Wisconsin’s trip to No. 13 Penn State feels less like a routine Big Ten test and more like a measuring stick for where Luke Fickell’s program really stands.
The Badgers are coming off a blowout of Eastern Michigan, and for the first time in a while, there’s at least some real momentum to point to. But Saturday night in Beaver Stadium is a different animal.
Penn State enters dinged up as well and will be missing its most explosive playmaker. Even so, the Nittany Lions have spent most of the season looking like a top-15 team, and they’ve done it while facing three games against far inferior opponents.
Wisconsin, meanwhile, knows the margin for error is thin. To have a chance, the Badgers need a near-perfect game and a little help.
The biggest question hanging over this matchup is whether last week’s 54-point outburst was a true turning point or just a one-off. Wisconsin finally looked like a team that handled business the way it was supposed to against Eastern Michigan, which made it the best non-conference showing, if not game, of the Luke Fickell era. The next step is finding out whether that performance actually means something.
That answer may start with the run game. Wisconsin piled up 54 points last week, but the ground attack was shaky underneath the big number.
The Badgers rushed for just 117 yards and averaged 3.9 yards per carry, with their quarterback leading the team on the ground with less than 50 yards. Abu Sama, who had been cleared, did not play against the Eagles, and Wisconsin will need either him or someone like Darrion Dupree to have a solid day to help keep the offense on schedule and the clock moving.
Colton Joseph’s legs are another piece to watch. He ran nine times last week, including some designed runs, and his ability to make plays as a runner was part of the appeal when Wisconsin brought him in as a transfer.
That element has been on display in flashes, but not consistently. With Jeff Grimes likely to dial up a few more designed runs, Joseph may also need to improvise more often against a Penn State defense that should bring more pressure than he’s seen the last two weeks.
Defensively, Wisconsin can’t afford a slow start. That was manageable against Eastern Michigan, but it could be a deal-breaker against a ranked opponent on the road. Mike Tressel’s group has to come out fast if the Badgers want any shot at staying in the game deep into the second half.
And then there’s Fickell himself. His in-game decision-making has already given Wisconsin fans plenty to question, and Saturday is one of those nights where every choice gets magnified.
Whether it’s being aggressive before halftime or deciding when to punt instead of going for points, the Badgers are not going to out-talent Penn State. The coaching has to be sharp.
There’s room for caution if Wisconsin is tied or ahead, but if the Badgers are trailing by a score or two, playing it safe too often could close the door on an upset. Fickell is in his fourth season, and the standard is different now.
The goal isn’t to hang around and feel good about it. He was brought in to win games like this.
That’s why this matchup feels so important. Wisconsin has a kicker, a punter, strong special teams, and an offense that can play uptempo when needed.
Now the task is to put all of that together in one complete game. If the Badgers are going to walk out of Happy Valley with anything, Fickell has to coach one of his best games yet.
In Other News...
Wisconsins Penn State Chances Suddenly Come Down To One Big Concern
The first Big Ten availability report for Wisconsins matchup with Penn State offered an immediate look at how much depth both teams may have to lean on when they meet. The Badgers listed four players as out, five as questionable and four as probable, while Penn States report also came with notable absences and a cluster of uncertain names as the week moves on.
For Wisconsin, the bigger issue is not just who is already ruled out, but how many key decisions are still hanging over the game. Penn States side adds to the intrigue with star receiver Koby Howard among the players unavailable, and six more Nittany Lions listed as questionable. In a game where both staffs are already sorting through injuries, the final availability report could end up shaping the matchup as much as anything on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin's Secondary Suddenly Has A Depth Problem Fans Didn't Want
Wisconsins secondary took another hit in Week 2 when cornerback Cai Bates went down with a torn ACL, ending his season before it really got started. The Florida State transfer had settled in as the No. 2 boundary cornerback, giving the Badgers a useful blend of experience and depth in a spot where every snap matters. Bates confirmed the injury on Instagram, and for a defense that has leaned on its back end to steady things, losing a player in that role is a tough break.
Donovan Dunmore now appears to be the next man up, with the true freshman expected to fill the opening on the boundary. For Wisconsin, the move is about more than simply plugging a lineup hole because the Badgers had been counting on Bates to provide reliable snaps in a secondary that could not afford to get thin. How quickly Dunmore can handle that jump is now one of the more important subplots on the defensive side. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Heads To Penn State With A Secondary Problem It Can't Ignore
As Wisconsin turns to Week 4 at Penn State, the conversation is already drifting toward availability as much as matchup. The Badgers are trying to navigate a secondary that took another blow with Florida State transfer cornerback Bates suffering a torn ACL and being expected to miss the season, a development that only sharpens the pressure on a defense that has to hold up on the road in a difficult environment.
The injury picture is still far from settled around Madison, with Mason Posa, Eugene Hilton Jr., Malachi Coleman, Abu Sama and Bryan Jackson all carrying different statuses heading into the trip. Penn State, meanwhile, has its own questions to sort through with starting center Brock Riker and tight end Andrew Rappleyea listed as questionable, while the Nittany Lions also will be without wide receiver Koby Howard for an extended stretch after his injury announcement. [Read more 🡒]