The Wisconsin football team finished the nonconference portion of their schedule in dominant fashion, defeating Eastern Michigan 54-10 at Camp Randall Stadium in a blowout win the Badgers desperately needed.
But with nonconference in the rearview, it’s time to focus on Big Ten play, and the Badgers (2-1) will have their hands full with one of the best teams remaining on their schedule when they travel to Penn State to take on the No. 13 Nittany Lions (3-0).
Here’s the opponent preview for the Week 4 matchup between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Wisconsin vs. Penn State game info and betting odds
When: Saturday, Sept. 26th — 4:00 p.m. CT
Where: Beaver Stadium - University Park, PA
How to watch: Peacock | NBC Sports Network (YouTube TV)
How to listen: Badger Radio Network
Wisconsin enters its Week 4 matchup as 9.5-point underdogs to the Nittany Lions, according to FanDuel.
Spread: +9.5 (-112)
Moneyline: +280
Over/under: 44.5 points
ESPN Analytics Matchup Predictor: Penn State - 87.6%
Opposing players to know
• QB Rocco Becht
If there’s one player to know about on Penn State’s roster, it’s starting quarterback Rocco Becht. The former Iowa State quarterback followed head coach Matt Campbell to University Park for his senior season.
Through three games, Becht has looked lights out and has been about as efficient as you could ask for. The 6-foot-1 Florida native has thrown for 751 yards, nine touchdowns, and no interceptions through the first third of the season. Granted, he’s played three Group of 5 teams, Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo, but he and the Nittany Lions have dominated.
Given how Wisconsin’s secondary struggled against Notre Dame in Week 1, when they gave up 239 yards and two touchdowns to CJ Carr, facing off against another high-quality quarterback will be something to watch on Saturday.
• LB Tony Rojas
Rojas is arguably the best player on a talented and tough defense led by coordinator D’Anton Lynn. So far this season, Rojas has 16 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack, and an interception.
The redshirt junior is very athletic and has tremendous instincts. In the Nittany Lions’ Week 2 game at Temple, Rojas rushed the passer, then dropped into coverage partway through the play and ended up with an interception.
Rojas grades out extremely well on Pro Football Focus, too, with an overall defensive grade of 91.5. The 236-pound linebacker grades out well in both run defense (89.7) and in coverage (90.8).
Colton Joseph will have to know where Rojas is at the start of every play because he lines up all over the defensive line. Rojas has logged snaps primarily in the box, but also along the defensive line and in the slot, according to PFF.
He has the ability to make a game-altering play at any moment.
Matchup history
The Badgers and Nittany Lions will face off for the 22nd time on Saturday.
Wisconsin is 9-12 all-time in the series, and the Nittany Lions are currently enjoying a six-game win streak over the Badgers. Wisconsin last beat Penn State back in 2011, when the Badgers, led by Russell Wilson, dominated the Nittany Lions 45-7 at Camp Randall Stadium.
These two teams last met in 2024. Wisconsin held a 10-7 lead over the No. 3 Nittany Lions at halftime, but Penn State came back to win 28-13 behind backup quarterback Beau Pribula, who came in for Drew Allar.
The two programs also have plenty of connections this season. With Matt Campbell taking the Penn State job during the last coaching carousel, many of his former players at Iowa State followed him to University Park, but not all.
The Badgers snagged Abu Sama and Carson Van Dinter from the transfer portal, who played for Campbell at Iowa State last season. Wisconsin also ‘flipped’ wide receiver Kash Brock from Iowa State last season after he was released from his letter of intent following Campbell’s departure.
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