Wisconsin came out of its bye week with two offensive starters worth watching, and Luke Fickell didn’t exactly slam the door on either one being ready for Saturday’s trip to No. 12 UCLA.
The bigger positive is Abu Sama. The Badgers’ starting tailback sat out the blowout over Michigan State, but Fickell sounded upbeat when asked where things stand.
“I would expect that Abu is good. As of right now I would hope and believe he’s okay," he said about his star tailback.
That doesn’t amount to a full clearance, but it certainly points in the right direction. Sama was already close enough to game day against Michigan State to be dressed and wearing a helmet on the sideline, and the extra week should only help his case.
Austin Kawecki is the tougher read. Wisconsin’s starting center left late in the first half against the Spartans and never came back, and Fickell was far less certain about his status.
"Austin, I don’t really know yet. He’ll have a club on his hand right now. As the week goes, we’ll see how much he can do," he said.
Fickell later explained that the club is on Kawecki’s right hand, which is also his snapping hand. He then added, jokingly, "He’s ambidextrous.”
For a Wisconsin offense that can survive a hit in the backfield a lot easier than it can in the middle of the line, that makes Kawecki the more significant concern. If the center is really limited on his snapping hand, there’s a lot more uncertainty attached to his availability than there is to Sama’s.
The Badgers will get a clearer picture when the Big Ten injury report drops Wednesday night.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Could Catch A Huge Break Before UCLA Game
UCLAs quarterback situation suddenly became one of the biggest storylines on the Badgers radar after Nico Iamaleava left the Bruins Week 6 game against Oregon with a leg injury and never came back for the second half. Head coach Bob Chesney said Iamaleava was not close to returning, and the next step was more evaluation, which leaves a major question hanging over UCLA as it turns its attention toward Wisconsin.
In Iamaleavas place, senior transfer Ty Dieffenbach stepped in and helped UCLA finish off the win, giving the Bruins a viable backup option if the injury lingers. For Wisconsin, the timing matters, since any uncertainty at quarterback could shape how UCLA approaches the game and how the Badgers prepare for what may be a very different-looking offense. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Has A Ranking Chance Luke Fickell Fans Have Been Waiting For
Wisconsin keeps finding itself on the outside of the AP Top 25, even after stacking up recent wins that should have steadied its place in the poll. Instead, the Badgers slipped a little further back as teams like Kentucky, Wake Forest and Northwestern moved in, while Pitt, Oregon and Florida dropped out. For Luke Fickells group, it is another reminder that winning alone has not been enough to satisfy the voters, and that every week still carries weight in a crowded rankings race.
Week 7 gives Wisconsin a shot to change that conversation in a hurry. The Badgers will face No. 12 UCLA, a matchup that offers the kind of stage they need if they want to break through the logjam just outside the rankings and make a stronger case to the pollsters. For a team still searching for national traction, this is the sort of opportunity that can reshape how the rest of the season feels. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Has A Chance To Make USC A Massive Camp Randall Stage
Camp Randall is getting one of its biggest September-style spotlight games in October, with the Big Ten setting Wisconsins Week 8 meeting with USC for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC. The matchup brings added attention to a Badgers team that has opened 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play, while USC arrives ranked No. 19 after a recent win and looking to prove it belongs in the league race.
For Wisconsin, the opportunity goes beyond just another conference game. A night setting in Madison against a name brand like USC gives the Badgers a national stage and a chance to build on the momentum they have already collected. With both teams carrying early-season momentum and key players set to shape the outcome, this one has the feel of a game that could say plenty about where Wisconsin fits in the Big Ten picture. [Read more 🡒]