Reasons for optimism as Wisconsin football heads into the bye week
The Wisconsin Badgers football team enters the bye sitting at 5-4 with a tough slate of games to end the season. Here are a few reasons for optimism.
Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) have some serious work to do during the bye week in preparation for their next game against the No. 1 Oregon Ducks at Camp Randall Stadium.
Even after the Badgers' worst loss of the season, a 42-10 dismantling at the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road, Wisconsin is still just one win away from achieving bowl eligibility for the 23rd consecutive year.
"There's not a whole lot that words can say that can explain how I feel," Fickell told reporters. "Like I said in the locker room, it's really, really tough to put into words right now. We're going to have to pick ourselves up, going to have to move forward, and make sure that we are better."
Sure, the Badgers may have slipped in a few disappointing matchups, casting some doubt on what tier in the Big Ten conference they belong in this season. But let’s not forget: Wisconsin hasn't yet played its best football, and for as frustrating as certain games have been (looking at you, USC and Penn State), they're also just a few missed opportunities away from being 6-3 or even 7-2.
"There's gonna be a lot of guys, myself included first and foremost, that are going to have a self-check, look in the mirror, and really kind of self-evaluate what they're willing to do moving forward," said Fickell.
Even if Wisconsin finds itself in virtually the exact same spot as the team was in last season, the Badgers now have a chance to use the bye week to regroup, make the necessary adjustments, get healthier, and re-focus on making a final push through the year’s final slate of games.
Feeling pessimistic as the Badgers enter the bye? Here are a few reasons for optimism for Wisconsin as they prepare for what’s ahead:
• The Badgers offensive line, led by position coach AJ Blazek, has looked markedly better this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Wisconsin has the 5th best pass-blocking unit nationally, which is better than their finish of 23rd a season ago (76.2). If that top 5 ranking holds, it will be the team's best-graded pass-blocking unit since PFF started recording data.
• While it's taken some time and had its fair share of ebbs and flows, Wisconsin is currently third in the Big Ten in total rushing yards. The combo of Tawee Walker and freshman Darrion Dupree has developed into a nice 1,2 punch, and even though he hasn't gotten many carries, Cade Yacamelli has proven to be a viable depth piece for this team.
A year ago, Wisconsin averaged 161 yards per game and was 5th in the B1G, and now they're up to 173.7 yards per game.
• Junior kicker Nathaniel Vakos hasn't missed an extra point all season, connecting on all 27 of his attempts. Vakos also became the program's all-time leader in 50+ yard field goals made. Good stuff from No. 90.
• Sticking with the special teams: Badgers punter Atticus Bertrams has the longest punt in the Big Ten this season (74 yards). He's also fifth in the conference, averaging 45.8 yards per punt attempt, which is a substantial improvement from the 41.3 Bertrams averaged a season ago.
Additionally, Bertrams ranked last in the Big Ten for punts of 50+ yards in 2023 with just six. This season, the Aussie punter has already doubled that, now up to 12, averaging a 50-yarder every 3.25 attempts—a huge improvement over the 10.5 punts it took to hit that mark last year.
• Even though most people still view Will Pauling as the team's WR1, it has to be acknowledged that Vinny Anthony has developed into the downfield threat that the Badgers offense desperately needed on the boundary.
So far this season, Anthony has caught 23 passes for 443 yards and two touchdowns, averaging an impressive 18.5 yards per catch. Out of those 23 catches, 10 have been explosive plays of 15+ yards, and the Kentucky native leads the team in yards after catch with 207. Good things happen for the offense whenever Anthony gets the ball in his hands.
• Despite not coming to Wisconsin with much fanfare, Albany transfer Elijah Hills has been a solid pickup for this coaching staff. Identifying defensive linemen who can make an impact is one of the most difficult things you can do, especially in an era where relationships are hardly the only factor at play in recruiting talent from the portal.
Regardless, Hills has the best defensive grade among Wisconsin defensive linemen, according to Pro Football Focus (67.9), is second on the team in sacks (2), and third on the Badgers in total pressures (13). You have to give this staff credit where credit is due; Hills has been more than a serviceable option and a sneaky good pass-rusher.
• Last season, kickoff specialist Gavin Lahm wasn’t exactly striking fear into opponents, wrapping up 2023 with a 37.5% touchback rate (just 12 total) across eight games. In 2024, Lahm flipped the script, bumping that percentage up to 73.3% with 33 touchbacks through nine games.
• Preston Zachman, who played a meaningful role for the Badgers last season, has been about as consistent and dependable on the backend as you could ask for. Zachman currently holds the team’s top defensive grade at 80.8, and when it comes to missed tackles, he’s about as reliable as they come—sporting a mere 6.3% missed tackle rate.
• The 2024 recruiting class was the second-highest rated in the internet rankings era for Wisconsin. Notably, the Badgers have already had freshmen like Dillan Johnson, Xavier Lucas, Dilin Jones, Emerson Mandell, Darrion Dupree, Ryan Cory, Kevin Heywood, Colin Cubberly, Grant Stec, Mabrey Mettauer, Kyan Berry-Johnson, and Gideon Ituka appear in at least one game so far this season, with some playing a meaningful role.
Patience is a virtue that many don't have, especially in a what have you done for me lately in business like college football. But if you're looking for a silver lining, this is it. The future looks bright, and the 2025 recruiting class also looks like it's going to finish in the top 30 nationally.
• Hunter Wohler still plays football for the University of Wisconsin.
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