Wisconsin’s run through the Big Ten spotlight continues, and the next two weeks come with back-to-back primetime stages against ranked opponents.
First up is a trip to Pasadena to take on No. 12 UCLA, a team that just knocked off the Oregon Ducks this past weekend.
The Badgers are already used to this kind of test, having faced Notre Dame in a neutral-site game and Penn State earlier this season. This one carries even more weight for Wisconsin, which enters at 4-1 and 2-0 in conference play, while UCLA sits at 5-0.
The Badgers are also knocking on the door of the AP Top 25. Right now, they’re viewed as the top team outside the poll, so a win on the road would almost certainly push them into the rankings for the first time since the early part of the 2024 season.
UCLA’s quarterback situation changed Monday morning, when head coach Bob Chesney said Nico Iamaleava is out indefinitely with a knee injury. That leaves Ty Dieffenbach or Madden Iamaleava as the options against Wisconsin on Saturday.
The Big Ten also set the kickoff window, and Wisconsin landed another national spotlight. The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Central time, 4:30 p.m. local time, and will air on NBC. It will be the standalone evening Big Ten game, with Nebraska and Oregon set for an 8:00 p.m.
Pacific start on FOX.
And the lights stay on for the following week, too.
The conference announced Monday that Wisconsin will host No. 19 USC at 6:30 p.m.
Central on October 24 at Camp Randall Stadium, once again on NBC. Just like the UCLA matchup, that one will also stand alone in the evening window.
Wisconsin has already been on plenty of late kickoffs this season. The Badgers opened with a night game on NBC against Notre Dame in Week 1, then followed with a 6:15 p.m. kickoff on Big Ten Network against Western Illinois in Week 2.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Comes Out Of The Bye With One Big Offensive Question
The bye week came at a good time for Wisconsin, giving the staff a little breathing room as it heads into its next game against UCLA. It also created a chance for a few injured players to get closer to full strength, with tailback Abu Sama expected to be available after the layoff.
The bigger concern sits up front, where center Austin Kawecki is still working through an injury to his snapping hand and his status remains unclear. Luke Fickell offered cautious updates this week, but stopped short of making any firm declarations on either player, leaving the Badgers with one of those early-week questions that can shape how the offense looks once the Bruins arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Could Catch A Huge Break Before UCLA Game
UCLAs offense had a different look after Nico Iamaleava exited with a leg injury during Week 6 against Oregon, and the change mattered enough that he never returned for the second half. Head coach Bob Chesney said afterward that Iamaleava was not close to coming back into the game and that the staff still needed to evaluate the injury, a development Wisconsin will be watching closely with the Badgers set to see the Bruins.
In Iamaleavas place, senior transfer Ty Dieffenbach stepped in and helped UCLA finish off the win, giving the Bruins some short-term stability even as the quarterback situation remains unsettled. For Wisconsin, the timing is what stands out most, since any uncertainty at quarterback could alter how UCLA approaches the matchup and force the Badgers to prepare for a different version of the Bruins than the one they expected a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Has A Chance To Make USC A Massive Camp Randall Stage
Camp Randall is getting one of the biggest Big Ten showcases of Wisconsins season. The league announced that the Badgers will host USC in Week 8 with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC, putting a national spotlight on a matchup that already has real weight in the conference race. Wisconsin has started 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play, giving this one a chance to matter well beyond the usual fall-night atmosphere in Madison.
USC arrives ranked No. 19 after a recent win, and that only adds to the intrigue for a Wisconsin team trying to keep building momentum. A prime-time network slot at Camp Randall should give the Badgers the kind of stage they want, with the added bonus of testing themselves against a ranked opponent in front of a national audience. For a program looking to turn early-season success into something more lasting, this is exactly the sort of October game that can tell you a lot. [Read more 🡒]