Wisconsin’s non-conference finale against Eastern Michigan gave the Badgers something they’d been missing early this season: a game that looked, for long stretches, exactly like it should have.
The final result was powered by a strong all-around showing, but it still came with one obvious blemish. The ground game never really took over, and that kept the performance from reaching a true peak.
Wisconsin finished with just 117 rushing yards and averaged fewer than four yards per carry. It wasn’t necessary to pile up video-game numbers to win, but a little more push up front would have made the afternoon feel even more complete.
Still, the passing game more than carried its weight. Colton Joseph threw an interception, but it came on a forced ball rather than a breakdown in the design.
After that, he settled in and looked far more comfortable. He set the school record for passing yards in a half with 302 and ended the day with 362.
Outside of the touchdown to Chris Brooks, which was badly under-thrown, Joseph was sharp at all three levels, took what was there underneath, and tucked it and ran when needed.
That kind of day was a huge lift for Tyrell Henry, who was the clear beneficiary of Joseph’s work. Henry caught 14 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown, setting a single-game program record in the process.
It was the best game of his college career by a wide margin, and he looked impossible to cover in the slot. With Malachi Coleman expected back soon, Wisconsin could have something real here if Henry keeps producing like this.
The offensive stat line wasn’t perfect, but it was the kind of spread-the-ball performance that can build confidence. It felt like everybody got a turn.
The defense had a rough opening series, and Eastern Michigan cashed it in for a touchdown. Wisconsin looked scattered and flat on that drive, which is exactly the kind of start you don’t want with Big Ten play arriving next week. After that, though, the unit flipped the script fast.
Mason Posa forced the first turnover of the year after dropping into coverage on a pressure look from Mike Tressel. Matt Jung followed with an interception of his own, and then early in the second half Sebastian Cheeks sacked the quarterback, Cooper Catalano scooped it up, and took it in for a score. That stretch showed a side of the defense Wisconsin hadn’t gotten from it yet this season.
It would be a stretch to expect that kind of turnover production to keep rolling once conference play begins, but getting it in the final tune-up game mattered. After that ugly first drive, the defense did what it was supposed to do and then some.
Special teams had its own exclamation point waiting at the end. Eric Fletcher blocked a field goal, Donovan Dunmore returned it for a touchdown as the clock hit triple-zeros, and that was the signature play of another strong day for Bob Ligashesky’s group.
Sean West never had to punt, so there wasn’t much to evaluate there, and the return game didn’t produce any fireworks. But Wisconsin also avoided mistakes, and Gavin Lahm stayed perfect by going 2-for-2 on field goals. A few Eastern Michigan punts may have been tipped and still rolled the Eagles’ way, but that didn’t take away from the overall result.
Taken together, it was probably the best performance of the Luke Fickell era. The only thing that kept it from being an A across the board was the slow start. Wisconsin simply can’t afford to open like that once the Big Ten slate begins.
Even so, the Badgers got what they needed. The offense moved the ball in every direction, the defense made plays, the special teams scored, and all three phases showed up in the same game. Given how the first two weeks went, that’s something Wisconsin can build on.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Fans Have A New Abu Sama Question After Week 3
Wisconsins backfield took on a different look in Week 3 against Eastern Michigan, and not in a way the Badgers probably wanted. Abu Sama was cleared to play, but the coaching staff held him out in a game-time decision, leaving the team to piece together its ground game without the star tailback. The result was a rushing effort that never really got untracked, with quarterback Colton Joseph leading the way on the ground and the tailbacks combining for only modest production.
Luke Fickell said the call came down to Samas readiness and the conditions surrounding the game, which only adds to the intrigue around what comes next. For a Wisconsin offense that leans on the run, the question now is less about why Sama sat out on this particular afternoon and more about how the staff plans to handle him moving forward if the Badgers want a more reliable answer in the backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Fans Just Got Another Reason To Debate The Quarterback Choice
Billy Edwards Jr. and Colton Joseph gave Wisconsin fans plenty to chew on after a recent game, with the two quarterbacks producing very different nights. Edwards finished 13 of 30 for one touchdown and one interception, and his late pick helped seal North Carolina's loss to Clemson, while Joseph was much sharper in Wisconsin's own attack, going 23 of 33 with three touchdown passes and 46 rushing yards.
For a fan base already willing to debate the position, the contrast was hard to miss. Joseph kept the Badgers moving with multiple touchdown drives, while Edwards' uneven showing added more fuel to the conversation about consistency and decision-making under pressure, the kind of comparison that tends to linger long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Finally Got The Response It Needed From Colton Joseph
After a sluggish opening, Wisconsin found its footing in a hurry Saturday and turned a one-sided afternoon into a 54-10 win over Eastern Michigan. The Badgers shook off the slow start by taking control in the second quarter, and the defense helped set the tone with turnovers that swung the game firmly in their favor, including interceptions by Mason Posa and Matt Jung along with a fumble recovery by Cooper Catalano.
For Colton Joseph, it was the kind of response Wisconsin had been waiting to see. After an uneven beginning, the quarterback settled in and finished with 363 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception, giving the offense the spark it needed as the Badgers pulled away. It was not a perfect performance, but it was a steadier one, and for a team looking to build confidence, that mattered just as much as the final score. [Read more 🡒]