Wisconsin Opens Big Ten Play With A Tough Test Waiting In Happy Valley

Get ready for a thrilling Big Ten opener as the Badgers face off against Penn State's dynamic quarterback, Rocco Becht, in a challenging away game.

Wisconsin heads into Big Ten play on Saturday with a trip to Happy Valley, coming off a 54-10 win over Eastern Michigan that pushed the Badgers to 2-1 through the non-conference slate. The next stop is a much tougher one: a road game against 13th-ranked Penn State at 5:00 eastern/4:00 central time.

Luke Fickell spent part of the week sizing up one of Penn State’s biggest weapons, veteran quarterback Rocco Becht, and he didn’t hide his respect for what the transfer brings to the table.

" Obviously, we've watched a lot. I've seen him play a lot of ball.

You know, not just for the first three games this year, but in particular, you know, in that system-wise. And, you have seen a growth."

"I think that's the thing that in the first three weeks of the season, maybe you haven't seen a ton of who they are and what they want to be able to do, because, you know, I'm not saying they've held back, but you know, they have been in really good positions for most of those games."

"But Rocco is a guy that's obviously very experienced, whether it's in this league or another league. He gives them a lot of options and a lot of different things. You know, he's a dual threat guy that hasn't had to use his feet a ton," Fickell said.

"I think that's because of the development that he's had, not just as a passer, but also as a manager of the game. So, it is a definite challenge. And one that, you know, I think obviously in week one we saw a really good quarterback, but he brings some things that are different from what we saw in week one."

For fans following along from home or on the move, the game can be heard on the Badger Sports Network. Matt Lepay will handle play-by-play, Mark Tauscher will be the analyst, and Patrick Herb will report from the sideline. It’s also available on the Varsity Network App and on Sirius satellite channel 263.

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