Preview: Wisconsin at No. 20 Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It’s gut check time for Wisconsin (2-2, 0-1). Entering a brutal October slate that features three top 20 opponents, including the top two ranked teams in the country, the Badgers kick things off at No. 20 Michigan (3-1, 1-0) on Saturday.
“Regardless of what our opponents look like, and you’re right, this is a stretch, and every single one of them will bring a different challenge,” head coach Luke Fickell said during his Monday press conference. “So, our ability to maintain and sustain some consistency as we continue to push and grow is going to be every bit as important as anything else.”
GAME INFO
Kickoff Time: 11 a.m. CT
Where: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
TV: FOX
TV Crew: Marc Kestecher, Kelly Stouffe, Ian Fitzsimmons
Stream: Fox Sports Go
Line: Michigan – 17.5
Series History: Michigan leads 52-17-1
Last Meeting: Michigan won 38-17 in 2021
NUMBERS TO KNOW
5: Wisconsin has won five of the last eight meetings against Michigan.
6: The Badgers have lost six consecutive Big Ten Conference games.
6: The two schools have split the last six meetings.
7: Fickell is 0-7 against ranked teams as UW’s head coach.
24: The Wolverines are 24-7 against the Badgers in Ann Arbor.
2021: As a program, UW is looking for its first win over an Associated Press Top 25 team since 2021.
WHAT TO WATCH
Strength on Strength
Wisconsin has the top run defense in the country. However, the Badgers haven’t faced a team like Michigan who will fully commit to the ground game. The Wolverines get 254 yards per game on the ground, good for eighth in FBS. Revamping their front seven by getting bigger and more physical in the off-season, it’s paid dividends thus far from UW, who got run over in three trophy game losses last November. The Badgers have held all four of their opponents to 75 rushing yards or fewer. They haven’t done that since 2009.
“They work well together. Everything they do is on a string,” UW senior defensive lineman Ben Barten said of Michigan. “There are five guys moving in unison.”
Can Wisconsin Stay Out of 3rd and Long?
Wisconsin is expected to be without starting quarterback Billy Edwards once again. With Danny O’Neil taking the reins, can the Badgers alleviate the pressure he’s going to feel in front of 100,000-plus fans at ‘The Big House?’
UW hasn’t been able to run the ball all season and now they’re going to have to move a Michigan front that ranks No. 10 nationally against the run. The Wolverines’ defense generates two takeaways per game and sacks the quarterback on nearly 10 percent of the opposition’s dropbacks. As a result of those numbers, UM forces opponents into nearly 15 third-down conversions per game, one of the tops in FBS.
Will This Team Fight For Fickell?
Against Maryland, our big picture question was, ‘Is Wisconsin still Wisconsin?’ The answer was no. The Badgers put up little fight at home against a program that didn’t win a Big Ten game in 2024. Now, we’re at the point where we ask, ‘How bad does it have to get?’ With rumors swirling around their head coach’s future, will UW come out and fight for their leader? Or lay down in a hostile environment against a superior team?
“I don’t think we have any quitters on our team,” said junior linebacker Christian Alliegro. “We’re going to keep fighting. Honestly, that’s the only thing we can do at this point.”
PREDICTION
You never count out a team coming off a bye week. A lot can happen in two weeks behind closed doors. However, the same applies to Michigan on Saturday, who also got healthy and refocused.
We’ll find out if the Badgers’ run defense is for real. The Wolverines may have some wrinkles and be more willing to let quarterback Bryce Underwood loose against what’s been a weak UW secondary this season. Would guess UM wins that battle and eventually wears UW down by the fourth quarter.
On the flip side, even if Jake Renfro returns, UW could run into a laundry list of problems. The Badgers haven’t been able to run the ball against Miami (OH) or Middle Tennessee State. Tough to see the offensive line waking up against the Wolverines. I’d expect O’Neil to be in some really tough situations throughout the day and that’s where UM feasts with an opportunistic defense that creates turnovers and generates sacks.
It’s tough to see the hope for UW’s defense to keep them in this game. Take out garbage time touchdowns, this unit has scored three points in its last two games. And outside of a quarter and a half against MTSU, it’s been tough sledding all year.
Playing in a raucous environment and likely unable to control the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball, could be another tough day for Bucky.
Michigan 34 Wisconsin 3
