First Look: Wisconsin
Here’s an early look at Purdue’s fourth opponent of the 2023 season, the Wisconsin Badgers.
Time: Friday, September 22, 7 p.m. E.T.
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium
Surface: Bermuda Grass
Capacity: 61,441
2023 schedules/records: Purdue 1-2; Wisconsin: 2-1
Series notes: Purdue begins Big Ten play looking to end a long drought against the Badgers. Purdue last defeated Wisconsin in 2003, when a Ben Jones field goal won the game as time expired in Madison. Wisconsin enters this matchup on a 16-game winning streak against Purdue, and the Badgers haven’t lost in Ross-Ade Stadium since 1997 in Joe Tiller’s first season at Purdue. Wisconsin leads the all-time series between the two schools 52-29-8 and holds a 23-16-3 record in West Lafayette.
TV: FS1
Early line: Wisconsin -4, O/U 54.5
STORYLINES TO WATCH
Will the drought end?
The last time Purdue took down Wisconsin, Ryan Walters still roamed the halls of Grandview High School as a student. No, the Boilermaker head coach hadn’t even enrolled at the University of Colorado yet. During Wisconsin’s 16-game win streak, five different Boilermaker head coaches unsuccessfully tried to break the streak (including 2016 interim head coach Gerad Parker).
While Purdue came close to ending the drought on a few instances over the past 20 years, the Badgers average margin of victory over the timeframe is 19.81 points. The Boilermakers nearly flipped the script in 2018, but a late comeback by Wisconsin forced overtime, where the Badgers prevailed in the third overtime period. Despite optimism entering the last two matchups against down Wisconsin teams, the Boilermakers’ drought lives on.
New-look offense
The Badgers went in a different direction with their offensive coordinator hire, bringing in air-raid disciple Phil Longo to call the plays for Luke Fickell’s program. While the balance of runs to passes sits around 50/50 through three games, it still represents a change of pace from the run-heavy offense that Wisconsin has operated since the Barry Alvarez days.
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Running backs Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi gave Purdue problems in both 2021 and 2022, so expect the Badgers to stay with the running game on Friday. As success in the passing game remains questionable for Wisconsin, how Longo approaches the game plan will be a storyline to monitor heading into Friday night.
The end of an era
The start of Big Ten play on Friday night will mark the final season of the Big Ten’s current East/West divisional structure. While questions linger as to exactly how the schedules will work out in 2024 and beyond, divisions will not remain a part of the format.
The Big Ten began divisional play in 2011 with the “Leaders” and “Legends” divisions before moving to the current format in 2014 when Maryland and Rutgers joined the league. During the divisional era of Big Ten football, Purdue and Wisconsin shared a division, as both competed in the Leaders division before the West division. The two teams have met each year since 2009, but that seems likely to end in either 2024 or 2025.
Pro Football Focus on the Badgers
- Surprisingly, Wisconsin’s offensive line grades better in pass blocking than run blocking thus far
- Despite just two touchdowns to two interceptions, QB Tanner Mordecai brings a really strong grade into this game
- As expected, Wisconsin’s fundamentally sound defense grades well in tackling and has recorded 11 sacks in just three games
