Wisconsin football report card from 27-10 loss to Maryland

Handing out grades for the Wisconsin Badgers offense, defense, and special teams from the 27-10 loss to Maryland in Week 4.

Wisconsin running back Darian Dupree is tackled by multiple Maryland defenders during the Badgers’ 27–10 loss at Camp Randall Stadium. Photo courtesy of UW Athletics.

At some point, you have to stop calling it rock bottom, because rock bottom implies there’s an end. What Wisconsin football (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) is showing right now under head coach Luke Fickell feels more like a free fall, and no one can tell you where it lands, but we do know how it ends.

Saturday was just the latest reminder.

The Badgers fell 27–10 at home to Mike Locksley and Maryland, a program that had never beaten Wisconsin since joining the Big Ten. It wasn’t just the score, though. It was the way it unraveled: special teams blunders piling on top of quarterback injuries, an offense that couldn’t move the ball, and a defense that gave up explosive plays in the very moments it couldn’t afford to. By halftime, Camp Randall was restless, the boos were loud, and the chants calling for change told you everything about where this program is right now.

This was supposed to be the hire that made all the hurt worth it. The recruiting classes, the incoming transfers, the revamped coaching staff, they were supposed to be the scaffolding of a modernized college football program. Instead, what you’re watching in real time is a team that doesn’t know what it is, led by a coach who is admitting as much publicly.

"I don't oversell, I really don't," Fickell told reporters. “I do believe the culture, the things that those guys are and what we are, is what our strengths need to be. There’s a lack of identity right now, and [we're] trying to figure out what that is. There are some ups and downs when things don't go well. We've had a hard time getting ourselves out of the hole, and that's just unfortunate, given where we are right now."

That lack of identity has turned into a major problem. Fickell is now 15–15 overall at Wisconsin, 0–7 against ranked teams, and 3–12 against opponents with a winning record. The Badgers have lost six straight Big Ten games, five of them by double digits. They were a 10.5-point home favorite against Maryland and got booed in the first quarter. For most of the game, students were chanting “Fire Fickell,” and it was deserved.

Wisconsin fans have watched the same issues pile up week after week, and their collective frustration boiled over. Fickell didn’t dismiss it.

“I feel what their pain is," Fickell said regarding the frustration from the fanbase. "There’s nothing we can do other than keep grinding, keep working. We have to play better. I don’t get upset. I don’t lose my mind because of the way they feel. They’re passionate about what they do and what they want to see. That’s what you love about this place. That’s what you know you signed up for when you came here. Knowing this place is passionate, they've got a history, and they expect more, just like I do."

That’s what makes this feel like an impossible position. Fickell's buyout is massive, and this isn’t the Paul Chryst situation where firing him at least gave the program a chance to evaluate Jim Leonhard as an in-house option. There’s no obvious fallback here. Still, buyout or not, retaining Fickell long-term can’t be justified if things don’t turn around. This is a business, after all. Season ticket sales and attendance are sliding, plus the generous boosters who poured resources into this hire are going to demand answers. At some point, the financials stop protecting you if the on-field product is eroding the revenue streams it was supposed to secure.

So when you talk about poor quarterback play, blocked punts, bad snaps, and missed field goals, they’re not isolated miscues anymore. They’re symptoms of a directionless program. The climb Fickell talked about when he took the job is still happening, but it’s been straight downhill.

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

Offense: F

Wisconsin finished with 296 total yards of offense. Eighty of them came on the final drive. That means the offense produced 216 yards across the first 58 minutes of football. The efficiency numbers paint it even bleaker: 3.8 yards per play, 3-for-17 on third downs, and a -0.22 EPA per play, which ranked in the 13th percentile nationally in Week 4. The average drive was 5.7 plays for 29.5 yards, which rarely put them in scoring range.

The run game remains the single biggest indictment of this team. Forty-two attempts. Sixty-one yards. That’s 1.5 yards per carry. It’s not a one-off. Through four games, the Badgers are averaging just 3.1 yards per rush, among the worst marks in the country. This is a program built on running the football downhill. Right now, it can’t run against anybody.

Darrion Dupree, who finished with a 66.7 offensive grade, per PFF, led the way with 14 carries for 52 yards, including a 17-yard burst. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's starting back, Dilin Jones, managed six carries for 20 yards before exiting with an injury in the second quarter and not returning.

"I really believed that this was going to be an opportunity for us to be able to run the football and establish some run," Fickell said. "Even with a lot of the new guys, just our ability to say, hey, we're gonna be balanced, but we've got to be committed to finding ways to generate some running game. Not taking anything away from them. But we could not do that."

The quarterback situation was a mess from the opening drive. Billy Edwards Jr., returning from a knee sprain, clearly wasn’t healthy. He lasted six total offensive snaps before limping off after rolling out to avoid pressure. And look, I get it, you want to gut it out, you want to be under center in what was, unfortunately, a must-win game against Maryland.

But the decision to play Edwards in that condition was malpractice.

That left the game in the hands of Danny O’Neil. On the surface, his stat line: 14-of-22 for 120 yards with one interception, doesn’t look catastrophic. But dig a little deeper, and the reality comes into focus. He was quick to abandon passing plays, tucking the ball to run as soon as the first read wasn’t there, and in doing so, he missed receivers breaking open. It spoke to a bigger issue than just quarterback play. There’s no trust right now, and that lack of confidence shows up on every drive.

Maryland sacked O'Neil six times, pressured him on half of his dropbacks, and forced him into a backbreaking interception that set up a touchdown.

That throw wasn’t just costly, it was inexcusable. Pro Football Focus graded O’Neil at 44.8 overall with a 40.9 passing grade. He finished with two turnover-worthy plays compared to just one big-time throw.

Eventually, after absorbing hit after hit, O’Neil limped off, and Southern Illinois transfer Hunter Simmons entered in garbage time and connected with Lance Mason on a 13-yard touchdown with 28 seconds left, but by then the game was over. And while O’Neil bears plenty of responsibility for the struggles, not all of it falls on his shoulders. The protection in front of him was nowhere near good enough, and we’ll get to that next.

"I don't know yet," Fickell said on O'Neil's injury status. "He took a few shots in there, and I think the last one, he was a little rattled. I just know it was at a point in time, we didn't want to put him back in there."

Up front, it was more of the same. Ryan Cory’s high snap killed what looked like the offense’s only promising drive of the first half. Joe Brunner allowed a sack on third-and-long that forced O’Neil into his worst throw of the day. Maryland’s defensive front racked up 10 tackles for loss, and that’s not counting the constant duress. Wisconsin’s line was credited with allowing 13 total pressures: five charged to Cory, four to Riley Mahlman, two to Brunner, and one to Colin Cubberly. Both Cory and Mahlman were also credited with having allowed one sack apiece against the Terps.

Fickell acknowledged the reality, three redshirt freshmen started on the line, but acknowledging it doesn’t make it any less costly. If you’re trying to glean a couple of positives, Cubberly looked relatively steady despite his inexperience, and Emerson Mandell, who had a nightmare showing at right tackle against Alabama, bounced back with an 81.5 pass-blocking grade and wasn’t charged with allowing any pressure. Still, the overall picture was what it has been: a unit that can’t stabilize the run game and can’t keep its quarterbacks clean long enough to mount consistent drives.

There were flashes. But they were sparks in a game where the fire never caught. Trech Kekahuna actually put together a nice day, finishing with five catches for 77 yards, including a 45-yarder from Edwards on the opening drive. Mason showed up again with five receptions for 45 yards, 38 of which came after contact. Vinny Anthony added three grabs for 46 yards, and in total, 10 different players caught passes.

This receiver room has quietly been a strength of the roster. The issue is they’ve been forced into a spot where the passing game has to open up the run, and without a viable rushing attack, the passing game looks worse than it really is.

There are pieces in this room, the problem is they’re playing uphill every week because the foundation of the offense isn’t there.

"Everybody can have their own opinions of things, but the truth of the matter is, there's no easy way out of this thing," Fickell admitted. "There's no magic, no sprinkle of fairy dust. If we just make one little change here, we can find a way to get through this thing. This is going to be a battle, and it's going to be a constant ability to pound the rock, continue to push forward, and find the ones that are going to do it with you."

All told, Wisconsin’s offense was broken. The run game was ineffective, the quarterback play was unsettled and costly, and the offensive line couldn’t protect or create lanes with any consistency. Even with some sparks from the receivers, this unit lacked rhythm, identity, and trust. That adds up to another failing performance, and it’s why the grade is an F.

Defense: C-

Since 2024, Wisconsin is 0–6 in games when power conference opponents score first. Under Fickell, they’re just 3–10 in those spots since 2023. So when Maryland punched in the game’s opening touchdown, it already felt like the wheels were about to fall off. And when the Terrapins stretched it to 14–0, it felt all but over. They were never able to respond.

The box score will tell you this wasn’t as ugly as Alabama. In some ways, that’s true. Maryland averaged 5.7 yards per play but only 2.7 yards per rush on 23 attempts. The front seven was really good against the run. It just didn’t matter because the back end kept breaking at the worst times.

Maryland quarterback Malik Washington threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 14.7 yards per completion. Washington added a rushing score, and when he needed explosives, they were there. A 48-yard strike right before halftime flipped the field position and set up points. A 62-yard dagger in the fourth quarter to Shaleak Knotts capped a six-play, 99-yard touchdown drive that turned the lights out.

In total, Maryland averaged 7.57 yards per dropback, which was in the 69th percentile nationally, according to Game on Paper.

The secondary, which was supposed to be a strength with its experience, has been a liability at times. Ricardo Hallman had a particularly rough afternoon against Maryland. The Florida native was targeted nine times, gave up seven catches for 94 yards, and surrendered a touchdown.

Geimere Latimer was targeted six times, allowing four receptions for 80 yards and another score, including the backbreaking 62-yarder in the fourth quarter. Hallman walked away with a 46.9 defensive grade and a 46.5 in coverage. The safeties weren’t much better without Preston Zachman in the lineup, giving up leverage before halftime on the 48-yard deep shot that flipped momentum. These weren’t just schematic busts. They were situational failures, and it’s clear there’s something on tape that opposing offenses aren't afraid to exploit in the passing game.

To their credit, the front seven did some things right. Wisconsin’s pass rush generated 16 pressures and only missed six tackles on the day. Mason Reiger had three pressures and a sack, Darryl Peterson added three more pressures, and Sebastian Cheeks chipped in two. The outside linebackers managed to create some disruption, and in certain ways, the defense looked better than the final score indicated, especially given the short fields they were forced to defend after offensive and special teams miscues.

But the reality is the back end of the Badgers' defense under Mike Tressel has continued to get exposed, and until that part of the defense holds up, any flashes from the front won’t change the outcome.

"Where else is there to go right now for us? Look, I don't think about anything else other than the guys that are in that locker room, a group of coaches," Fickell said. "The leadership has to continue to push, to continue to show and be an example of what pound the rock looks like."

Sure, Wisconsin got stops early in the second half to keep it at 20–3. But the margin was already too wide, and the explosive plays made sure there was never a real comeback window for the Badgers. The defense did not embarrass itself, but it did not give them a leg up either. Maryland averaged 0.81 EPA per pass play but a minus-6.04 EPA on runs, which tells the story.

This group has two constants: they can stop the run, and they cannot defend the pass, regardless of opponent. Add in the fact that they didn’t force a single takeaway, and you’ve got yourself a defense that’s not bad but not changing games either. That lands them at a C–.

Special Teams: F

This phase turned boos into chants of "Fire Fickell." A blocked 38-yard field goal on the opening drive. A blocked punt later in the first quarter that set up a Maryland touchdown. A missed 51-yard field goal in the fourth. Even when something went right, like Atticus Bertrams dropping a punt at the 1-yard line, it was canceled out by penalties or wasted drives.

And then there was that one Jayden Ballard play on punt coverage. Not the one he downed at the one on an Atticus Bertrams punt, I’m talking about the other one, where he flat-out ran through the returner with the ball nowhere in sight. The ball’s not even in the same zip code, and he barrels into the returner like it is. Sure, Wisconsin got away with one, and the flag didn’t fly, but that’s beside the point. It’s the kind of undisciplined, head-scratching play that sums up this entire phase. It's a group that was supposed to help set the tone. Instead, it's been defined by lapses like this, where attention to detail and composure are nowhere to be found.

"We did not play well today, and I'm the first one to say that," Fickell said. "We cannot have a punt blocked, and expect that you are going to create enough momentum and play complementary football, and it kind of starts right there. We didn't do a good enough job in any phase of the game."

Wisconsin actually got off to a quick start for once, which hasn’t been the norm this season or even in seasons past. But the early momentum was squandered, and the same problem reared its head again. Through four games, the Badgers have managed just three total points in the first quarter. Fickell expanded on the early miscues that flipped the game.

"We hit a couple plays, got the ball down there," Fickell explained. "We pride ourselves on great special teams, and playing all of our players on special teams. We get down there, big play from Trech, and then you get a field goal blocked. Right then and there, from that point, Billy was hobbled and wasn't able to get back out there. And then, there is a shift and a change of momentum we can't overcome.

"I think it has a lot to do with that, that transition there, get the punt blocked, get the snap over the head, minus whatever [23], I mean, throw an interception, give it to him on the four-yard line. It's just not things that we are built right now to overcome, so we've got to be able to eliminate those things. And those have got to be things that, as we move forward, we have to find ways to be able to do."

There were a few bright spots to mention. Nathanial Vakos connected on a 33-yard field goal in the third quarter to finally put Wisconsin on the board, even though Fickell's decision to kick it was baffling. Down three scores, all the field goal did was keep it a three-score game. Even the few things that went okay are things you can point to as being mishandled.

Additionally, in the return game, Tyrell Henry managed to return a punt for 35 yards that gave a spark. Vinny Anthony chipped in four kick returns for 86 yards, including a 25-yarder. But those positives barely moved the needle compared to the breakdowns that directly fueled Maryland’s lead.

Special teams were supposed to be a point of pride under Fickell. Instead, it’s been a recurring problem. From coaching staff decisions to execution, you cannot lose field position and momentum like this and expect the other phases to cover for it. Especially on a team like this, where every unit has glaring holes you can point to and rarely plays clean enough football to avoid beating itself even when things are going right.

Nevertheless, this phase directly handed Maryland points and momentum that this team cannot afford to lose. A blocked field goal, a blocked punt, and a missed field goal were game-shaping mistakes that wiped out whatever positives Vakos, Bertrams, or the return game offered. When your special teams are actively hurting you more than helping you, and they were supposed to be a pillar under this staff, that’s an automatic F.

Next up

Next up, or maybe fortunately for Wisconsin, is a bye week. A chance to regroup, if that’s even possible right now. After that, the Badgers return on Saturday, Oct. 4, for a trip to the Big House to face the Michigan Wolverines. Another test, and the climb only gets steeper from here.

And for all the ways this feels like rock bottom, the reality is that the toughest stretch of the schedule hasn’t even hit yet. If anything, it feels like things are going to get a whole lot uglier before they get any better.

"We've got a challenge, and we've got to go right through this thing," Fickell said. "It is tough in there, and there are a lot of guys that need to check themselves and see where they are. I talked about how, throughout Fall Camp, the culture of this team was a lot stronger than what we have had, and we're going to find out just how strong it is. That is where we are gonna have to go, because it doesn't get easier."

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