamic passing attack focused on getting their weapons in space. Going up against an inexperienced MAC front, the Badgers need to look dominant in the trenches to give players and fans confidence going into the rest of the season. Success here looks like long sustained drives leading to points and multiple backs topping the 100-yard mark. If the Badgers can’t get the run going against Miami, close your eyes this October when we play Iowa, Michigan, Oregon, and Ohio State. Fickell needs to count on the veterans up front to create holes for their underclassmen RB’s allowing them to shine.

    Not only do the Badgers have to look dominant up front on the offensive side of the ball, limiting the run on defense is going to be crucial. Run defense was perhaps their weakest area as a team last fall, and after spending big in the portal on defensive line, we need to see those investments pay off. Wisconsin cannot let a MAC team control clock and hold the ball for large swaths of the game as the defense is stuck on the field. If we see that tonight, we could be in for another long season.

    Stable QB Play

    As frustrated as fans may be with Fickell, it’s important to remember that in each of his first two seasons his starting quarterback went down. Both years he lost experienced, steady leaders who were expected to anchor the offense, only to see them replaced by one of the least efficient quarterbacks Wisconsin has had in recent memory. And that’s saying a lot given the program’s history under center.

    This year brings new hope with Billy Edwards Jr., who arrives in Madison as the No. 2 returning passer in the Big Ten, trailing only Drew Allar, a potential Heisman contender. Edwards showed flashes last season, and he’ll now have a roster around him that should be stronger than what he had previously.

    If Edwards can take care of the ball, look comfortable running the offense, and hit a few big throws it could go a long way toward building confidence in both himself and the team. With Locke setting the bar so low last season, Wisconsin fans are starving for competent quarterback play. For his debut in Madison, something as simple as a couple hundred passing yards and no turnovers would be considered a major success.

    Havoc on Defense

    For years, Wisconsin’s defense built its identity on stopping the run and generating turnovers. Last year, this couldn’t have been farther from the truth.  The Badgers finished a dismal 110th in the FBS in turnovers forced and ranked DEAD LAST nationally in tackles for loss. Across the entire season, the defense managed just 13 TFLs and 6.5 sacks, numbers that are shockingly low for a program with Wisconsin’s tradition.

    The struggles showed up in the advanced metrics as well. Wisconsin’s havoc rate—a measure of negative plays including tackles for loss, sacks, pressures, forced fumbles, and interceptions—ranked 128th out of 134 FBS teams. Simply put, the defense was one of the least disruptive units in the country. Those kinds of results are unacceptable they put Defensive Coordinator Mike Tressel firmly on the hot seat going into this season.

    However, as mentioned, Wisconsin has invested heavily in the transfer portal up front, developed a strong group of linebackers, and brings back plenty of experience in the secondary. The talent is in place, it’s simply a matter of execution now. If the Badgers can generate a couple of turnovers, pressure the quarterback, and create some negative plays in the backfield, it would be a strong signal that last year’s struggles won’t repeat themselves.

    At the end of the day, winning is what matters most. The Badgers need to walk out tonight 1-0—that’s the top priority. But if they can check a few of these boxes along the way, it will go a long way in building confidence for both the team and the fanbase this season.

  • Badger Football 2025 Season Outlook 

    We are officially one week away from the kickoff against Miami of Ohio, and the start of the Wisconsin Badgers 2025 campaign. Program uncertainty is at an all time high and fan morale feels low heading into a season with the nation’s toughest schedule, according to USA Today. Pessimism is in the streets and longtime fans of the program are already beginning to light the fire under Coach Fickell’s seat. After failing to make a bowl game for the first time in 22 years- fans are yearning for the “good ole days” where we’d beat up on the Big 10 West and be in contention for conference championships and high level bowl games year after year. 

    Well fans I have one message for you…. THOSE DAYS ARE DEAD!!!

    The days of Wisconsin rolling out of bed and picking up 10 wins behind a loaded defense, elite running back, and O-line littered with NFL talent are GONE. If you haven’t been paying attention for the last 5 years, the college football you grew up with or your dad remembers “back in his day” are no more. Today’s college football is super billionaire, and Oracle founder, Larry Ellison giving Michigan 10 million dollars so his wife’s alma mater can have a serviceable quarterback. Today’s college football is Ohio State paying $20 million dollars for a roster loaded with NFL talent and upping that to an estimated $35 million dollars this year to defend their title. Today’s college football high level recruits like Arch Manning receiving an estimated $6.5 million dollars before ever even playing a meaningful snap at Texas. 

    Whether you like it or not- that’s what college football is now and until some regulation is put into place, this is how it’s going to be. No more are the days of a sleepy 11am kickoff at Northwestern being the biggest midseason hurdle the Badgers face. Now that hurdle is going into Eugene, Oregon (reportedly one of the loudest stadiums in the country) to face a team funded by Nike co-founder and CEO, Phil Knight, who is emptying his bank account to fund a national championship roster before he dies. THE GAME HAS CHANGED!

    Once Badger fans get that through their head, we can start to manage expectations and build for the future. I’ll be the first to admit, Luke Fickell hasn’t had a great start to his tenure as the Head Coach at Wisconsin and hiring Phil Longo might have been his biggest mistake. However, the guy walked into a program, reportedly without a recruiting department, at one of the most pivotal times in the history of the sport, and inherited a roster with very little talent. What did you expect? Coach Chryst was great, but by the end of his time, the cupboard was pretty empty in terms of talent. 

    With that being said, building a program is not something you can accomplish in an offseason. It takes time to recruit the guys that fit your system and develop them into starting caliber players. Is it easier to overhaul your roster in the transfer portal era? Yes. Is that a sustainable long term strategy as opposed to a quick one year fix? We’ll find out, but I’m betting no. 

    Now I know you’re thinking- this outlook seems pretty grim, why should I buy into Fickell and the Badgers this year? Let me give you a few reasons: 

    1. Bye Bye Phil Longo

    There’s really no way to say it other than: Phil Longo’s time as the OC at Wisconsin was nothing short of a disaster. Longo said he wanted to implement the “Dairy-Raid”, a high octane passing attack combined with an effective run game Wisconsin fans were used to. What he did instead was produce two of the lowest scoring offenses in Wisconsin history ranking 87th in 2023 and 97th in 2024. The offense had no identify, and while hobbled by injuries at quarterback, it was evident his system was failing. Between his poor on the field results, and reported tensions with Fickell regarding philosophy of the offense, his presence won’t be missed around the program this year.

    In his place enters Jeff Grimes with over 20 years of collegiate experience coaching at Kansas, Baylor, LSU, and BYU to name a few stops. Known for his more balanced pro-style offense, Grimes will give Badger fans an offensive identity they are more used to seeing around Madison. This scheme is not only a better fit for the Badgers, but the Big 10 in general where a strong offensive line and run game are a necessity for any top level program. While it’s too early to tell how successful Grimes will be as the OC, there is certainly hope for change compared to what we’ve seen the last two years. 

    1. Hello 2024 Recruiting Class 

    Fickell’s 2024 recruiting class finished 23rd according to 247Sports and 22nd according to On3, two of the premier recruiting ranking sites. Both rankings place the 2024 class among the highest in program history, featuring roughly 11 four-star players, depending on the site. This fall, many of these players are expected to see significant playing time, giving us a first look at a Wisconsin roster largely composed of Fickell-recruited and developed talent. Included in that class are Dilin Jones and Darion Dupree, both four-star running backs projected to carry the bulk of the workload this season. Unfortunately, the class’s top-ranked player, Kevin Heywood, who was slated to start at left tackle, will miss the entire season due to a torn ACL suffered in April. However, the Badgers still have a ton of young, talented players who should begin to see a lot of action this fall. We’re hoping to put together a list of “Players to Watch this Season” before the opener so keep an eye out for that article.

    1. LBs are Back

    When I say LBs are back I’m not just talking linebackers, I’m talking lbs. as in POUNDS, especially along the defensive line. Last year Wisconsin ranked near the bottom of the Big 10 in rushing yards allowed per game (I’m sure we all remember the Iowa game), sacks and QB pressures, and dead last in the ENTIRE COUNTRY in tackles for loss. This is completely unacceptable by Wisconsin’s standard and was addressed heavily in the portal. Fickell and staff went out and brought in five portal defensive lineman, all pushing or over 300 lbs., to give them strength and depth up front that wasn’t present last year. These additions along with a few new edge rushers should seriously help bolster Wisconsin’s front line and fix some of last year’s issues. 

    Along with weight up front, the actual LBs (linebackers) are loaded as is the case with any great Wisconsin defense. Tackett Curtis and Christian Allegro anchor the middle with Darryl Peterson and Mason Reiger expected to start on the edge. This blend of youth and experience should help Wisconsin be better against the run and more disruptive in opponent’s backfields than we’ve seen in previous years. Early camp reports are also promising for highly recruited Freshman ILB’s Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano who may find their way into the mix. The group has a lot to prove this year but the position group appears to be a bright spot on this year’s roster. 

    I’ve discussed this outlook with friends and been told I’m “drinking the Kool-Aid again” after experiencing similar hype the last few years so let me be clear- what does success look like this year for Luke Fickell and the Badgers? 7-5. Going 7-5 with a couple signature wins you can hang your hat on would undoubtably be a success this year for the Badgers.

    You may not want to hear that 7-5 is a successful season, but given the schedule.. It just is. With our current roster and the landscape of college football, it’s foolish to think we’re on the same level as Alabama, Ohio State, and Oregon right now. Can we get there? Yes. Should we be competitive and maybe steal one of those games? Hopefully, but EXPECTING to win any of those games is wishful thinking. Ignoring those three games, coming away with only two losses on a remaining schedule that includes a ranked Michigan, ranked Indiana, ranked Illinois, and ranked Iowa plus two tough games against Washington and Minnesota… 7-5 begins to seem alright. If there is a reality where the Badgers shock the nation, win 10 games, and make a college football playoff appearance? Perhaps, and I’ll be just as thrilled as the next fan to see it happen, but I’m certainly not counting on it.

    More importantly, Fickell needs to show progress from last year and flashes from his young talent. A signature win against Alabama, Ohio State, or Oregon would go a long way in convincing fans and recruits what he’s capable of as the head coach here at Wisconsin. A lot will be told in these first two weeks. If the Badgers can comfortably handle Miami of Ohio and Middle Tennessee State in dominant fashion (something they didn’t do last year against Western Michigan and South Dakota), there will be some hope going into the meat of the schedule.

    2025 is Fickell’s year to win back over fans, give his young talent experience in big games, and ready the program for 2026 when the schedule lightens up a bit. If Fickell can endure a difficult 2025 season and keep young talent bought into the program he’s trying to build- 2026 should prove very promising. 

    We’ll find out next week!