The Wisconsin football team pulled off what is arguably the biggest win of the Luke Fickell era, defeating No. 16 USC at Camp Randall on Saturday night behind a defense that suffocated the Trojans’ offense.

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A sizeable list of recruits were on hand for the big upset, including committed players and future targets for Wisconsin.

BadgerNotes caught up with a few recruits in attendance to get their take on the Badgers’ win and the atmosphere at Camp Randall on Saturday.

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After the Wisconsin football team’s win over USC, things are trending upward again. Defensively, the Badgers put the clamps on the 16th-ranked Trojans under the lights at Camp Randall on Saturday night, giving Luke Fickell and the Badgers arguably their best win of his tenure.

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A handful of players had impressive performances for the Badgers on Saturday night, so let’s get into who’s trending up and who’s trending down.

Here’s the Week 8 stock report:

📈 Stock up: Wisconsin’s run defense

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The result of No. 25 Wisconsin at Iowa on Halloween will carry a disproportionate amount of weight relative to the rest of the Badgers’ games this season.

And rightfully so.

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Wisconsin football is coming off a massive upset win over No. 16 USC, a win that pushed them to 5-2 overall (3-1 B1G), and of course, a spot within the AP Top 25 for the first time since Week 2 of the 2023 season.

This Badgers’ defense is utterly lights out, and while the offense remains a work in progress, it has an identity. It’s no longer aimlessly drifting between backup quarterbacks and mismatched scheme and personnel.

And yet, what transpires inside Kinnick Stadium on Saturday at Big Noon Kickoff could — and probably will — define the rest of the season for Wisconsin, lockdown defense and revitalized offense be damned.

Head coach Luke Fickell is 0-3 against Iowa. He lost 15-6 in his debut season in Madison before getting absolutely pummeled 42-10 and 37-0 in the ensuing two matchups. Wisconsin made an enormous deal out of the Iowa game last season, having its players do 42 push-ups after each spring practice for the 42 points Iowa scored in their previous meeting, only to lose by a wider margin and in more embarrassing fashion last fall.

How the Badgers have performed against Iowa has generally been a representation of how their seasons have unfolded under Fickell. But beyond the rivalry, the Heartland Trophy, and Fickell’s less-than-stellar track record against the Hawkeyes at Wisconsin, this staff needs to win this game to prove they’ve changed course after drifting pretty far astray the last three seasons.

Based on what Fickell said at his weekly press conference, he knows damn well that he needs to take care of business in Iowa City. He spoke with great reverence for the Hawkeyes, but also in a way that suggests he’s torn those previous games against Iowa apart, searching for the answer against Kirk Ferentz’ squad.

“I can tell you right off the bat here, we’ve been outrushed in this game over the last three years, 740-350,” Fickell said “I think the turnover margin the last three years is 7-1. There are a lot of things that haven’t gone well for us in this rivalry game, and we need to do a whole lot to change that. It’s not gonna be easy. I don’t know if there’s a tougher place to play in the country.”

As the final scores suggest, not only did Wisconsin lose to Iowa the last two seasons, but they got thoroughly embarrassed. The battle for the Heartland Trophy is, without fail, decided by who controls the line of scrimmage.

Iowa manhandled the Badgers on both sides of the ball the last two years, besting Wisconsin at its own game. Not to say that the Hawkeyes don’t also pride themselves on a suffocating defense and rushing attack as well, but if this team is who they say they are — a tough, nasty and disciplined team that wins with its play in the trenches — they’ll turn the corner and knock off Iowa in Fickell’s fourth try.

Shutting down the run, of course, will be of the utmost importance. And while Wisconsin is No. 16 nationally in run defense, allowing 96.6 yards per game, Fickell has recalibrated his expectations based on what the Hawkeyes have done to previous iterations of his team.

“I don’t wanna put too much on our ability to stop the run so far, because it’s going to be a completely different challenge for us to stop the run [against Iowa],” Fickell told reporters.

If they lose to Iowa, the Badgers could still win the eight or nine games that much of the fanbase clamored for this offseason. They could get back to the postseason, make a respectable bowl, keep their recruiting class intact and load up to try to get back to double-digit wins in 2027.

But none of that would change the fact that a loss to the Hawkeyes on Halloween would put a serious damper on the 2026 campaign.

One of the biggest reasons is that after the Iowa game, Fickell is fresh out of opportunities for a signature win. Only games against Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, and Minnesota remain. While the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe is, of course, another monumental game in terms of the direction of the program, those Iowa losses have been the ones that’ve defined his tenure. This is arguably a bigger game than Black Friday against the Gophers.

Wisconsin football isn’t doomed if it can’t beat Iowa. But it might feel that way if the Badgers lose. Fickell and his team need to go into Iowa City and take this one.

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You can also follow Staff writer Seamus Rohrer at @Seamus_Rohrer on X.

The University of Wisconsin football program had plenty to celebrate following its 24-7 upset of No. 16 USC, but Luke Fickell didn’t need much time to start thinking about what comes next.

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After watching his team deliver its most complete performance of the season, Fickell acknowledged that his attention had already shifted toward Iowa before the celebration at Camp Randall Stadium was over.

No. 25 Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) travels to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes (5-2, 2-2), who are coming off a 13-10 loss to Minnesota. The Badgers have a chance to build on their momentum, but they’ll also face a team that has exposed the program’s biggest shortcomings under Fickell.

The fourth-year head coach addressed those struggles, the importance of controlling the line of scrimmage, and several personnel developments during his weekly press conference.

Here are three takeaways from Fickell’s comments ahead of Wisconsin’s matchup with Iowa.

Wisconsin’s recent struggles against Iowa remain difficult to ignore

Wisconsin’s win over USC offered some encouraging evidence that Fickell’s team is improving. Whether that progress translates against Iowa is another matter.

The Hawkeyes have consistently gotten the better of Wisconsin in the areas that traditionally define this rivalry, particularly running the football and protecting possession. The Badgers have lost three straight to Iowa under Fickell, getting outscored a staggering 94-16 in those meetings.

Fickell didn’t attempt to minimize those shortcomings.

“We’ve been outrushed in this game over the last three years, like 740 to 350. I think that turnover margin in the last three years is 7 to 1,” Fickell told reporters. “And so there’s a lot of things that haven’t gone well for us in this rivalry game. And we need to do a whole lot to change that.”

Those numbers help explain why Saturday represents a meaningful test.

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What a difference a week makes.

After looking completely lost offensively against UCLA, the Wisconsin football team (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) responded with arguably its most complete performance of the Luke Fickell era, beating No. 16 USC 24-7 at Camp Randall Stadium.

It wasn’t particularly pretty on offense, but for the first time in a while, I thought the Badgers looked like a team that understood exactly what it needed to be to win.

After some time to process Saturday’s performance, I wanted to revisit a couple of things. That’s the idea behind The Leftovers. A chance to look beyond immediate reactions and spend more time on what deserves our attention.

And this week, there are two offensive developments I think are worth discussing.

Wisconsin’s offense might finally be figuring out what it needs to be

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The Wisconsin football team bounced back from its disappointing loss at UCLA with a 24-7 win over No. 16 USC at Camp Randall Stadium, improving to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play.

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And while the Badgers managed just 200 yards of offense, their defense delivered one of its most impressive performances of the Luke Fickell era.

Wisconsin held USC to minus-17 rushing yards, recorded five sacks, forced two interceptions, and prevented the Trojans from scoring over the final three quarters.

"Gritty ain't pretty but that's who we are," Fickell said during his postgame interview on the field.

That pretty much summed up the performance.

The Pro Football Focus grades and snap counts offer a little more context into how Wisconsin accomplished that, particularly on defense, where several players turned in some of their best performances of the season.

Offensively, the picture is more complicated. The Badgers leaned on their running backs and sustained drives, but the passing game remains limited, and some concerning individual performances still stand out up front.

Here’s what stood out at every position from Wisconsin’s Week 8 snap counts.

Quarterback

• Colton Joseph: 60

Joseph’s performance against USC was a pretty good example of how Wisconsin can win with him without asking him to do everything.

He completed 12-of-14 passes for just 58 yards and a touchdown, earning a 58.7 overall offensive grade and a 64.0 passing grade from PFF. Joseph also finished with 32 rushing yards on 15 carries.

Those numbers aren’t particularly impressive, but Joseph avoided the costly mistakes that have occasionally undermined this offense.

His biggest contribution through the air came on a beautifully designed 16-yard touchdown screen to Chris Brooks Jr. on fourth-and-2, extending Wisconsin’s lead to 17-7 in the third quarter.

The difference was that Wisconsin didn’t need Joseph to manufacture nearly every positive play with his legs. That’s encouraging from a sustainability standpoint, even if the passing game still has a considerable amount of work to do.

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The Wisconsin football program has gone back into Big Ten territory to strengthen its 2027 recruiting class.

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Wisconsin flipped linebacker Blake Betton from Penn State, giving Luke Fickell and the Badgers another regional recruiting win while taking a commitment directly from a conference opponent.

“Badger Nation, we home,” Betton wrote.

Betton, a 6-foot-3, roughly 210-pound linebacker from Shakopee High School in Minnesota, had been committed to Penn State since April. He originally chose the Nittany Lions over offers from Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Auburn, Missouri, and several other Power Four programs.

Matt Campbell heavily influenced his path to Penn State.

Campbell originally recruited Betton at Iowa State before taking over at Penn State, and Betton became one of the first 2027 linebackers his new staff prioritized. That existing relationship, along with linebackers coach Tyson Veidt, helped Penn State land his commitment during a spring visit.

Wisconsin never completely disappeared from the picture.

The Badgers had recruited Betton extensively before his commitment, with inside linebackers coach Tuf Borland playing a prominent role. Betton had made multiple trips to Madison, including a game-day visit, Junior Day and a spring practice, and had previously spoken positively about the atmosphere at Camp Randall and his relationship with Wisconsin’s staff.

That persistence eventually paid off.

Betton returned to Wisconsin for another visit this fall, and the Badgers were able to turn an established relationship into a commitment change.

From a roster-building standpoint, Betton gives Wisconsin an athletic linebacker with a background that’s a little different from a traditional downhill player.

He began his high school career at safety before growing into more of a hybrid linebacker role, and that history still shows up in his game. Betton moves well in space, has experience playing in coverage, and possesses enough ball skills to affect the passing game. He also plays basketball for Howard Pulley on the EYBL circuit, further illustrating his athletic profile.

Betton recorded approximately 87 tackles and four interceptions as a sophomore before following that with 88 tackles, four tackles for loss, four pass breakups and two interceptions during his junior season.

Recruiting services view him as a top-five prospect in Minnesota’s 2027 class. He is a composite three-star linebacker and a top-500 player nationally, joining Keaton Wollan and Nathan Jones as Wisconsin’s linebacker commits in the class.

There is still plenty of physical development ahead.

Betton will need to keep filling out his frame and adding good weight before he becomes a Big Ten-caliber linebacker. But the appeal in adding a player like this is easy to understand. He already has the length, instincts, and coverage ability Wisconsin can build around, with additional room to grow physically once he gets into a college strength program.

For Wisconsin, the larger takeaway is where this recruitment came from. Betton was not an overlooked prospect the Badgers discovered late. They wanted him, lost him to another Big Ten program, and kept recruiting.

Wisconsin’s coaching staff stayed on Betton throughout the process and ultimately turned that persistence into a flip from a Big Ten rival. He becomes the 23rd commitment in the Badgers’ 2027 recruiting class.

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Sometimes, the best response to a disappointing performance is to stop talking about what needs to change and show everyone what you’re capable of doing. That’s precisely what the Wisconsin football team did on Saturday night.

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One week after an ugly offensive showing at UCLA raised familiar questions about the direction of Luke Fickell’s program, Wisconsin returned to Camp Randall Stadium and knocked off No. 16 USC, 24-7, improving to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play.

It wasn’t particularly pretty, but that’s what made the performance encouraging. Wisconsin controlled the line of scrimmage defensively, committed to running the football, and gradually wore down a talented USC team that never found much offensive rhythm.

The Badgers finished with just 200 yards of offense, so there are still plenty of limitations worth discussing. But they also held the Trojans to minus-17 rushing yards, forced two interceptions, recorded five sacks, and put together three touchdown drives that demonstrated exactly what this offense can look like when it plays to its strengths. Wisconsin didn’t need to be explosive to win. It needed to be physical and opportunistic.

With that as the backdrop, let’s hand out some grades.

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The University of Wisconsin football program needed a response after last week’s disappointing loss to UCLA. What Luke Fickell’s team delivered Saturday night against No. 16 USC was arguably its most complete performance of the season.

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Wisconsin knocked off the Trojans 24-7 at Camp Randall Stadium, improving to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play. The Badgers leaned on a dominant defensive effort, established their running game, and controlled the second half to secure another ranked victory.

For Fickell, it was another indication that his team is making progress, even if the process hasn’t always been pretty. Wisconsin held Lincoln Riley’s high-powered offense to its lowest point total under his leadership (7), with USC failing to produce a single play longer than 15 yards.

“Man, we are growing, and we are getting better,” Fickell said during his postgame press conference. “There are still things we’ve got to do a hell of a lot better. We know that. But this team believes. They understand what grinding things out looks like. I think they’ve taken a lot of pride in it.”

Here are three takeaways from Fickell’s comments following Wisconsin’s upset win.

Wisconsin’s defense delivered its most convincing performance yet

A week after UCLA exposed Wisconsin’s inability to get off the field on third down, defensive coordinator Mike Tressel’s unit responded by making life miserable for USC quarterback Jayden Maiava.

The Badgers held USC to 241 total yards, including minus-17 rushing yards, the second-best single-game mark in program history, while recording five sacks and two interceptions. Maiava completed 31-of-50 passes for 258 yards, but Wisconsin consistently pressured him and prevented the Trojans from finding much offensive rhythm.

Sebastian Cheeks led the pass rush with six pressures and 2.5 sacks, while Mason Posa added three pressures, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. Cooper Catalano finished with a team-high 10 tackles.

“That defense, Coach Tress and those guys on the defensive side of the ball, man, they played an incredible game,” Fickell said. “And they kept the pressure on. Those guys played relentless, they played physical.”

Wisconsin also intercepted Maiava twice in the first quarter, with Bryce West and Cairo Skanes creating opportunities that the offense couldn’t fully capitalize on.

What stood out was the staff’s willingness to bring pressure, trusting a secondary that had to rotate personnel throughout the night. Despite those moving pieces, Wisconsin surrendered only one touchdown.

“You gotta have faith, you gotta have confidence in the guys on the back end,” Fickell said. “You gotta have faith and confidence in the guys up front because you are hanging a lot of things out, and you’ve got an incredible expectation that things are gonna happen really fast.”

The performance was another reminder of how far this defense has come. Wisconsin has held four opponents to 10 points or fewer this season, and its ability to dictate games defensively gives the Badgers a foundation to lean on.

Wisconsin found a better balance in its running game

After Colton Joseph carried the ball 18 times against UCLA while Wisconsin’s running backs combined for just 12 attempts, Fickell made it clear during the week that the offense needed better balance.

Against USC, the Badgers followed through.

Wisconsin ran the ball 43 times for 142 yards, with Abu Sama III leading the way with 71 yards on 17 carries. Bryan Jackson, facing his former team, added 38 yards on seven attempts and scored his first touchdown as a Badger.

Joseph contributed another 32 rushing yards, but the offense didn’t need him to shoulder nearly as much of the workload.

“We had been pretty heavy with Colton running the football,” Fickell said. “And I just think that if we’re going to grow, if we’re going to be who we want to be, if you’re going to win in this league, at this place, if our tailbacks can’t shoulder the load and can’t be the horses that we need them to be... if we can’t rely on those guys, it’s going to be a long year.”

The results weren’t particularly explosive, but Wisconsin sustained three touchdown drives of at least 59 yards, including possessions of 75 yards apiece that consumed nearly eight and six minutes.

Jackson’s emergence was especially meaningful with Darrion Dupree dealing with a hamstring injury that nearly prevented him from playing.

“Sometimes you just got to give guys greater opportunities to see what they really have when the game’s on the line,” Fickell said. “And he [Jackson] showed us something tonight that we thought maybe he had.”

Wisconsin finished with just 200 total yards, including 58 through the air. That’s hardly a sustainable formula against every opponent, but Saturday showed what this offense can accomplish when its running backs help control possession, and the defense consistently provides opportunities.

Fickell’s aggressive fourth-down decision reflected a different mentality

One of the biggest criticisms of Fickell’s coaching against UCLA centered on his conservative and borderline irresponsible fourth-down decisions, particularly punting while trailing by 10 points late in the fourth quarter.

Against USC, he made a different choice.

Leading 10-7 in the third quarter, Wisconsin faced fourth-and-2 at the USC 16-yard line. Rather than settling for a short field goal, Fickell kept his offense on the field.

Wisconsin came out in 13 personnel with three tight ends, then shifted them out wide to block for Chris Brooks Jr. Joseph delivered a quick screen, and Brooks followed his blockers into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown that extended Wisconsin’s lead to 17-7.

Fickell explained that the decision reflected a desire to attack rather than simply protecting a narrow advantage.

“Yes, the defense is playing well, but the truth of the matter is, I don’t think field goals are going to win these ballgames,” Fickell said. “These guys, we keep preaching about being aggressive. It’s about being smart, too.”

That willingness to trust the offense was particularly notable considering Wisconsin’s limitations in the passing game.

“We had to put ourselves in a position where, like, look, man, let’s try to win this thing instead of holding on and trying not to lose,” Fickell said. “And so I think there’s a completely different mentality.”

Wisconsin needs that kind of aggressive decision-making more consistently from its head coach. Saturday wasn’t a perfect performance by any means, and the offense still has plenty to prove. But the Badgers found a way to play to their strengths, controlled the game physically, and made enough winning decisions to beat a ranked opponent at home.

After the disappointment at UCLA, that’s meaningful progress. Wisconsin will look to build on that momentum next week when it travels to face Iowa (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten), which is coming off a 13-10 loss to Minnesota.

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The offense got off to a slow start, but Wisconsin’s defense more than made up for it, suffocating the Trojans throughout the night and never giving them much of a chance to get back into the game.

Here’s what stood out from Wisconsin’s 24-7 win over No. 16 USC.

Game recap

After punts by both USC and Wisconsin, the Wisconsin defense forced the first turnover of the game after cornerback Javan Robinson tipped a pass from Jayden Maiava that resulted in a Bryce West interception, which he returned inside the redzone. The Trojans’ defense held tough, however, forcing Wisconsin to settle for a field goal, putting the Badgers up 3-0 with 7:20 left in the first quarter.

Wisconsin got another interception on the next possession; this time, safety Cairo Skanes stepped in front of a Maiava pass and returned it to the USC 35-yard line. Again, the Wisconsin offense squandered the opportunity, netting two yards on three plays, settling for a 51-yard field goal, which Lahm missed wide right, leaving the Badgers empty-handed.

USC’s next possession was a time-killing drive that took more than seven minutes. A lot of the extended possession was because the Badgers had multiple penalties, including two facemask penalties in the redzone and a brutal sideline interference on strength and conditioning coach Brady Collins, who was celebrating a big Sebastian Cheeks sack and an official ran into him.

Wisconsin’s offense finally woke up in the next possession, marching down the field on a seven-minute drive that ended with a Bryan Jackson touchdown run to take the lead 10-7 heading into the half.

Wisconsin got the ball to start the second half and took almost six minutes to go 75 yards, capping it with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Chris Brooks Jr. on a screen pass on 4th and 1, putting Wisconsin up 17-7. A heck of a call for offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes.

USC answered the Badgers’ score by marching down the field past the Wisconsin 20-yard line, but an intentional grounding call on Maiava left the Trojans with a 44-yard field goal attempt, which Junior Poyser blocked, turning the Trojans away again.

The next USC possession ends similarly. After getting deep into Wisconsin territory, Mason Posa comes up with a huge sack, forcing a Trojan field goal. After a delay of game penalty, the Trojans attempted a 58-yard field goal and came up well short.

Wisconsin tacked on an insurance touchdown late in the fourth quarter, driving down the field and capping it off with a Ryan Schwendeman fullback dive to put Wisconsin up 24-7, which held through the end of the game.

What stood out

• Wisconsin made a point to get the running game going

After struggling to generate any offense outside of Colton Joseph’s running at UCLA, the Badgers made it a point of emphasis to get Abu Sama going. The Badgers’ top running back ran for 60 yards on 12 carries in the first half and finished with 71 yards on 17 carries.

The Badgers’ first touchdown came on a five-yard carry from Bryan Jackson, who plowed through a Trojan at the goal line to put the Badgers up 10-7.

If Wisconsin’s offense is going to get going, it needs to start with the running game, and they took a positive step tonight.

• This run defense is among the best in the Big Ten, maybe even the country

I wouldn’t say USC is a prolific running offense, but the Badgers absolutely suffocated the Trojans on the ground tonight. They held USC to -17 rushing yards.

-17.

Granted, some of that was due to sacks, but outside of the quarterback yards, they still only ran for 40 yards on 20 carries. Two yards per carry.

This defense can keep the Badgers in just about any game because it can take away the opponent’s rushing attack.

• The secondary is getting thin

Javan Robinson played tonight, despite being ‘questionable’ on the initial injury report on Wednesday night, but he was in and out for most of the night.

Safety Marvin Burks exited the game in the first quarter and didn’t return with an ‘upper body injury,’ according to UW athletics.

Slot cornerback Bryce West, who had a great first half with a tackle for a loss and an interception, left the game multiple times with what appeared to be an upper-body injury as well.

Luckily, Cairo Skanes and Carson Van Dinter filled in admirably for Burks, but at cornerback, things are getting pretty thin.

Game Balls

LB Mason Posa & Sebastian Cheeks: As usual, Mason Posa was all over the field. He made several meaningful plays tonight. As did Sebastian Cheeks.

The linebacking duo combined for 10 tackles, four sacks, and five tackles for a loss. They were constantly harassing Jaydon Maiava, and it paid off handsomely for the Badgers.

CB Bryce West: Slot cornerback Bryce West was everywhere tonight, especially in the first half. He tallied a tackle for a loss and an interception through the first two quarters. He finished with five tackles, a tackle for a loss, an interception, and a QB hit.

Stats of the game

2: The Badgers intercepted two of Jordan Maiava’s passes. He came into the game with just three on the season.

5: The Badgers sacked Maiava five times tonight and were close on several other occasions. They were in his face all night long.

-17: Wisconsin held USC to -17 yards on the ground tonight.

What’s next

Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) will hit the road next week to take on Iowa (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten). The Hawkeyes are coming off a 13-10 loss to Minnesota.

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The loss to UCLA feels like a massive missed opportunity for the Badgers. With USC and Iowa on the schedule in the next two weeks, a win over the Bruins would have been huge. The loss makes this home matchup against the Trojans feel a lot more important.

The BadgerNotes staff went a dismal 1-3 last week, with a majority believing the Badgers would leave Pasadena with a win.

Here are the staff predictions for Week 8.

Staff predictions

• Dillon Graff

Season record: 5-1

I’ve been pretty consistent in saying that Wisconsin looks a lot more like a team that’s going to have to fight for a halfway decent bowl than one capable of making a serious run at anything bigger. And after what we saw against UCLA, I haven’t found much reason to change that opinion.

The frustrating part is that Wisconsin’s defense is actually pretty good. Mike Tressel has a group capable of making life difficult for just about anyone, and I actually think the Badgers match up reasonably well with some of what USC wants to do offensively.

But there’s only so much you can ask of that unit. USC has one of the most efficient passing attacks in the country, and Jayden Maiava is playing at a level where I don’t think Wisconsin can realistically expect to hold the Trojans down for four quarters.

And that’s where my concern comes in.

I have very little confidence in Wisconsin’s ability to consistently move the football right now. The offensive line remains a work in progress, Colton Joseph has completed fewer than 50% of his passes in three straight games, and this offense relies far too heavily on explosive runs rather than consistently staying ahead of the chains.

Could Wisconsin make this ugly, lean on its defense, and find a way to steal one at Camp Randall? Absolutely. We’ve already seen this team do something similar at Penn State.

But I need to see considerably more from the offense before I’m willing to pick the Badgers against a team with USC’s firepower.

I think Wisconsin hangs around for a bit, but eventually the Trojans make enough plays through the air to create separation.

Prediction: USC 27, Wisconsin 17.

• Christian Borman

Season record: 4-2

I think Wisconsin has a lot to prove on Saturday night. After the offensive letdown in Pasadena, the Badgers need to show a little spark on that side of the ball. The defense is doing all it can to keep them within striking distance.

Against USC, the defense will have a tough task. The Trojans are averaging 462.4 yards per game on offense, the 17th-most in the country, and are putting up 36.4 points per game.

I like the Badgers’ defense, but even it has limits. The Wisconsin offense needs to sustain drives, limit turnovers, and score when they can. Last week, they struggled to do that.

I think the defense keeps them in it, but at the end of the day, I don’t trust the offense to do enough to keep the pressure on USC and will likely have a back-breaking turnover that finally puts the game out of reach late.

Prediction: USC 28, Wisconsin 20

• Seamus Rohrer

Season record: 4-2

If Wisconsin wants to win this game, it’s going to come down whether it can force USC into third-and-longs, and then whether its secondary and pass-rush can win their reps on said third downs.

The Badgers need to have success on early downs to force the Trojans (who convert 51% of their third downs, 14th-best in the country) into 3rd-and-longs. First and second down are going to be critical because USC’s offense can move the ball pretty much at will if given manageable down-and-distances.

That means stopping the run, as per usual, will be paramount. It also means that the Badgers’ secondary can’t let the Trojans chip away yards with quick completions and screens. Wisconsin must create some havoc defensively to win this game.

While I think the Badgers have the defense to keep this thing close, as well as an offense that should be poised for at least a slight bounce-back after an ugly showing at UCLA, the Trojans are pretty clearly the better team. That’s not to say Wisconsin doesn’t have a chance; this is actually a solid matchup for the Badgers. And yet, that’s what we said all last week. Give me the Trojans in a hard-fought game.

Prediction: USC 27, Wisconsin 17

• Charlie Pietz

Season record: 4-2

Wisconsin vs. USC is a clash of opposites.

The Trojans boast a top-15 offense in most major statistical categories. It’s likely the best offense that the Badgers will see all season, while their defense is still searching for an identity. Wisconsin is the opposite for the most part.

The key question is whether Mike Tressel adjusts. Notre Dame and UCLA both feasted underneath against Wisconsin’s soft zone, and if that look shows up again Saturday, Jayden Maiava will happily take what he’s given and pick the Badgers apart. There is some reason for hope at home: the last two high-scoring West Coast offenses to visit Camp Randall, Oregon in 2024 and Washington in 2025, scored just 16 and 10 points.

But the mood among Badger fans has soured fast.

The Badgers entered the UCLA game riding high and left with a deflating seven-point performance, and just like that, many fans have given up on the season. Luke Fickell’s Wisconsin teams have a history of losing exactly this kind of game, and each loss only makes the outcry louder.

Until they prove they can clear that hurdle, I can’t trust them to get it done, especially with a home crowd at Camp Randall that may have less juice than usual while the Brewers are playing in the World Series.

Prediction: USC 27, Wisconsin 17

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Just as Wisconsin football’s offense finally appeared to be turning a corner, deploying a dangerous ground game that attacks defenses from all angles with real explosiveness through the air, the Badgers came crashing back down to earth against a stout UCLA defense in Pasadena.

It was a frustrating game in many ways, chief among them being that this was a very winnable game. Penalties and mistakes doomed the Badgers, but this was a game Wisconsin absolutely had the capacity to win.

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The Badgers’ defense shut down UCLA’s highly touted rushing attack, and while the secondary was surprisingly permeable against Bruins backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach, even a slightly better offensive performance could’ve turned into a huge road win.

So where do the Badgers need to improve offensively, and how can they bounce back in another big matchup against a ranked, Los Angeles-based school? Below, BadgerNotes.com dives into the All-22 film to investigate:

Again, part of what made Saturday night at the Rose Bowl so frustrating was just how close Wisconsin was to breaking through offensively. The Badgers certainly had chances; they just couldn’t capitalize. And while that’ll sting after a great opportunity to pull off another road upset of a top-15 team slipped away, it’s encouraging that the plays were there to be made; UCLA didn’t completely stifle Wisconsin.

Quarterback Colton Joseph and wideout Malachi Coleman narrowly missed a touchdown here. A pulling PJ Wilkins (No. 71) allows pressure in Joseph’s face, which may have forced him to change his arm angle a bit. Regardless, he actually delivers about as good a ball as he could’ve. Still, it’s an exceedingly tough catch for Coleman in the back of the end zone, who can’t come down with it despite having a step on the cornerback in coverage.

That wasn’t the only potential touchdown Wisconsin receivers had Saturday. While the above throw may have been impacted by pressure, the play below absolutely was:

UCLA had a tremendous game plan defensively, part of which involved moving star linebacker Sammy Omosigho (No. 10) all over the front seven. On this play, the Bruins scheme him into an excellent mismatch, with Badgers tight end Ryan Schwendeman tasked with blocking him. He had no shot.

Omosigho gets past him like he’s going through a turnstile and forces the fumble. But do you see what Joseph saw? Receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. was streaking wide open down the field. If the quarterback hits him in stride, that’s a walk-in touchdown.

Wisconsin’s receivers struggled to create consistent separation and get open early in the down. But they also had chances for big plays; the Badgers just couldn’t capitalize.

It’s no secret that the Badgers need to get their ground game going. The No. 78-ranked rushing offense in the country by yards per game with 152.2 has become extremely reliant on the legs of its quarterback, Joseph. And while running backs Abu Sama and Darrion Dupree certainly need to combine for more than 13 touches as they did at UCLA, Joseph’s legs are arguably this offense’s most potent weapon at the moment:

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Wisconsin football had a chance to build on its early-season momentum after the bye week. Instead, the Badgers went to UCLA and delivered another frustrating reminder of how far this program still has to go.

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Now sitting at 4-2, Luke Fickell’s team returns to Camp Randall Stadium to face No. 16 USC, with some familiar questions that haven’t gone away.

The defense has been good enough to give Wisconsin a chance most weeks. Everything surrounding it has been considerably less reliable. And with the toughest part of the schedule still ahead, there are three things I’m particularly interested in seeing whether this team can figure out.

Can Wisconsin finally settle on an offensive line combination?

Colin Cubberly is the only Wisconsin offensive lineman who’s started at the same position all season, holding down left guard. You could technically include Austin Kawecki at center, although he’s currently dealing with a hand injury. On the bright side, he’s probable for USC.

Beyond that, it’s been a revolving door.

Kevin Heywood opened the year at right tackle before moving to left tackle. Emerson Mandell worked his way back from injury at right guard before kicking outside to right tackle. Stylz Blackmon started the season rotating at right guard, eventually earned the starting job, and has since moved to center. Then there’s PJ Wilkins, who opened the season at left tackle, moved to right tackle, and most recently played right guard.

That’s an awful lot of moving pieces for a position group where continuity and communication are everything.

I understand the staff is trying to find its best five, but constantly shuffling guys around has a cost. You’re asking players to adjust their footwork, assignments, and the guy next to them on a weekly basis.

And the results haven’t exactly justified all that experimentation.

Wisconsin had allowed just three sacks through its first five games, one of the better marks in the Big Ten entering the UCLA matchup. Then the Badgers surrendered three more in Pasadena, doubling their season total in one evening. The offense struggled to establish much consistency, and the constant movement up front certainly hasn’t helped.

Getting Kawecki healthy would certainly help. If he isn’t available, does Ryan Cory give Wisconsin a more natural option at center? Or does the coaching staff continue believing Wilkins is one of its best five and hope that allowing him to settle into a position produces better results?

I’m not convinced there’s an obvious solution. But it’s hard to build real cohesion up front when the combinations never stay the same long enough to develop.

Can Wisconsin establish an offensive identity it can sustain?

I can see what Jeff Grimes is trying to accomplish offensively. I’m just not convinced Wisconsin has the personnel or execution to make it work.

And the underlying numbers help explain why.

According to GameOnPaper’s 2026 offensive profile, Wisconsin grades near the top nationally in explosive rushing percentage, while its overall rushing efficiency is considerably closer to average.

The Badgers also perform relatively well in line yards, suggesting the offensive line has created some opportunities in the running game despite its instability.

But here’s the problem.

Wisconsin sits near the bottom quarter nationally in early-down EPA per play, and its passing efficiency is well below average. Its explosive passing percentage also lags significantly behind what it’s producing on the ground.

That’s not exactly a sustainable formula.

Colton Joseph is a legitimate threat with his legs, and his ability to create explosive runs changes how defenses have to approach Wisconsin. But the Badgers need considerably more down-to-down consistency to complement those occasional big plays.

That’s especially concerning when your quarterback has completed fewer than 50% of his passes in three consecutive games. Joseph is now 87-of-159 (54.7%) for 1,198 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions this season. There have been moments, but overall, that body of work shows Wisconsin isn’t getting nearly enough consistency from the passing game.

Joseph has shown some playmaking ability, but accuracy, decision-making, and operating in obvious passing situations remain significant concerns. Wisconsin cannot continually put itself behind the chains and expect Joseph to bail it out through the air.

The offense needs to find a way to stay ahead of schedule, establish manageable third downs and create passing opportunities that don’t require Joseph to consistently make difficult throws. Otherwise, I’m not sure how much better this group can realistically become.

How much longer can Wisconsin expect its defense to carry the offense?

This might be the biggest question surrounding the entire team.

Mike Tressel’s defense has been legitimately good, and both the traditional and advanced numbers back that up. Wisconsin is giving up just 16.7 points per game and 286.7 total yards per game.

Opponents are averaging 171.2 passing yards and 115.5 rushing yards. GameOnPaper’s defensive profile also has Wisconsin performing at a high level in overall EPA per play (14th nationally), early-down efficiency, passing EPA, and limiting explosive plays.

That’s a pretty encouraging foundation.

Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano have developed into two of the most important players on the roster, and Wisconsin has generally looked like a defense capable of competing against quality Big Ten opponents.

But there’s a difference between having a defense that gives you an opportunity to win and expecting that defense to do almost everything.

Against UCLA, Wisconsin’s inability to sustain drives or consistently move the football placed enormous pressure on the other side of the ball. And when the Badgers couldn’t get off the field on third down, things unraveled.

USC presents another opportunity to find out how dependable this defense really is, particularly against an opponent capable of testing Wisconsin through the air.

But I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect Tressel’s group to hold opponents to single digits every week. At some point, the offense has to contribute enough to make those defensive performances matter.

That’s what makes this stretch so important.

Wisconsin has already shown that its defense can keep the team competitive in most games. What we haven’t seen is enough evidence that the offense can consistently hold up its end of the bargain.

Until that changes, I have a hard time seeing this team become much more than one that needs nearly everything to go right to beat a quality opponent.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

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After a lackluster offensive performance in last weekend’s loss to UCLA, the Wisconsin football team is back home looking to right the ship in the middle of a difficult stretch, with a trip to Iowa City looming next week.

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Next up for the Badgers (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) are the 16th-ranked USC Trojans (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten).

The Trojans, who entered the 2026 seas…

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The Wisconsin football team has released its initial availability report ahead of its matchup with USC this Saturday evening. Some players are trending in the right direction after missing time, but a couple of names on the report weren’t expected.

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Here’s where things stand three days ahead of the matchup with the Trojans.

Austin Kawecki is trending in the right direction

Starting center Austin Kawecki left in the middle of the Badgers’ game with Michigan State in Week 5. With a bye week to rest, there was hope he would be back for the Badgers’ road game against UCLA in Week 7.

Whether he just wasn’t quite ready or the Wisconsin staff wanted to play it safe, he stayed out against the Bruins, with more than half a season left. Stylz Blackmon, who had been playing right guard, moved to center to replace Kawecki, while PJ Wilkins slotted into guard.

Now, Kawecki has been upgraded to ‘Probable’ ahead of the Badgers’ matchup with the Trojans. Kawecki’s return would be a nice boost for the offensive line that struggled mightily against UCLA last week.

A pair of starters are ‘questionable’ for Saturday

Two starters popped up on the report this week that we didn’t expect. Wide receiver Malachi Coleman and cornerback Javan Robinson are both listed as ‘questionable’ for Saturday.

Javan Robinson has been the most consistent cornerback for the Badgers this season. If he misses the game, it would be a massive blow to the defense, especially in a week when they face one of the best passing quarterbacks in the country, Jordan Maiava. On top of that, the cornerback depth has already taken a hit this year after Cai Bates was lost for the season with a knee injury early in the year.

Losing Coleman wouldn’t be ideal, either. But the passing attack for the Badgers has been inconsistent, and even after his breakout game against Notre Dame in Week 1, he hasn’t been the force we all hoped he’d be.

Fortunately for the Badgers, they just got Jaylon Domingeaux back from injury last week and caught a pair of passes, so there is at least some more depth at receiver.

RB Nate Palmer remains ‘doubtful’

The Badgers got Abu Sama back off the injury report last week, but injuries remain at the position. After missing last week’s game against UCLA, Nate Palmer remains ‘doubtful’ for this week’s game.

Palmer has received only a handful of carries this season, but he has been a constant presence on special teams and the team’s primary kick returner, returning six kicks for an average of 28.2 yards per return.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

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Wisconsin football had an extra week to prepare for UCLA, a chance to get healthier, and some real momentum after consecutive Big Ten wins.

Then the Badgers went to Pasadena and reminded everyone why it’s been so difficult to trust this program under Luke Fickell.

The 17-7 loss to the Bruins exposed familiar problems, but after some time to process what happened, I wanted to revisit a few things. That’s really the idea behind The Leftovers. Not necessarily another game recap, but an opportunity to dig into the decisions, performances, and comments that deserve a little more attention.

And this week, there’s plenty to unpack.

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After walking up and down the field and getting just about whatever they wanted in Week 5 against Michigan State, the Badgers couldn’t do much against the Bruins’ stout defense.

As a result, the Badgers mustered only seven points in a 17-7 loss, falling to 4-2.

But even in the loss, some players continued to perform while others saw their stock fall.

Here’s the Week 7 stock report:

📈 Stock up: Wisconsin’s run defense

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The University of Wisconsin football program has some offensive questions to answer, and Luke Fickell knows the answers won’t be easy.

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Coming off a 17-7 road loss to No. 12 UCLA, the Badgers are 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play. Their four-game winning streak came to an end in Pasadena, where Wisconsin managed just 214 yards of total offense and struggled to sustain drives.

The Badgers now return home to face No. 16 USC, another opponent that can create problems for a team still searching for offensive consistency.

At Fickell’s press conference, he addressed Wisconsin’s offensive line changes, the need to get its running backs more involved, and the challenge ahead for his defense.

Here are three takeaways from Fickell’s comments.

Wisconsin needs to find a better balance in its running game

One of the more interesting developments from Wisconsin’s loss to UCLA was how heavily the Badgers relied on quarterback Colton Joseph to generate offense.

Joseph carried the ball 18 times for 71 yards and Wisconsin’s only touchdown. Meanwhile, running backs Abu Sama III and Darrion Dupree combined for just 12 carries and 54 yards.

Sama averaged 5.7 yards per carry for 34 yards, while Dupree finished with 20 yards on six carries. For an offense that wants to establish a physical running game, that distribution raises some questions.

Fickell acknowledged that Wisconsin needs to get its backs more involved, but he also pointed to the limited offensive opportunities against UCLA.

“Sometimes it’s hard when you’re playing a multiple of guys. And so to have somebody get into a rhythm is one of those things,” Fickell told reporters. “It’s hard to maybe have a chance to make some plays if you don’t get the ball in your hand. You know, for us this past week, we were limited a little bit.

“They possessed the ball a hell of a lot more... so that goes back to complimentary football of giving us greater opportunities to have the ball to make sure we can move it around a little bit better.”

The Badgers ran just 49 offensive plays compared to UCLA’s 71, with the Bruins controlling possession for more than 37 minutes. That makes establishing a rhythm difficult, particularly when Joseph’s ability to keep the football on designed reads naturally takes opportunities away from the running backs.

“If you’re scoring, if the ball’s moving, if you’re possessing the ball, I think there’s a lot of things you don’t look at as glaring to you,” Fickell said.

Joseph’s rushing ability is undoubtedly an important part of Wisconsin’s offense. But finding a better balance between his carries and those of Sama and Dupree could make the unit more sustainable, especially if the passing game continues to struggle.

Wisconsin continues searching for its best five offensive linemen

Wisconsin’s offensive line has become something of a moving target, with injuries and inconsistent performances forcing the coaching staff to shuffle personnel.

Against UCLA, Stylz Blackmon moved from right guard to center in place of Austin Kawecki, who suffered a broken hand. PJ Wilkins took over at right guard after previously playing left tackle and later switching to right tackle, while Emerson Mandell remained at right tackle after kicking out.

Blackmon’s emergence as a versatile option has been one of the more encouraging developments.

“I think it starts with whatever we’ve asked him to do, he’s done,” Fickell said. “He didn’t start game one, he was rolling. And then after game one, you’re like, wow, he didn’t bat an eye at the situation and how he had to play against a top-tier team in a big venue... so we moved him over there in the bye week, and he didn’t bat an eye at it and handled it really well.”

Blackmon had limited experience snapping the football before the staff moved him to center during the bye week, but Fickell praised how quickly he adapted.

“He’s just a guy that’s been incredibly versatile and everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s been able to do,” Fickell said.

Wilkins’ situation is more complicated.

He’s been used at three offensive line positions this season, and his inconsistency has made it hard to find a permanent home. The staff keeps giving him opportunities, but his performance hasn’t consistently justified the shuffling required to keep him in the lineup.

Against UCLA, Wilkins finished with a season-worst 25.1 pass-blocking grade, according to PFF. He surrendered three pressures and was credited with allowing a sack. Through 307 offensive snaps this season, Wilkins has allowed a team-high 13 pressures and committed four penalties.

Fickell explained that the decision to start Blackmon at center and Wilkins at guard came down to identifying the strongest available combination.

“Through all the things we’ve done, we just felt like that was the best five,” Fickell said.

The challenge is determining whether that combination can provide some stability as Kawecki works toward returning.

“We’ve got to find a way to make sure we’ve got the best five up front in particular every week,” Fickell said.

USC’s passing attack presents another significant challenge

Wisconsin’s defense had been one of the biggest reasons for optimism during its four-game winning streak, but coach Bob Chesney and UCLA exposed some weaknesses that USC is well-equipped to challenge.

The Bruins threw for 264 yards, converted 13-of-20 third downs and repeatedly extended drives through the passing game. Now the Badgers face USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, whose production and ability to extend plays present another difficult matchup for Wisconsin.

Fickell was particularly complimentary of Maiava’s connection with his receivers and the challenges created by USC’s offensive scheme. The Trojans QB1 has thrown for 2,045 yards and 18 touchdowns against just three interceptions while completing 67.9% of his passes this season.

“I mean, they have thrown the ball exceptionally well, and I don’t know that that would surprise you,” Fickell said.

What makes USC dangerous, however, isn’t exclusively its passing game. Fickell emphasized that the Trojans’ counter-heavy rushing attack forces defenses to remain disciplined rather than simply focusing on getting pressure against the quarterback.

“I think that they’re unique in their run game. It’s not like you can fall asleep on the run game,” Fickell said.

Maiava’s ability to move within the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield also complicates matters for a Wisconsin defense that struggled to generate consistent pressure against UCLA.

“His [Maiava’s] connection with the wideouts and his ability to move in the pocket, his ability to even create, not maybe run as much when he creates, but always keep his eyes down the field,” Fickell said. “He’s got a lot of trust in the wideouts, and for a good reason.”

The Badgers have already shown they can compete with quality opponents this season. But the UCLA loss reinforced how quickly things can unravel when they struggle to get off the field defensively, allow explosive plays, and can’t generate enough offense to compensate.

USC will provide another opportunity to see whether Wisconsin can make the necessary adjustments.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

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Chris Ballard’s football career has taken him a long way from Madison, but his connection to the University of Wisconsin never really faded.

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Now, one of the most prominent former Badgers working in the NFL is looking for what comes next.

The Indianapolis Colts fired Ballard as general manager Monday after beginning the 2026 season 2-4, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, ending a tenure that dated back to January 2017.

Ballard leaves Indianapolis with a 72-82-1 regular-season record as general manager and a 1-2 mark in the playoffs. The Colts reached the postseason twice under his watch, in 2018 and 2020, but never won the AFC South and had not returned to the playoffs since that 2020 season.

His professional career, however, has always carried a Wisconsin connection.

Ballard graduated from Wisconsin in 1993 after joining the Badgers as a quarterback from Texas City, Texas, before moving to wide receiver. Knee injuries eventually ended his playing career, and he spent his final season around the program as a student assistant coach.

From there came a long climb through coaching and NFL personnel departments.

Ballard coached at Texas A&M-Kingsville before joining the Chicago Bears as a scout in 2001. He eventually became Chicago’s director of pro scouting before moving to Kansas City, where he served in senior personnel and football operations roles with the Chiefs.

Indianapolis hired him as general manager in 2017.

His high point came quickly. Ballard was named the PFWA Executive of the Year following the 2018 season, when Indianapolis went 10-6 and won a playoff game. That year’s draft produced first-team All-Pro rookies Quenton Nelson and Shaquille Leonard, helping cement Ballard’s reputation as one of the league’s better talent evaluators.

Sustaining that success proved more difficult, particularly as the Colts cycled through quarterbacks following Andrew Luck’s retirement.

Even while running an NFL franchise, Ballard remained involved with Wisconsin in meaningful ways.

Earlier this year, Ballard served on the nine-person search committee, also featuring Michael Finley, that helped Wisconsin select Shawn Eichorst as its new athletic director. Eichorst has since begun reshaping the department’s leadership structure, hiring Georgia administrator Derek Hammock as senior associate athletic director and chief financial officer.

Ballard also played a role in another significant Wisconsin football hire.

He pointed the Badgers toward Morocco Brown, who spent eight seasons working under Ballard in Indianapolis and eventually became the Colts’ chief personnel executive. Wisconsin hired Brown in June as the football program’s general manager, replacing Marcus Sedberry, who had handled the responsibilities before becoming the school’s interim athletic director.

Brown brought extensive NFL personnel experience with him to the University of Wisconsin, including previous stops with Cleveland, Washington, and Chicago before joining Ballard’s Colts organization.

Those connections matter because Ballard’s influence at Wisconsin has extended well beyond just being a former player.

Ballard has also remained publicly supportive of Luke Fickell. During an appearance on ESPN Madison, he pointed to Fickell’s track record of identifying and developing talent at Cincinnati and made clear he still believes in what Wisconsin is building.

“Look, I believe in Luke; I think he’s an outstanding coach,” Ballard said. “He is exactly what the university needs, and he will have big success.”

He has become one of the program’s more accomplished alumni in professional football. In the past year, his fingerprints have been present on two significant decisions affecting the direction of Wisconsin Athletics.

His chapter in Indianapolis is now over.

But given how involved Ballard has remained with his alma mater, his connection to Wisconsin football is unlikely to disappear with it, even as what comes next for him professionally remains uncertain.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

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Riding a four-game winning streak and coming off a bye after a 31-3 demolition of Michigan State, you’d think Wisconsin football would have a strong sense of self, plus some added wrinkles, and be even more prepared for its next opponent.

Instead, the Badgers played their worst offensive game of the season in Pasadena. They were completely unable to sustain drives and move the football with any sort of consistency, totaling a meager 214 yards with just 66 yards through the air.

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There are plenty of reasons why. We’ll start with the most obvious: you can’t complete just six passes for 66 yards on under 40% completion and expect to win any game. Quarterback Colton Joseph must play better, and it was disappointing for him to put on that kind of performance after a bye week in his homecoming game for the Southern California native.

Joseph missed a few throws and made some poor decisions, but you’re kidding yourself if you think Wisconsin’s offensive woes lie exclusively with the quarterback.

If you watched the Badgers’ offensive disaster unfold Saturday evening with your own two eyes, or even just heard some of the telling comments from the locker room postgame, the next logical place to point fingers is the offensive line.

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