The Wisconsin Badgers get a clean chance to put Week 1 behind them when Western Illinois comes to town in Week 2, and the Badgers Wire staff isn’t seeing much drama on the horizon.
After an expected but still frustrating loss to Notre Dame, Wisconsin now faces a 1-1 Leathernecks team with the spread tilted heavily in the Badgers’ favor. The consensus from the staff is straightforward: Wisconsin should take care of business, and probably do it early.
Jordon Lawrenz sees a game that never really comes into question. He points to a defense led by Mason Posa that should overwhelm Western Illinois, and expects the Badgers to get the ground game rolling with Colton Joseph, Abu Sama and the rest of the backfield.
Wisconsin 41, Western Illinois 3
Ryan Harings is just as confident, calling for Wisconsin to start fast and keep the pressure on an overmatched opponent. In his view, a healthier and improved Badgers team will have the game in hand quickly enough that the backups can help close things out.
Wisconsin 52, Western Illinois 10
Connor Mardian expects some carryover frustration from the second half against Notre Dame, especially on offense. Still, he doesn’t see this one being competitive for long, with Wisconsin positioned to handle one of the two clear wins sitting in front of it over the next couple of weeks.
Wisconsin 42, Western Illinois 0
Jayd Serdy also believes the Badgers will bounce back without much trouble in front of the home crowd. He expects Wisconsin to lean on the run early, use Colton Joseph and the passing game to build confidence, and let the defense settle in after a strong first half last week. From there, he sees the Badgers pulling away and possibly giving the starters some rest after halftime.
Wisconsin 30, Western Illinois 7
In Other News...
Wisconsins QB Situation Suddenly Feels Murkier After Colton Josephs Showing
Colton Josephs outing against Western Illinois did little to settle Wisconsins quarterback picture, and in some ways it only made the conversation harder to read. The Badgers needed steadier play from the position, but Joseph finished 12 of 22 through the air and left several routine throws on the field, while also showing little eagerness to take off and run when openings were there.
Luke Fickell said Joseph was dinged up and that the staff held him back from some deeper attempts, which at least offers context for a rough afternoon. Still, Wisconsin stuck with him throughout the game despite the uneven decision-making and missed chances, leaving the quarterback room feeling a little less defined than it did before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Fans Have A New Reason To Doubt Program Leadership
Shawn Eichorst gave Wisconsin fans plenty to chew on when asked how he plans to take the football program to the next level, saying the Badgers are already there. It was the kind of line that lands differently depending on where you sit, but for a fan base that has watched the program slog through a four-win season and see attendance sag, it was hard not to hear it as a tone-deaf response to a very real problem.
There are a few ways to read the comment, from a clumsy attempt at confidence to a wider disconnect between the athletic department and the people paying attention to the product on the field. Either way, it only added to the sense that Wisconsin's football program is not just fighting for results, but for trust in the leadership steering it. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Has One Big Colton Joseph Concern It Can't Ignore
Colton Josephs first two outings gave Wisconsin a little bit of everything it hoped to see, and a reminder of how much polishing still remains. In his debut against Notre Dame, the Badgers quarterback showed off the arm talent that made him such an intriguing addition, throwing for 217 yards and a touchdown while also adding some production on the ground.
Against Western Illinois, the early returns turned a bit rougher through the air, with several missed throws exposing the next step in his development. Even so, his decision-making held up well, which is why the bigger concern is not the reads but the ball placement. Wisconsin can work with talent and instincts, but if Joseph is going to give the offense real stability, the accuracy has to come along with the arm strength. [Read more 🡒]