Oregon, ranked No. 1, holds an impressive record of 10-0 in the season and 7-0 in the Big Ten, while Wisconsin comes in with a 5-4 record and 3-3 in the conference. The matchup is set for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EST, broadcast on NBC. The oddsmakers at BETMGM have made Oregon a 14-point favorite for this contest.
This game is critical for both teams; Oregon aims to preserve its powerful No. 1 status and to achieve an 11-0 start for the first time since 2010—an unforgettable season that ended in a loss to Auburn and Cam Newton in the BCS championship. For Wisconsin, a victory would secure bowl eligibility and would inch them closer to their 23rd consecutive winning season, which is the longest active streak among Power Five teams. The Badgers are also seeking to notch a win against a top-ranked team, a feat they haven’t accomplished since their 31-18 triumph over Ohio State back in 2010.
A key factor in Wisconsin’s hopes for an upset lies in their running game against Oregon’s run defense. To maximize their chances, the Badgers will aim to control the tempo of the game, minimizing Oregon’s offensive opportunities. Recently, the team has relied heavily on the performance of Tawee Walker, who had an impressive stretch with 418 rushing yards and six touchdowns over three consecutive victories against Purdue, Rutgers, and Northwestern. However, Walker’s production has dipped, contributing only 111 rushing yards and one touchdown in his last two games against fourth-ranked Penn State and Iowa. Interestingly, Oregon’s run defense sits in the bottom half of the Big Ten, ranked 10th out of 18 teams.
Several standout players will take the field on Saturday. For Oregon, quarterback Dillon Gabriel has showcased elite performance, leading the Football Bowl Subdivision with a 74.1% completion rate for a total of 2,848 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and merely five interceptions. Notably, Gabriel recently set the NCAA record for total career touchdowns, amassing 180 combined touchdowns consisting of 147 passing, 32 rushing, and one receiving.
On the Wisconsin side, linebacker Christian Alliegro has emerged as a force on defense, coming off a notable performance with 16 tackles in a recent loss to Iowa, marking the highest single-game tackle count for a Badger since Leo Chenal achieved 17 tackles against Army in 2021.
In terms of historical context, this game represents the first time these teams have faced each other since Oregon narrowly defeated Wisconsin 28-27 in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2020. The Ducks have triumphed in their last three encounters with the Badgers. However, Wisconsin has struggled against top-25 teams recently, posting a dismal 2-14 record over their last 16 matchups, including an 0-5 run during Luke Fickell’s tenure as head coach. Defensively, Wisconsin has allowed just two plays that exceeded 40 yards this season, a figure that ties them with Ohio State for the fewest in FBS. Additionally, Oregon marks the third top-five opponent to challenge Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium this year, following losses to then-No. 4 Alabama and then-No. 3 Penn State earlier in the season.