MADISON, Wis. — The Badgers of Wisconsin are beginning to look like their traditional selves again. After a rocky start to the season with a record of 9-8 under second-year head coach Luke Fickell, the team has turned things around impressively, outscoring their last three opponents by a staggering total of 117-16. This resurgence is attributed to a fierce defense and a powerful rushing game, which have defined the best teams in Wisconsin’s history.
Center Jake Renfro emphasized the return of the team’s traditional strengths. “Wisconsin has always had a great tradition of defense, offensive line play, and everything,” he stated. “I feel like we’re definitely bringing that back to life now.” However, it’s difficult to gauge how far the team has truly progressed. Their recent victories were against Purdue, Rutgers, and Northwestern—teams that collectively hold a disappointing record of 2-10 in Big Ten play.
The real challenge looms ahead as the Badgers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) are set to host the No. 3 ranked Penn State (6-0, 3-0) this Saturday night. Wisconsin has faced tough defeats against Penn State in their last five encounters, and they hold an unfortunate 2-13 record against ranked teams in their most recent matchups.
Under Fickell, the team has struggled against Top 25 opponents, with one of the notable losses being a 42-10 drubbing against Alabama and a 38-21 defeat at the hands of Southern California. Renfro considers the USC game a pivotal moment for the team’s mentality, saying, “It was just like an internal something that clicked within us. Hey, we’re not playing to what we need to do.”
While it might be overly optimistic to declare that Wisconsin has fully regained its competitive identity based solely on their recent wins over lower-tier teams, the fact remains that they had previously struggled in similar matchups. For instance, the Badgers entered their 42-7 victory at Rutgers as 2.5-point underdogs, and they recently triumphed 23-3 against Northwestern, who had defeated them 24-10 the season prior.
A large part of the enhanced performance can be traced to a revitalized defense. Historically, Wisconsin has ranked high among Football Bowl Subdivision teams in terms of total defense, often placing 11th or better seven times between 2015 and 2022. However, they ranked 39th last season and were unable to contain either Alabama or USC in previous games. During this current three-game winning streak, Wisconsin has allowed only one touchdown, illustrating a defensive unit that has found its rhythm. Safety Hunter Wohler noted the defense’s resilience, stating, “The way our defense has responded to an offensive turnover, bad field position, just anything that can go wrong, our defense has just answered in a great way.”
Contributing to this defensive strength is a much-improved offense. Last season, the Badgers averaged a mere 23.5 points per game—their lowest scoring average since 2004. This year, they struggled with a similar average of 24 points while starting 2-2, but during their current winning streak, that average has skyrocketed to 39 points per game. Remarkably, they have managed this surge despite losing starter Tyler Van Dyke to a season-ending injury against Alabama.
Wisconsin’s offensive game has shifted to a more run-oriented approach, moving away from the previous Air Raid style that favored passing. Offensive coordinator Phil Longo has adjusted the strategy, leading to the team running the ball on 58.2% of their snaps this season. In their last three games, the Badgers have established significant leads, and their run percentage has increased to over 60%.
Initially, Tawee Walker shared the rushing duties, but after Chez Mellusi left the program three weeks ago, Walker has emerged as the clear lead back. The Oklahoma transfer has excelled, gaining 418 yards and scoring six touchdowns on 66 carries in just three games. Coach Fickell remarked, “We’re starting to recognize that Tawee in particular is a guy who’s much better with more than 18-20 carries.”
Walker attributes his success to the veteran offensive line, which has a combined 138 career starts with players like Jack Nelson, Joe Huber, Renfro, Joe Brunner, and Riley Mahlman. They have protected quarterback Braedyn Locke effectively, allowing just three sacks in the last three games. Walker commented on the offensive line’s relentless energy, saying, “They’re playing aggressive and going at the defense 100% of the time. I’m just following behind them and matching their energy.”
This blend of a formidable rushing attack and an agile defense has reinvigorated Wisconsin’s confidence. As they prepare for a tougher upcoming schedule, the Badgers have a chance to showcase their progress. Renfro concluded, “It was definitely a little rough ride last year. It didn’t go the way we wanted it to. But I think we’re showing the world that we’re back, we’re improved. And we’re not even to our ceiling yet. There’s still so much room for improvement.”