Stock up, stock down for Wisconsin football after Week 9 loss to Oregon
Wisconsin football stock report after the 21-7 road loss to Oregon. Who’s rising, who’s falling, and what it means heading into the bye week.
The University of Wisconsin football team (2–6, 0–5 Big Ten) didn’t pull off a miracle against Dan Lanning and the No. 6 Oregon Ducks, but for the first time in weeks, it didn’t completely fall apart either.
A 21–7 loss in cold, rainy conditions at Autzen Stadium isn’t something you celebrate, but given where this program’s been lately, it at least felt like a meaningful step in the right direction. The defense fought, the effort was there, and the Badgers finally found the end zone after 15 quarters of offensive misery. That’s a low bar, sure, but it’s progress all the same.
Luke Fickell and company entered as a 31.5-point underdog, down multiple starters on both sides of the ball, and still managed to make Oregon earn everything. The offense remains a glaring problem, but the fight and physicality Wisconsin showed on defense were a reminder that the backbone and culture of this program haven’t completely vanished.
“This is a tough one to swallow,” Fickell said. “But tougher because I thought we put ourselves in a position where we had an opportunity, and I thought defensively, our guys came to play. I thought from the very get-go of the surprise onside that they recovered, that those guys went out there and didn’t bat an eye and stopped them. They battled their butts off. Battled the whole time, and there are some things to be proud of.”
It’s been over a year since Wisconsin last won a Big Ten game. They’ve lost six straight games this season and 11 consecutive defeats to Power Four opponents, making the climb back to respectability feel steeper than ever. But amid another loss, albeit expected, a few players flashed signs of growth, and others showed just how far they still have to go.
With that in mind, here’s whose stock is trending up and whose is falling after Wisconsin’s Week 9 loss to Oregon.
📈 Stock up: RB Gideon Ituka
Entering the game against Oregon, Wisconsin was already without starting running back Dilin Jones and backup Darrion Dupree, meaning Cade Yacamelli was expected to shoulder the load. But when Yacamelli went down with an injury, redshirt freshman Gideon Ituka capitalized on his opportunity and emerged as one of the few bright spots offensively.
Ituka carried the ball 21 times for 85 yards, including a long of 18, running decisively, patiently, and physically between the tackles. His style fits well with how this offense is currently constructed. According to Pro Football Focus, 48 of Ituka’s yards came after contact, and the 5-foot-9, 227-pound back forced two missed tackles, offering both balance and power.
“He showed us some things tonight, he could be a back of the future,” Fickell said. “I know it’s one game, but I thought he did a really good job. The way he played, the way he ran the football, I think, gives us not just hope, but the ability to have a more of a physical running game.”
Yes, he put the ball on the ground once, but given the rainy conditions, it’s hard to nitpick too much. Overall, Ituka’s effort was something this staff can build on, regardless of who’s healthy after the bye. He’s proven capable of giving this offense productive snaps, and for a player who began the year fourth on the depth chart, that’s encouraging progress.
📈 Stock up: LBs Cooper Catalano & Mason Posa
Even though both Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano made an appearance on this list a week ago, there’s no way they could be left off again. Their stock has taken another clear jump. Posa and Catalano, both of whom are true freshmen, continue to look like the heartbeat of Wisconsin’s defense.
Posa, making his first career start, posted 13 total tackles, a pass breakup, and a pressure, while Catalano added eight total tackles, a pass breakup, and a pressure of his own. The energy they brought to the field changed the entire feel of the Badgers’ defense, giving it life, communication, and toughness that had been missing.
Fickell was quick to praise both players postgame, and it’s not hard to see why. They play with tremendous intensity, a ball-hawking mentality, and a level of poise that isn’t indicative of their age. If Wisconsin is going to rebuild its culture and identity, it needs more players cut from this mold.
“There’s the future,” Fickell said of Posa and Catalano. “Those young guys stepped up tonight. I haven’t looked at the film or anything yet, but those guys played really well. They’re mature beyond their years. They actually communicate and talk really well on the football field. I know the guys in front of them, the defensive line, really respect them, and not just because of the way they play, but the way that they lead and how they help those guys up front. There’s just some natural things about them, and to be honest with you, I think they played pretty darn good tonight.”
Statistically, the performance backed up the eye test. Catalano played 66 defensive snaps and earned a 67.9 defensive grade, while Posa logged 69 snaps, grading 67.8 overall with a 75.3 mark against the run. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real progress that the staff can build around.
In a season where wins are getting harder and harder to come by, these two have become a bright spot worth investing in. There’s no reason not to give them every possible runway to develop down the stretch.
📈 Stock up: OL Emerson Mandell
It’s hard not to recognize the strides that Emerson Mandell has made in recent weeks. The redshirt freshman from Minnesota, who won the starting job at right guard coming out of fall camp, was forced to kick out to right tackle earlier in the season — a tough assignment for any young lineman, let alone one still adjusting to Big Ten speed and competition.
Mandell didn’t have much experience in pass protection coming out of high school, given the offense he played in, but you wouldn’t have known it Saturday. He finished with a 63.4 overall offensive grade, an 84.0 pass-blocking grade (the highest on the team), and a 55.7 run-blocking grade, all while not allowing a single pressure.
That marks three consecutive games without surrendering a single pressure for Mandell, which is notable considering he still leads the team with 12 allowed on the season.
There’s still plenty of development ahead, and his long-term future likely remains on the interior, but the progress is undeniable. Mandell has held his own against quality competition and continues to show steady growth.
You don’t want to overstate it, but Mandell is starting to look like a player this staff can count on to start for them this year and beyond. For a young player thrust into a challenging situation, this was another promising step in the right direction for Mandell, and that earns him a clear stock up.
📉 Stock down: LB Tackett Curtis
After beginning the year as a starter at inside linebacker, Tackett Curtis has seen his role diminish in favor of Wisconsin’s talented freshman duo.
Against Oregon, he played just three defensive snaps — a clear sign of where things are trending, and on one of those, he missed a key tackle.
Curtis’s greatest strength has always been as a run defender, but that’s also an area where the freshmen, Posa and Catalano, have found success. The difference is that they’ve brought more consistency and communication that this defense desperately needed. Meanwhile, Curtis has struggled mightily in coverage throughout the season, having been targeted 19 times and allowing 16 receptions for 157 yards.
Against Oregon, Curtis earned a 39.5 defensive grade, marking the continuation of an uneven stretch of play. It’s not that Curtis can’t contribute. He still brings physicality, effort, and sideline-to-sideline speed to the position. However, the Badgers are getting similar production from younger players without as many mistakes attached.
This defense needs players who can consistently do their job on every snap. And while the young guys playing ahead of Curtis haven’t been flawless, their mistakes are easier to live with because they come with growth and development. At the moment, Curtis isn’t performing at a level that justifies taking snaps away from players who represent the future.
📉 Stock down: QB Hunter Simmons
I take no pleasure in including Hunter Simmons on this list yet again.
Against Oregon, while it’s fair to acknowledge that the weather was absolutely a factor, it doesn’t change the reality — Simmons completed just 7-of-21 passes for 86 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, averaging just 4.1 yards per attempt.
That number looks even worse when you consider that 42 of those yards came on a desperation heave to Eugene Hilton Jr., who made an outstanding adjustment to haul in a poorly placed ball. That play was all Hilton, not Simmons. Beyond that, the passing game was lifeless.
We’ve reached a point where it’s hard to understand how this staff can continue trotting him out there. Simmons finished with a 27.5 overall PFF grade, including a 29.5 passing grade, and on the season has just two big-time throws compared to seven turnover-worthy plays. He’s now gone three consecutive games throwing for fewer than 90 yards, and it’s clear that the Badgers’ offense isn’t competitive with him under center.
At this point, it feels like Wisconsin is trying to win football games with both hands tied behind its back. The effort is there, but the execution isn’t, and the results speak for themselves. Coming out of the bye, it might be time to revisit Danny O’Neil or use the time to build a game plan around Carter Smith to see what the Badgers have for the future.
📉 Stock down: WR Jayden Ballard
Against Oregon, Jayden Ballard wasn’t targeted and didn’t record a single catch, logging just 14 offensive snaps.
The Ohio State transfer began the year looking like a potential big-play threat for Wisconsin’s offense, but that promise has quickly faded. Ballard didn’t catch a pass in the entire month of October, and his role has steadily diminished as the staff looks for younger players to build around.
At this point, it appears that Ballard will be used more situationally moving forward, with Hilton Jr. potentially in line for an expanded role following the bye week. Hilton’s playmaking and route running give the offense a spark it desperately needs, which is something Ballard hasn’t provided.
It’s fair to wonder whether Ballard’s limited impact is more a reflection of the Badgers’ inability to push the ball downfield or his own shortcomings as a one-dimensional deep threat. Either way, he hasn’t been a factor, and after a month without a single counting stat, his stock is trending down.
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