Wisconsin gets a chance to reset at home Saturday after the bruising loss to Iowa, and Rutgers arrives with plenty of openings for the Badgers to exploit. The Scarlet Knights are sitting 15th in the conference standings and have only beaten Howard and Maryland, which makes this a natural spot for Luke Fickell’s team to try to get back on track.
One of the biggest questions centers on Rutgers receiver Ian Duff, who is listed as doubtful. If he does play, he brings a major problem for Wisconsin’s secondary. Duff is one of the best receivers in the nation and would be the toughest test this defense has faced all season, especially after last week’s rough showing.
Even if Duff is limited or unavailable, Rutgers still has Antwan Raymond to lean on. The junior back has been productive despite the team’s 2-6 record, piling up 733 rushing yards at 5.5 yards per carry.
That total ranks second in the Big Ten and 23rd nationally. He’s also coming off 11 carries for 85 yards in Rutgers’ 28-21 loss to Michigan, and he can hurt defenses as a receiver too, including a 32-yard catch last week.
Still, he hasn’t topped three receptions in any game this season.
For Wisconsin, the key is simple: keep Raymond from getting loose. Mason Posa, Cooper Catalano and the rest of the linebackers will be asked to clean things up if he reaches the second level. If Raymond can’t create chunk plays, Rutgers’ offense is going to have a hard time finding traction.
The other side of the ball gives Wisconsin another clear path. Rutgers quarterback Athan Surace was not supposed to be in this role to start the season, but an injury to Dylan Lonergan pushed him into action. Surace made his second start last week against Michigan and completed only three of 12 passes, though those completions went for 123 yards thanks in part to an 80-yard touchdown to Jourdin Houston.
On the year, Surace has thrown for 662 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. His first start came in September against Boston College, when he threw for 230 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. With that kind of profile, it’s no surprise Rutgers leaned on the run against Michigan, and Wisconsin’s secondary will be looking to force the same kind of uncomfortable, mistake-prone afternoon again.
That defensive opportunity lines up with Wisconsin’s own offensive plan. Jeff Grimes is likely to want the Badgers running the ball, whether that means getting Joseph going with his legs or easing pressure on Ryan Hopkins if he gets the start. Either way, the ground game should be the priority.
Rutgers has made that job easier than most opponents. The Scarlet Knights are giving up 194.4 rushing yards per game at 5.48 yards per carry, and they’ve already allowed 16 rushing touchdowns in eight games.
Wisconsin fans have been waiting for a return to a run-first identity, but this season the Badgers haven’t consistently fed their backs enough. Joseph has shown he can run it, and Abu Sama and Darrion Dupree have flashed too, even if the volume hasn’t matched the production.
Maybe Grimes uses this one to build Joseph’s confidence or give Hopkins some support if he’s under center. But the clearest strength Wisconsin has, if it’s going to show up, is on the ground.
In Other News...
Wisconsins 2-0 Start Comes With One Early Concern
Wisconsins 73-64 win over Delaware gave the Badgers a 2-0 start, and for most of the final seven minutes they looked in control enough to keep the Blue Hens at arms length. It was another sign that this group can defend, stay organized and find enough scoring to put a game away, even while the roster continues to take shape early in the season.
Still, the first two games have also shown where the polish is missing. The Badgers are still settling into a new mix of players, and there were reminders against Delaware that the offense can be more aggressive and the bench can give more. Owen Foxwell, Eian Elmer, Jack Janicki and Jackson Ball all had their moments, but Wisconsin is still searching for the kind of consistent depth that will matter once the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Greg Gard Sees One Growing Wisconsin Concern Before Big Ten Play
The early-season offense has not looked quite as smooth as Greg Gard would like, and the Wisconsin coach pointed to a few familiar trouble spots after the loss of top scorers Nick Boyd and John Blackwell. Against Delaware, Gard said the Badgers were off on ball screen timing, had trouble finishing through contact and did not get enough production from the bench, all of which added up to a night where the attack never fully settled in.
Gard still sounded confident the rhythm will come, but the timing of the slump makes it worth watching with Big Ten play approaching. Wisconsin has enough structure to expect cleaner possessions as the schedule stiffens, yet the Badgers also know they need more reliable scoring support beyond the top end if they want the offense to hold up when the games start to matter more. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Is Winning With Defense While One Problem Still Lingers
Wisconsins second win of the season came with a familiar look in one area and a much better one in another. The Badgers beat Delaware 73-64 and, after a shakier opener, showed the kind of team defense that can keep them in games while the offense sorts itself out. Jack Janicki, Braeden Carrington, Owen Foxwell and Victory Onuetu all had a hand in that effort, giving Wisconsin the kind of collective lift it needed on both ends.
The lingering issue is still on the front line, where injuries to some forwards have slowed the Badgers offensive rhythm and limited what they can do inside. Even with the defense trending up, Wisconsin is still working through those absences and the ripple effect they have on scoring balance. For now, the formula is clear enough: defend well, find enough production from the rotation, and keep waiting for the roster to get closer to full strength. [Read more 🡒]