Wisconsin’s 31-3 win over Michigan State looked like the kind of game that can settle an offense in a hurry: the Badgers were physical up front, rolled up more than 225 rushing yards, and scored on their first three drives on the way to a 4-1 record heading into the bye week.
The biggest story was the ground game, but the quarterback performance still shaped the night. Colton Joseph was uneven through the air, finishing 9 of 20 for 145 yards and three passing touchdowns, yet he kept flashing the kind of dual-threat ability that made Wisconsin want him in the transfer portal.
He added 13 carries for 141 yards and a score, including a 47-yard touchdown run, and ended up with the most rushing yards by a Badgers quarterback since Tanner McEvoy in 2014. Joseph also connected with Jacob Harris on a touchdown grab and later found a wide-open Malachi Coleman for a 46-yard score to put the game away.
Ryan Hopkins finally got into the action as well, taking three snaps after not playing in the 54-10 win over Eastern Michigan in Week 3.
At running back, Darrion Dupree handled the lead role with Abu Sama still out. Dupree carried 19 times for 61 yards, while Bryan Jackson II added seven carries for 22 yards.
It wasn’t a breakout day for the backs in the traditional sense, but Wisconsin leaned on steady, chain-moving runs throughout long drives. Nate Palmer and Mason Kelley also logged snaps in smaller roles.
With the bye week ahead, the split could shift again if Sama is healthy.
The receiver rotation was deeper than the box score might suggest. Malachi Coleman returned to his regular workload after being fully healthy again, and that trimmed some of Tyrell Henry’s slot snaps and Shamar Rigby’s work on the perimeter.
Coleman had the highlight of the group, using a double move to shake his defender on his lone catch - the 46-yard touchdown from Joseph. Chris Brooks Jr. led the group in snaps, while Eugene Hilton Jr. and Henry were also heavily involved.
Seven pass-catchers were targeted, though the passing game never needed to become the centerpiece.
Wisconsin’s tight ends were part of the plan all night, especially as the offense leaned into jumbo looks and a heavier run emphasis. Ryan Schwendeman and Grant Stec did plenty of blocking, while Jacob Harris ran only eight routes but still made his presence felt with two touchdown catches.
Emmett Bork also recorded a catch, and Nizyi Davis saw a small package of snaps. The Badgers appear to have a core four at the position, with the usage likely to keep flexing depending on how run-heavy the game script gets.
Up front, Wisconsin made a notable shuffle. Kevin Heywood moved to left tackle, Stylz Blackmon started at right guard, and Emerson Mandell got the nod at right tackle.
That pushed PJ Wilkins to the bench, though Wilkins and Mandell rotated at right tackle during the game. Austin Kawecki left midway through, which sent Ryan Cory into the game at center, and he handled the spot well in relief.
The changes worked. Wisconsin gave up only five pressures, Joseph was not sacked, and no offensive lineman allowed more than one pressure.
Cory’s fill-in work stood out, and the line as a whole gave Joseph enough time to operate, with his average time to throw coming in at 2.84 seconds. Mandell is still working back from injury and has been in a timeshare for three straight weeks, so that right tackle spot is one to watch after the bye.
PJ Wilkins had struggled recently, but looked solid in Week 5.
In Other News...
Wisconsin's Frontcourt Suddenly Carries A Bigger Burden Than Expected
Wisconsin entered the summer expecting its frontcourt to be a strength, but the offseason has looked different than planned. Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp have both missed significant practice time because of injuries and surgeries, leaving the Badgers to lean more heavily on size, defense and development work as they try to rebound from last seasons early NCAA Tournament exit.
The silver lining has been extra runway for Will Garlock and Victory Onuetu, two players who have taken advantage of the opening and made noticeable progress over the summer. Even so, the Badgers still do not have clarity on Winter and Rapp for the upcoming exhibition game, which keeps the frontcourt picture a little unsettled just as Wisconsin wants to establish a stronger interior foundation. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin's Bye Week Comes With A Big Ten Reality Check
Wisconsins lone bye week arrives in Week 6 with the Badgers riding a four-game winning streak, but it also serves as a reminder that the schedule is about to get a lot less forgiving. The break gives the staff a chance to regroup and reset after a strong start, even as the next month looms with a heavier dose of Big Ten pressure and a chance to see where Wisconsin really stands.
UCLA, USC and Iowa headline the stretch that follows, a run that should say plenty about the caliber of the competition ahead and how the league race is taking shape. The Bruins and Trojans bring fresh Big Ten intrigue, while Iowa remains the kind of familiar test that can still expose any soft spots, making this bye week feel less like downtime and more like the calm before a real reality check. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin's Transfer Debate Is Already Heating Up Through Five Games
Through five games, Wisconsins transfer class is already shaping the way this season is being judged. A fresh ranking of the top seven incoming additions puts several names in the spotlight on both sides of the ball, with quarterback Colton Joseph, defensive backs Javan Robinson and Jacob Harris, and other newcomers helping define what the Badgers have gotten out of the portal so far. For a team trying to balance immediate production with longer-term roster building, the early returns offer a useful snapshot of where the staff hit and where it still has work to do.
The evaluation also makes clear that this group is not finished taking shape. Some transfers have already carved out real roles, while others are still working back toward full health and could factor in more heavily as the season moves along. That leaves the conversation open-ended in a way Wisconsin fans know well: the early standings in any transfer debate can change fast once the schedule tightens and the depth chart starts to settle. [Read more 🡒]