Wisconsin’s 2025 stat sheet was rough enough to make Badgers fans wince, especially on offense. The numbers told the story of a unit that ranked 133rd nationally in total offense and scoring offense, sitting ahead of only UMass. Hunter Simmons finished as the team’s leading passer with 664 yards, Darrion Dupree topped the rushing chart with 363 yards, and Wisconsin managed only 3.3 yards per carry on the ground.
With Week 1 getting closer and fall camp now in the rearview mirror, the question shifts to who will carry the load this season. Here’s how the Badgers On SI outlook sees the major statistical categories shaking out.
At quarterback, the pick is Simmons again, though the logic comes with a major condition: he has to stay healthy. Last season would have made that hard to believe for a lot of Wisconsin fans, but the projection rests on a simple idea - regression to the mean.
In the backfield, the choice is Abu Sama. Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes said he wanted a "bell cow" back at local media day before fall camp, and that lines up with what was seen in practice, where Wisconsin barely let Sama touch the ball because it already knows what it has in the Iowa State transfer. The senior looks set to be the primary runner, and his style should fit what Wisconsin wants to do.
The receiver room points toward Eugene Hilton Jr. as the guy who could lead the way in multiple categories. He brings a complete skill set, natural talent and what appears to be a starting role.
He also seems to have the best chemistry with Joseph among the wideouts. On top of that, Hilton was the receiver Wisconsin seemed to draw up the most shot plays for during fall camp, which makes him the best bet to be the team’s deep threat and, by extension, a strong candidate to top the receiving yards chart.
Hilton is also the favorite to lead Wisconsin in catches. The same reasons that make him the best bet for yardage apply here, but there’s another layer: he can line up at X, Z or in the slot, giving the offense plenty of ways to feature him. And with touch passes on jet sweeps likely to be part of the plan, those also count in the reception column.
When it comes to touchdowns, Joseph is expected to be the main finisher. He has shown a real knack for the end zone, especially as a runner, with 24 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons at Old Dominion.
If the passing game improves the way it’s expected to, Joseph should lead Wisconsin in total touchdowns. After him, Sama looks like the next best bet.
His blend of physicality and explosiveness should make him the answer near the goal line and a threat to score from anywhere.
On defense, the tackles race is projected to go to Catalano, even though Mason Posa led the team last season with 58 tackles, just ahead of Catalano’s 56. Posa is still a strong option, but Catalano’s reputation as Wisconsin’s all-time high school football tackling leader in the state and his feel for run defense make him the pick here. He may not always generate the splash plays Posa does, but he’s built to rack up stops.
Sacks could go a different direction, with Clayton emerging as the prediction over the more conventional choice of Sebastian Cheeks. Cheeks is the starting SAM outside backer and a strong candidate, but Clayton is viewed as the better pass-rusher.
OLBs coach Matt Mitchell said this spring that Clayton might have the best get-off on the team, and that kind of burst should give him plenty of chances to get after quarterbacks. He’s already in the two-deep, so the opportunities should be there.
Posa still projects as a disruptive force in other ways. He forced two fumbles last season in only five starts, which fits with the way he attacks the football. That kind of instinct can swing games fast.
For interceptions, Jai'mier Scott is the name to watch. Defensive backs can be volatile in that category, but Scott has already drawn praise for his playmaking mindset.
Javan Robinson put it this way: "He’s out there looking to make a play. That’s what makes him the player he is.
I’m not gonna say he’s play-hunting, but he’s looking to make a play," Scott should see plenty of snaps no matter who starts at field cornerback, and that kind of role gives him a real shot to lead the Badgers in picks.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Fans Face A Costly Lambeau Debate Before Notre Dame
Wisconsins trip to Lambeau Field on Sept. 6 is already turning into a pricey assignment for fans who want to be there in person. Ticket listings for the Badgers matchup with Notre Dame show the lowest available seats hovering around the mid-$200s, while more desirable spots are pushing into the $300s and $400s, a sign that demand for one of the seasons marquee nonconference games is holding firm.
The market has been fairly steady for about a week, but anyone waiting for a bargain may be taking a gamble. As tickets continue to change hands through different vendors, the prices can move quickly, and the cost of getting into the historic Green Bay setting may be the biggest pregame debate for Wisconsin supporters before the teams even take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Catches A Break Before Notre Dame But One Worry Remains
Notre Dame will open Week 1 without Quincy Porter, the former five-star recruit who has been ruled out while he continues to recover from a left patellar tendon injury. That is a meaningful development for Wisconsin as it gets ready for a road matchup against a defense coach Freeman has already described as strong up front, and it likely means Micah Gilbert will be the player asked to absorb Porters role when the Badgers see the Irish on the field.
For Wisconsin, the broader concern is still closer to home. The Badgers are monitoring the health of offensive linemen Kevin Heywood and Emerson Mandell, and how those two hold up could shape the matchup as much as any absence on the other side. Even with Notre Dame missing a key piece in its passing game, Wisconsins own availability on the offensive line remains the issue that could define how comfortable the opener feels. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Receiver Battle Has A Surprise Name Pushing For A Big Role
Wisconsin spent the offseason reshaping its receiver room, dipping into the transfer portal for multiple additions as it looked to add more size and depth on the outside. Jaylon Domingeaux, Malachi Coleman, Shamar Rigby and Zion Kearney all arrived with a chance to help, and the group reflects the Badgers clear preference for bigger boundary targets as they build out the passing game.
Among that collection, Rigby has become the name to watch. The former Oklahoma State transfer has worked through earlier injuries but has still positioned himself as a key contributor, and Luke Fickell has sounded encouraged by where he stands heading into the season. If Rigby stays healthy, Wisconsin believes he can carve out a significant role and give the offense the kind of presence it has been looking for on the perimeter. [Read more 🡒]