Wisconsin’s Week 3 matchup on Sept. 19 brings Eastern Michigan to Camp Randall Stadium, and the Eagles arrive with a familiar face steering the program in Chris Creighton, who is entering his 13th season in Ypsilanti.
Creighton owns a 61-83 record and has guided Eastern Michigan to six bowl appearances in eight years, but the last three seasons have all ended with losing records. The 2025 version of the Eagles also struggled badly on defense, showing up near the bottom of the national rankings in multiple categories.
That side of the ball was the biggest problem. Eastern Michigan allowed 416.2 yards per game, which ranked No. 111 in the country, and the run defense was even rougher, surrendering 232.1 yards per game to finish dead last nationally. The Eagles also had trouble generating disruption, ranking No. 121 in team tackles for loss.
Wisconsin will likely see that as an invitation to lean on the ground game early and often.
The offense is more interesting. Quarterback Noah Kim is back for another season after being granted a seventh year of eligibility in January, and he comes in with real production behind him.
Kim started all 12 games in 2025 and led the MAC with 2,817 passing yards. He also threw 18 touchdown passes and ran for six more scores, putting him in first-team All-MAC conversation heading into 2026.
Eastern Michigan’s passing game also has help in receiver Nick Devereaux and tight end Joshua Long. The question is what happens behind Kim, because the running back room looks unsettled.
Dontae McMillan, who rushed for more than 1,300 yards in 2025, is now fighting for a roster spot with the Baltimore Ravens. Virginia Tech transfer Braydon Bennett joined the group this winter, but there isn’t a clear top option entering fall camp.
One player to keep an eye on up front is Tyler Brumfield. The offensive lineman earned NJCAA first-team All-America honors in 2024 while anchoring a Snow College line that powered the No. 1 junior college offense in the country. He transferred to Oklahoma State but did not play in 2025 because of a knee injury, and now he is expected to be a key piece for the Eagles’ offensive line.
On the other side of the ball, safety Bryce Llewellyn was one of Eastern Michigan’s bright spots in 2025. He started all 12 games, earned second-team All-MAC honors and led the defense with 103 total tackles. That total included 42 solo tackles and 61 assisted tackles, and he also added two interceptions and 5.0 tackles for loss.
The matchup looks lopsided on paper. ESPN’s FPI gives Wisconsin a 94.7 percent chance to win in Week 3.
Wisconsin’s 2026 schedule opens with Notre Dame on Week 1 at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBC, followed by Western Illinois in Week 2 at 6:15 p.m. on BTN.
After Eastern Michigan, the Badgers head to Penn State in Week 4, then host Michigan State in Week 5 before a bye. The rest of the slate includes trips to UCLA, Iowa, Maryland and Purdue, plus home dates with USC, Rutgers and Minnesota.
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Luke Fickell Is Facing Wisconsins Biggest Test Heading Into 2026
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There are still signs Wisconsin fans are willing to lean back in if the results start to follow. Attendance has slipped, but upcoming games and season ticket sales have shown some renewed interest, giving the Badgers at least a little evidence that the base has not tuned out completely. For Fickell, the challenge heading toward 2026 is not just improving the on-field product, but convincing a restless fan base that the program is finally moving the right way. [Read more 🡒]