Wisconsin heads into the Rose Bowl with real momentum and a chance to put a stamp on its season.
The Badgers are coming off a bye week and a four-game winning streak, with back-to-back Big Ten wins after knocking off then-No. 13 Penn State in Happy Valley and then rolling past Michigan State at homecoming.
Now they face No. 12 UCLA in a Week 7 primetime matchup that could send Wisconsin back into the AP Top 25 for the first time since the start of the 2023 season, when Luke Fickell first took over the program.
There’s no shortage of reasons this one feels different for the Badgers. Wisconsin has already hit a few clear turning points this year, starting with the 54-10 win over Eastern Michigan after an underwhelming victory over FCS Western Illinois.
That was the first time under Fickell that the Badgers truly overwhelmed a lesser non-conference opponent. Then came the road comeback at Penn State, the first signature win of Fickell’s Wisconsin tenure.
The follow-up against Michigan State mattered just as much, because it showed the Happy Valley result wasn’t a one-off.
UCLA, of course, has its own surge going. The Bruins have been one of the season’s biggest surprises under Bob Chesney, and last week’s upset of Oregon only added to that.
But their win came with a cost: Nico Iamaleava’s injury. With him unavailable, UCLA is expected to lean heavily on Wayne Knight, who already has 10 rushing touchdowns and is averaging 7.7 yards per carry.
That sets up a game that figures to be decided in the trenches. UCLA brings one of the nation’s most dangerous ground attacks behind the James Madison transfer, while Wisconsin’s defense has been stout for most of the season outside the second half against Notre Dame. If the Badgers can bottle up the run and make backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach throw to win, their chances rise fast.
The turnover battle could matter just as much. UCLA is tied for the national lead with 19 takeaways, and Oklahoma transfer linebacker Sammy Omosigho is described as a game-wrecker Wisconsin has to account for.
On the other side, Colton Joseph’s performance at Penn State showed both sides of his game. He threw three interceptions in that one, but he also flashed the big-play ability that showed up with his legs against Michigan State and in the late stages against Penn State.
Wisconsin may have a path through the air, too. UCLA has been strong against the run, but its pass defense is not untouchable.
Purdue’s Ryan Browne threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns against the Bruins in Week 4, and Wisconsin could look to keep targeting Jacob Harris while using Malachi Coleman as a downfield threat. If Jaylon Domingeaux is available, that would give the Badgers another wrinkle in the passing game.
The predictions from the Badgers On SI staff land on the same general idea: this should be close, physical, and decided late. But the picks lean toward Wisconsin, with the bye week and the team’s recent form giving the Badgers the edge in Pasadena. One prediction has Wisconsin winning another monumental road game, while another says the Badgers will “sneak one out in Pasadena,” beat UCLA for the fourth straight time, and do it for the first time as conference foes.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Needed This Jalen Brown Message After Another 2027 Recruiting Jolt
Jack Thelens decommitment was the kind of recruiting hit that can make a fan base start looking twice at the rest of the class, especially when it comes on the heels of any other roster uncertainty. For Wisconsin, the timing made the 2027 group feel a little more fragile than it had just days earlier, and it put a spotlight on the other young pieces the staff still has in the fold.
Jalen Brown helped calm some of that anxiety by reaffirming his commitment after transferring to an out-of-state prep school, a move that could have easily sparked doubts if he were looking for an opening to back away. Brown has drawn notice for his steady development and a versatile skill set that gives him long-term value, with the kind of flexibility that could let him fit in at multiple spots down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Commit Kingston Allen Is Dominating Amid A New Recruiting Twist
Kingston Allens senior season has only strengthened the case for why Wisconsin wanted him in the first place. The Badgers running back commit has piled up huge numbers with multiple games of more than 250 rushing yards and five touchdowns, and he has kept stacking up production while carrying one of the most productive workloads in the state. He also owns Wisconsins state record for rushing touchdowns, a mark that underscores just how dominant he has been on Friday nights.
Allens big year has naturally drawn more attention from around the Midwest, with visits to Ohio State and Minnesota leading to offers from both programs. Even with that added recruiting traffic, he remains committed to Wisconsin for now, giving the Badgers plenty to monitor as his profile keeps rising. For Wisconsin, the appeal is obvious: a back who is producing at a historic level while still being in play for a few of the regions biggest programs. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins Upset Chances May Hinge On One Huge UCLA Change
UCLAs quarterback situation has changed dramatically just as Wisconsin heads into one of its most interesting Big Ten road tests of the season. The Bruins lost starter Nico Iamaleava to a season-ending injury, which means the Badgers now have to prepare for a different offensive look and potentially multiple backup quarterbacks seeing action. On the other side of the ball, UCLA has made its living by taking advantage of mistakes, with a defense built around forcing turnovers and flipping field position.
All of that makes the Rose Bowl setting feel even bigger for Wisconsin, because this will be UCLAs first home game as a ranked team in years and the atmosphere is expected to be lively. For the Badgers, the challenge is not just adjusting to an unfamiliar offense, but doing it in a building where the energy figures to be a factor from the opening series. The margin for error should be slim, and the game may come down to which team handles the uncertainty better. [Read more 🡒]