OHIO STATE
Column: In darkest days of Fickell era, firing seems inevitable
By Jacob Szczap SPORTS EDITOR
For the last three years under head coach Luke Fickell, the Wisconsin Badgers have played uninspired, disappointing and frankly embarrassing football.
Under Fickell, losing has become the norm. There have been beatdowns at the hands of iconic programs, undisciplined defeats to lesser teams, heartbreakers to the nation’s top teams and no-shows in rivalry games. But Saturday’s 37-0 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes may have topped them all.
In a game that Wisconsin spent all offseason preparing for, the Badgers were absolutely bludgeoned by a program long-considered their equal. The ever discouraging result may have cemented Fickell’s fate at Wisconsin.
Iowa came into enemy territory, easily took Wisconsin’s lunch money and in front of a Camp Randall faithful that has become increasingly distraught, feasted on the Badgers all night long.
Wisconsin has been a team with no identity for the better part of three years now, and after yet another face-searing loss, it leaves everyone involved asking where the program goes from here.
Fickell and the Badgers needed this game, yet fell completely flat. Beating Iowa, one of Wisconsin’s true rivals, would have been a challenge, surely. But it was seen as a doable feat.
All offseason, Fickell used last season’s 42-10 blowout loss at Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium as motivation. Players did 42 pushups after each spring practice as a reminder of the pain felt by allowing the Hawkeye offense to put up 42 points last season.
“There’s no doubt that what happened last year is something that’s fresh on the minds of everybody on this team,” Fickell said before the game.
“The focus is understanding and recognizing obviously what happened last year and what it is that we need to do to change all that happened last year,” Fickell continued. “It’ll be a physical, tough, hard-nosed game, nothing different than what you would expect from an Iowa-Wisconsin football game.”
With a boot-shaking schedule awaiting them, including meetings with three top 10 teams, Wisconsin had an opportunity to use this rivalry game to steal a win and form some semblance of momentum going forward.
But forget winning, Wisconsin didn’t even compete. Instead of conquering last year’s humiliation, the Badgers played without any fight, doubling down on their incompetence in a way that proves last year’s loss was not an anomaly, but rather a true indicator of the state of the program.
With this horrifying loss, Wisconsin football has officially descended into the darkest days of the Fickell era. Years of frustration directed at the program’s lack of progress have given way to a feeling of all-out hopelessness.
“That’s as low as it can be. I
apologize,” Fickell said after the game. “I’m dumbfounded in a lot of ways, but that’s my job. This is a game we’ve been talking about since January. It was something that, emotionally, we knew we had to be ready for, and we were not. So, I’m crushed, disappointed in myself and our team.”
Wisconsin, with a coach that was supposed to propel them to the top, has been clawing at the bottom.
There were back-to-back November defeats to then Big Ten bottomfeeders Indiana and Northwestern in Fickell’s first season, sparking initial doubts into whether he had what it takes to elevate Wisconsin to the next level.
Last year, Wisconsin’s fivegame, season-ending losing streak, complete with the Iowa abomination and a disheartening 24-7 home loss to Minnesota, intensified conversations regarding Fickell’s capability. With Wisconsin finishing 5-7 and missing a bowl game for the first time in 22 years, it was the program’s lowest point in decades. It felt like a genuine lowpoint.
But in his third year, Fickell has found a way to dig a once proud program into an even deeper hole. In Week 3, Wisconsin was destroyed by Alabama. Then, at home against Maryland, a game that Wisconsin would traditionally win with ease, the Badgers fell completely flat, losing 27-10. Next came a 24-10 loss on the road to Michigan and finally the monstrosity last week against Iowa.
For decades, Wisconsin and Iowa have used each other as comparatives. Both known as traditional Big Ten teams who thrive on burly offensive lines, power rushing-attacks and hard-nosed, successful defenses, the annual meeting for the Heartland Trophy was a reliable indicator for which program was playing their brand of football better.
In the ten battles between the Badgers and Hawkeyes preFickell, Wisconsin had won seven times, including four straight between 2016 and 2019. But in Fickell’s time, Wisconsin has now lost all three battles.
In the last two, Iowa has bullied Wisconsin at the form of football that the Badgers played so well for decades. In 2024, Iowa had their way with Wisconsin, rushing for 329 and five touchdowns. The 32 point difference was Iowa’s largest margin of victory since 1968. A year later, after an offseason of dwelling on it, Wisconsin was once again unable to stop the Hawkeye run.
The results against Iowa lead to the realization that in Fickell’s time, Wisconsin has become a team that simply does nothing well.
Over the course of the season, Wisconsin’s offense has gone from bad to worse. By committing a series of comedic, back-breaking first quarter turnovers, the unit effectively shot themselves in the foot. Out of Wisconsin’s 12 drives, three resulted in turnovers and none went longer than 40 yards.
At 15.5 points per game, Wisconsin’s offense ranks 115th in the FBS and last in the Big Ten.
Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’ offense was supposed to stabilize a unit that had struggled in former offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s attempts to modernize the offense. Instead, Grimes’ offense leaves Wisconsin without an identity and even worse than he found it.
And Wisconsin’s defense, which was never given a fair shot due to the offense’s first quarter turnover merry-go-round, was out-physicaled and exposed by Iowa’s offense. Wisconsin’s run defense was once seen as the silver lining of the group. But the Hawkeyes ran all over Wisconsin for 210 yards and four touchdowns.
The Badgers have now lost nine straight games to power conference opponents and have proven incapable of sticking with even solid competition.
But it’s not the fact Wisconsin is losing that is the problem here. With the disappointing season Wisconsin was coming off and a schedule featuring six AP Preseason Top 25 teams, very few expected a stellar season.
It’s that week after week, Wisconsin performs with little poise or fight. The Badgers have been underdogs in four of their six games this season, yet play without a chip on their shoulder. Wisconsin begins games unprepared and devoid of energy and walks off the field looking lost and defeated.
Coaches and players say the same things every week, repeating tropes of leadership, finding an identity and playing together. Yet their onfield performance shows Wisconsin is not only no closer to success than the first day Fickell walked through the door, but farther away from it than at any point this century.
As a result, the mystique that
surrounds Wisconsin football has been almost completely exhausted in the Fickell years. When that is gone, what are you left with?
The fact of the matter is in recent years, Wisconsin has plummeted so far that the most accurate way to describe the state of the Badgers would be hopeless. It is a jarring reality for a highly respected program that spent decades consistently churning out successful seasons while developing excellent players. Yet it is a reality seated in truth rather than hot take paranoia.
The point has come where firing Fickell appears like the only rational decision. At the season’s beginning, it seemed more than realistic to allow the once up-andcoming head coach at least a few more seasons to finish what he started. But the pathetic results he continues to give has led to a collective, and rational, turning by a passionate fanbase. Barring a massive turnaround, it now feels inevitable that he will not be the coach next season.
For Wisconsin to fire Fickell this season, it would cost the university $27.5 million. But each week Fickell leads Wisconsin is a week in which the program falls deeper into mediocrity and further from relevance.
In his time with the media, Fickell has become more exasperated as the losses pile on.
“There is no such thing as an easy fix, I guess,” he said after the Iowa game. “This is not gonna be an easy fix.”
But the writing has been on the wall for weeks now, and as the program he’s leading continues to find new lows, it is becoming more likely Fickell will not be the one to lead the fix.
CAMERON SCHNEIDER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Preview: No. 1 Ohio State will give lowly Badgers immense challenge Saturday gameday
By Matthew Schultz STAFF WRITER
Few things in sports are more elusiv There have been plenty of bad losses during the Luke Fickell era, but Iowa’s 37-0 dismantling of Wisconsin on Saturday could be the worst.
Since beating Middle Tennessee State in Week 2, the Badgers have lost four straight, leaving them at rock bottom in the Big Ten standings. At the top sits Ohio State, the No. 1 ranked team in the country, which has comfortably won each of its first six games. The reigning champs look to easily dispose of Wisconsin on Saturday.
Against Iowa, the Badgers totaled just 209 yards, bringing their weekly average to 292.5 yards per game which is good for an embarrassing 123rd in the country. Quarterback Hunter Simmons, coming off a solid start at Michigan, went 8/21 for 82 yards and two interceptions. Wisconsin’s longest drive of the
game was just 40 yards.
Iowa stormed ahead with 17 first-quarter points, immediately silencing Camp Randall. Despite a mediocre game from QB Mark Gronowski (107 yards, 1 INT), the Hawkeye rushing attack proved too physical for Wisconsin’s defense. Iowa’s 210 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns were the most the Badgers have allowed this season by a wide margin.
Conversely, Ohio State took care of No. 17 Illinois 34-16 on the road. After taking a 20-3 first-half lead, Illinois crept back into the game, but the Buckeyes forced three turnovers en route to its sixth win of 2025 and 10th dating back to last season.
Week after week, Wisconsin’s offense has progressively gotten worse. They now average just 15.5 points per game, the 15th worst in all of college football. The offensive line didn’t allow a sack last week, but they struggled to pave any running lanes for
the backs (3.5 yards per carry). Dillin Jones was the lone bright spot, doing all he could to propel the Badger offense (16 car, 69 yds).
Going against a formidable Ohio State defense, Wisconsin’s miserable offensive output looks to be a recipe for disaster. Led this season by longtime New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, the Buckeyes allow just 8.2 PPG (#1) and 241.6 YPG (#3). Linebacker Arvell Reese (4.5 sacks) and DE Caden Curry (6.0 Sk, 9.5 TFL) have ransacked backfields each week, providing a nightmare matchup for an inferior Wisconsin line.
Offensively, Ohio State may hardly face a challenge against Wisconsin’s defense. Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin has been incredibly efficient, leading the country in completion percentage (78.4) and passer rating (188.1). The streaky Wisconsin secondary also must
deal with future first round wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Smith’s seven receiving touchdowns leads the Big Ten, and the duo’s combined 981 yards is nearly equal to the entire Badger receiving corps (1082 yards). After giving up 37 points to Iowa, Saturday looks increasingly horrifying.
Wisconsin is 18-63-5 all time against OSU, losing their last 10 matchups. In those games, the Badgers averaged just 17.0 points. The last Badger victory in the series dates back to October 2010
when Wisconsin won 31-18. Fickell made 50 consecutive starts (1993-96) at defensive tackle for Ohio State, a school record. He also coached the Buckeyes for 15 years from 2002 through 2016, serving as a low-level assistant before becoming defensive coordinator and interim head coach. With the recent firing of fellow Big Ten head coach James Franklin at Penn St., all eyes are on Fickell once again. If he comes out flat, chants to fire him will surely ring out.
Dominant defense, maturing offense behind Ohio State’s perfect record
By Yadiel Chavez SPORTS EDITOR
The Ohio State Buckeyes will come into Camp Randall riding a wave of six straight wins, with the hopes of adding another against a Wisconsin Badgers team that has lost four in a row.
Ohio State has emerged as one of the few teams in college football who were ranked highly to begin the year and stayed there, proving that they belong.
Ranked No. 3 at the start of the year, they’ve maintained a grip on the top spot of the AP poll ever since Week 2. The two teams ranked above them in Week 1, Texas and Penn State, have struggled to live up to their championship aspirations.
Penn State has been absent from the top 25 since Week 6, following a disastrous threegame losing streak and the firing of longtime head coach James Franklin. Texas haven’t faltered as much as the Nittylions, but still are far from College Football Playoff contention at No. 21 in the country.
To gain the No. 1 position, Ohio State beat those same Texas Longhorns in a highlyanticipated Week 1 matchup. Rarely do you see two top-end teams duel it out in the first game of the season in the modern college football landscape, where many Power Four schools tend to schedule these games against inferior competition.
While the game didn’t live up to the heavyweight expectations, one thing became certain for the Buckeyes in their 14-7 win: the defense could keep their team in any game. The defensive unit gave sophomore quarterback Archie Manning fits all day long, limiting him to 170 passing yards and forcing a crucial third quarter interception.
The Buckeyes defense would carry that momentum into Week 2, in their 70-0 rout of Grambling State. Ohio State’s defense was all over the field and would collect three turnovers in the game, holding the Tigers to 166 total yards in a dominant showing.
Despite the defensive shoutout, the biggest story of the day was the breakout of sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin. After backing up Will Howard all throughout his freshman year, Sayin showcased the skillset that earned him
his five-star rating in the 2024 recruiting class.
In his second career collegiate start, Sayin threw for four touchdowns and only had one incompletion — an interception in the second quarter. By halftime, Ohio State was enjoying a comfortable 35-0 lead, deciding to rest Sayin the remainder of the game.
Alongside Sayin, the entire Buckeyes offense was dialed in after being held to 14 points the week before. Sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Smith hauled in two touchdowns and 119 yards, including an electric 87-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The ground game was potent as well, with freshman running back Bo Jackson rushing for 108 yards and a touchdown.
In Week 3, Ohio State took on their in-state rival Ohio Bobcats. Ohio State’s defense once again proved to be one of the best in the nation, holding Ohio to one touchdown in the 37-9 win.
Despite some struggles in ball security with two interceptions, Sayin was able to will his offense past the Bobcats with 347 passing yards and three touchdowns. Alongside Smith, junior wide receiver Carnell Tate broke over the 100 receiving yards mark, catching a touchdown in the process.
Following a bye week and in their first major test since Week 1, Ohio State went on the road
to face the Washington Huskies in Week 5. Despite the hostile environment inside Husky Stadium, the Buckeyes once again silenced their opponents on offense, cruising to a 24-6 victory.
Despite forcing no turnovers for the first time all season, Ohio State’s pass rush was crucial in keeping Washington out of the end zone. Senior defensive end Caden Curry was commanding on the edge, securing three of the game’s six total sacks.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Buckeyes offense slowly found its way. Sayin found Smith in the end zone in the second quarter, capping off a 10-play, 73-yard drive to take the lead. Coming out of halftime up 7-3, Ohio State once again drove down the field, and this time, senior CJ Donaldson forced his way into the end zone with a 1-yard goal-line rush. Donaldson would also catch a touchdown later in the game, putting away any hope of a Huskie comeback.
Coming back to Columbus, the Buckeyes faced Wisconsin’s biggest rival in Week 6: the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Even with Minnesota taking the early 3-0 lead in the first quarter and a missed Ohio State field goal, the Gophers failed to get any offensive rhythm against the Buckeye defense. Minnesota only converted one of their 11 third
down attempts, being forced to punt seven times throughout the game.
Sayin and his offense continued to shine, with 326 yards through the air for Sayin and 126 rushing yards split between Ohio State’s running backs. Tate was dynamic in the receiving game, catching nine passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. Ohio State would claim the 42-3 victory, their fifth straight win holding opponents to under 10 points.
Most recently, Ohio State took on the Illinois Fighting Illini in Week 7. The defense caused chaos once again, forcing three turnovers in the 34-16 win.
In part to his defense giving him quality field position to start the game, Sayin would lead his unit to a 20-3 lead after one half of play. Donaldson showed up in the end zone, rushing and receiving for a touchdown just like he did against Washington. While the offense wasn’t as efficient as previous games, their 17 point lead out of the half gave them enough cushion to cruise throughout the rest of the game.
Wisconsin will have to find a way to stop an Ohio State offense that has evolved throughout the year. Sayin has become more secure with the football and makes the right plays to keep drives alive. Having not thrown an interception in his last three games, Sayin is maturing into the quarterback that Ohio State needs in order to make a championship push. With serious receiving threats in Smith and Tate and a more than capable rushing attack, Wisconsin’s defense will have their hands full in keeping the Buckeyes out of the end zone.
On the other side of the ball, Ohio State’s defense has proven all year to be the driving force behind their success. Whether that be adjusting mid-game to limit offenses or completely dominating from the kickoff, Wisconsin needs to find scoring opportunities with an offense that was just shut out against Iowa.
Ohio State has been trending upward since Week 1, with visible improvements to an already expected championship contender. Against a Wisconsin team that hasn’t won in over a month, let alone beaten Ohio State in over a decade, the Buckeyes will travel to Madison determined to use the Badgers as a stepping stone for playoff success.
JESSI SCHOVILLE/THE DAILY CARDINAL
CAMERON SCHNEIDER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
l Fickell’s struggle to find quarterback stability continues
By Tejas Rao STAFF WRITER
As if uncertainty and doubt toward head coach Luke Fickell’s tenure was not already creeping in among fans and critics alike, figuring out which quarterback will start before each game seems to be a mystery, too.
Fickell was brought in to lead Wisconsin football to championship aspirations. Oftentimes, the first step in building a championship team is having a reliable quarterback. That hasn’t happened.
We are now in Fickell’s third year, and just six games into the season, fans have seen three different quarterbacks walk out on the field as starters.
Fickell’s first choice for starting quarterback was Maryland Terrapins transfer Billy Edwards Jr., who did not even play one full half of the first game of the year for the Badgers before walking off with a sprained left knee. He still has not returned from his injury.
His replacement was San Diego State transfer Danny O’Neil, who took the helm and after a solid first two games, regressed tremendously when faced with tougher competition.
O’Neil was benched after a hard hit midway through the final quarter of the Badgers’ game against Maryland. Fickell decided to give Southern Illinois transfer Hunter Simmons the ball, who played out the remainder of the game.
Simmons drew starts in the Badgers next two games against the Michigan Wolverines and Iowa Hawkeyes.
Fickell’s first two seasons
The Badgers’ revolving door of quarterbacks has been a defining part of Fickell’s tenure.
In Fickell’s first full season in 2023, Southern Methodist transfer Tanner Mordecai was the starter. But when Mordecai faced a mid-season hand injury, backup quarterback Braedyn Locke — a transfer from Mississippi State — saw a few starts until Fickell’s choice for starter returned. Under Mordecai, the Badgers made it to the ReliaQuest Bowl where they fell 35-31 to the LSU Tigers. Many would say this was a decent start to Fickell’s tenure and looked promising for the future.
In his second season, Fickell named Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke the starting quarterback, and just as things were seeming to settle, Van Dyke tore his ACL in the third game of the season against Alabama — making Locke the starter yet again. Under Locke, the Badgers went 5-7 and did not make it to a bowl game for the first time in 22 years. Locke ended up leaving for the transfer portal, and the Badgers started rebuilding their quarterback vault yet again.
Of course, Fickell is not to blame for his quarterback’s injuries, but his inability to build solid quarterback depth has bit him three years in a row. “Injuries hurt and the quarterback position injury more so than any other position,” Fickell said in a recent press conference.
Can Simmons step up?
Simmons did show some rigor as he went on to get the Badgers their only touchdown of their 27-10 loss to Maryland with 0:33 left in the fourth quarter. He finished the game completing 77.8% of his passes for 70 yards and one touchdown in his six minutes of playing time — earning a 90.3 passer rating.
In Wisconsin’s first away game against a ranked Big Ten opponent, Michigan, Simmons was announced starter with both Edwards and O’Neil injured. The Wolverines won 24-10 and Simmons finished with a 62% completion percentage, 177 yards and an interception.
Fickell seemed to be satisfied enough with Simmons and his playstyle after the game. “Hunter showed poise. But just for where we are and what we needed, we thought Hunter gave us the best opportunity. He did some things we needed him to do, and we’ll continue to grow with him,” he said in a postgame press conference.
Simmons was given preference over O’Neil for the game against Iowa as well. Fickell was all praise when asked what makes Simmons a better choice for the playstyle Wisconsin is going for on offense. “[Hunter] does have a quick release, he’s got a bit of a stronger arm and I think he’s got a really good arm. He is just a well rounded guy,” he said.
Regardless, Fickell’s plan to start Simmons over O’Neil in Wisconsin’s game last week against
Iowa did not bode well at all as the Badgers were shut out at Camp Randall for the first time since 1980. A 37-0 loss left fans, critics and the coachingstaff in disbelief.
Simmons struggled immensely to step up against Iowa. In the game’s first seven minutes, he threw two interceptions that aided the Hawkeyes to a 17-0 start in just the first quarter. On the contrary, the Hawkeyes offense used their physicality and toughness to outplay Wisconsin’s defense throughout the game and managed to score in every quarter. Simmons completed just 38.1% of his passes and threw two interceptions.
The Wisconsin Badgers are now 0-3 against Big Ten opponents this season and are looking ahead to getting back to playing in Camp Randall against the No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes next Saturday.
Saturday of uncertainty
Looking at the depth chart for the Badgers against Ohio State, Edwards Jr. is still uncertain for the game. But after a full recovery and conditioning, whether Edwards Jr. is still the top pick for a starting quarterback remains to be seen. He will have missed the entire first half of the season after Saturday’s game and doubt will arise if Simmons or O’Neil find any success on the field.
After a disastrous Homecoming rivalry game against the Hawkeyes, Fickell did not rule out O’Neil’s availability to start games. “We were wheeling on both sides. Where we were
at and what we needed to do, we still felt like [Hunter] gave us the best chance,” Fickell said after the game. “You’re probably right, it’s something we have to take a good, hard look at and no disrespect to Hunter but there probably was an opportunity or situation where we should have went in the other direction [of playing O’Neil].”
What is yet to be determined is if Fickell and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes will stick to one quarterback. Fickell hinted at a quarterback competition between Simmons and O’Neil as Edwards Jr. continues to work through his injury.
Despite it being just under a month since Edwards Jr saw ingame action, Fickell is still keeping information about Edwards Jr. ‘s injury status close to his chest. Fickell acknowledged that his appearance in Wisconsin’s 27-10 loss against Maryland — where he regretted his injury and exited after just six plays — “probably set him back a little bit.”
At a press conference Monday, Fickell said it’s his job to “save Billy from himself,” adding he wants to make sure Edwards Jr. is able to finish out the season healthy.
“We want Billy to be 100 percent, or as close to 100 percent, in order to be able to protect himself, and at some point in time, that’s going to fall on the shoulders of him as well,” he said.
Whatever Fickell and Grimes have in mind for the quarterback spot will be revealed close to gametime, when the Badgers and their fans will desperately search for their first conference win.
Badgers versus Buckeyes: chronicles of a rivalry gameday
By Josh Murphy STAFF WRITER
Head coach Luke Fickell and the Wi sconsin Badgers will have their hands full against No. 1 Ohio State this weekend, an opponent they know all too well.
These two Big Ten rivals have faced each other 86 times, and the Buckeyes have had the Badgers’ number, winning 63 of those matchups. Ohio State won their last meeting against Wisconsin, a 24-10 road victory in 2023.
Wisconsin’s last win over the Buckeyes was a 31-18 victory in 2010, which also happened to be the last time fans rushed the field at Camp Randall Stadium. Badgers’ running back John Clay was the star of the game, as he became the first player to run for over 100 yards on the Buckeyes in 29 games. Wisconsin legend J.J. Watt also performed well, racking up two sacks. But since then the Badgers have dropped ten straight against the Buckeyes, which has included some heartbreaking defeats.
The first of those brutal losses came the following season, when No. 12 Wisconsin — led by star quarterback Russell Wilson — travelled to Columbus to take on unranked Ohio State. Wisconsin found themselves in some trouble late, trailing 26-14
with less than five minutes remaining in the game.
Wilson and the Badgers started to mount a furious comeback. They took a 29-26 lead with just over a minute to play after a 49-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Jared Abbrederis. Ohio State answered with a 40-yard goahead touchdown with 20 seconds left in the game. They wound up winning that game 33-29, which set the tone for the ensuing decade-plus of Buckeye dominance over the Badgers.
Since then, Wisconsin has lost some close games to Ohio State, including overtime losses in Madison in 2012 and 2016. They also played the Buckeyes three times in the Big Ten Championship Game, which featured a 59-0 rout in 2014 and a 34-21 defeat in 2019, a game where the Badgers had a 21-7 lead at halftime before allowing 27 unanswered points. But neither of those losses come close to the heartbreak of the 2017 Big Ten Championship Game.
The 2017 Wisconsin Badgers have a case for the best team in program history. Led by their southpaw quarterback Alex Hornibrook, freshman superstar running back Jonathan Taylor and a stout defense that allowed a Big Ten-best 13.9
points per game, the Badgers marched their way to a 12-0 season and earned a date with the Buckeyes in Indianapolis.
Wisconsin fell into a 21-7 hole early in the second quarter. They tried to dig themselves out, inching closer following a couple field goals that made it a one score game in the third quarter. They kept rallying, and a 1-yard Chris James touchdown run followed by an Hornibrook completion to Troy Fumagalli for the two-point conversion drew the Badgers within three in the fourth quarter. Ohio State responded with a 15 play, seven minute drive that resulted in a field goal to make the score 27-21.
After trading punts, the Badgers got the ball with just under three minutes left in the fourth and a chance to take the lead. They made their way down the field and made it past the 50, but a 10-yard holding penalty ended up being the dagger that killed the drive, and on 4th and 20, Hornibrook threw an interception that effectively ended the game.
These two schools have taken on very different paths since their conference title game in 2017. Wisconsin football has spiraled into disarray while Ohio State has remained a national powerhouse. Their 6-7
2011 campaign — when Luke Fickell was interim coach, ironically enough — turned out to be the Buckeyes’ last losing season to date.
Since then, Ohio State has won five Big Ten titles and two national championships. Meanwhile, Wisconsin hasn’t found the same success they had in the 2010s, and they saw their 22-year bowl game streak snapped in 2024.
And so, a storied yet unbalanced college football rivalry continues on Saturday. The
Badgers will look to enact revenge against the Buckeyes this weekend, while Ohio State looks to continue their dominance over Wisconsin. A win for the Badgers would easily be the program’s biggest in years, and it would deliver a ton of confidence and momentum for Fickell and his players. A loss would mean their 11th consecutive defeat against the Buckeyes, with no end of that losing streak in sight as more and more questions surrounding the state of Wisconsin football arise.
Key players to watch as Wisconsin battles No. 1 Ohio State
By Dora Tsai STAFF WRITER
The Wisconsin Badgers are still in search of their first Big Ten win of the season after consecutive losses to Maryland, Michigan and most recently, a scoreless game against Iowa. Meanwhile, the Ohio State Buckeyes are undefeated so far with a 6-0 record and have stood steadily at the No.1 spot since week 2. As these programs square off Saturday, these are players to watch.
WISCONSIN:
Christian Alliegro
The junior inside linebacker has remained a consistent and reliable force for the improved Badgers defense. He leads the unit with 40 tackles and two sacks this season as one of the group’s most experienced players. Alliegro has repeatedly displayed his physicality and strength against opponents since becoming a starter late in the 2024 season. Despite the Badgers’ 37–0 loss to Iowa last week, he posted a season-high 11 tackles, underscoring his impact even in defeat. Alliegro will once again anchor Wisconsin’s defense as it faces a dynamic Ohio State offense.
Lance Mason
The transfer tight end has been one of Wisconsin’s most prominent offensive players this season, even amid struggles along the offensive line. Mason leads the Badgers in receiving touchdowns and ranks second in total receiving yards. Against Maryland, he accounted for Wisconsin’s only touchdown, finishing with five receptions for 45 yards and the team’s lone trip to the end zone. With Mason’s steady presence in the passing game, the Badgers will look to find rhythm and balance against Ohio State’s defense.
Ricardo Hallman
The graduate cornerback has remained a key stabilizer in Wisconsin’s secondary with experience and composure. Through six games, Hallman has totaled 12 tackles, two pass breakups and one interception, continuing to showcase his steady coverage and technique. His ability to read routes and defend the pass has been vital for a defense often tested by high-powered offenses. Hallman’s veteran presence in the cornerback room and reliability in one-on-one coverage will be crucial as the Badgers prepare to face Ohio State’s deep and explosive receiving corps.
Dilin Jones
Redshirt freshman running back Dilin Jones has been a bright star of the Badgers offense this season, leading with 68 carries for 286 yards and two touchdowns. Jones has emerged as a reliable playmaker in the backfield despite the shift from the traditional, run-heavy Wisconsin offensive scheme. Against Michigan and Iowa, he set personal season highs in rushing yards in consecutive weeks and scored Wisconsin’s only touchdown to open the game in Ann Arbor.
OHIO STATE:
Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate
Ohio State’s star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has quickly become a household name with his standout performances since the start of his collegiate career and is already part of early Heisman discussions. His counterpart, Carnell Tate, complements him perfectly, offering the Buckeyes a dynamic receiving duo capable of adapting to any defensive scheme. In their win over Minnesota, Tate recorded a career-high nine receptions on 10 targets for 183 yards, while Smith hauled in two touchdowns to power a 42-point blowout. Together, Smith and Tate form the most lethal offensive weapon Wisconsin’s defense will face this season.
Caleb Downs
Junior safety Caleb Downs has continued to be a cornerstone of Ohio State’s defense,
showcasing the same instincts and physicality that made him one of the nation’s top recruits. Throughout the 2025 season, Downs has totaled 18 solo tackles and one interception, reinforcing his reputation as a steady, disciplined playmaker in the secondary. His range and ability to diagnose plays allow him to provide consistent support in both run defense and deep coverage. As Wisconsin looks to find rhythm on offense, Downs’ presence over the top will be key in asserting the Buckeyes’ defensive dominance.
Arvell Reese
The junior linebacker rose rapidly this year as one of the most disruptive defenders in Ohio State’s front seven. So far, he has totaled 38 tackles and leads the Buckeyes with 4.5 sacks this season, repeatedly showing his powerful defensive abilities. Last week, Reese notched nine tackles and 1.5 sacks versus Illinois, anchoring a defense that has smothered opponents on the ground. His blend of speed and power off the edge has made him a constant threat in opposing backfields. The 6-foot-4 linebacker’s presence will be pivotal in disrupting Wisconsin’s offensive plays.
Julian Sayin
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin’s performance as a first-year starter exceeds the high expectations, with a high completion rate and over 1,400 passing yards halfway through the season. Sayin currently leads all FBS quarterbacks with an 80.2% completion rate, showcasing elite precision and intelligence. His combination of accuracy, field vision and chemistry with the Buckeyes’ explosive wide receiver duo has made him one of the most efficient passers in college football. As Wisconsin’s defense looks to pressure the pocket, containing Sayin’s rhythm and decision-making will be one of its biggest challenges and targets on Saturday.
Jones continues to prove his growing impact on the Badgers’ offense.
EVAN HALPOP/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Column: What went wrong with Wisconsin’s defense against Iowa gameday
By Grace Cannizzo SENIOR STAFF WRITER
There aren’t many highlights from the Wisconsin Badger’s four consecutive losses, particularly their brutal 37-0 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday.
Even with recent offensive struggles, Wisconsin’s defense, especially their defensive line, has looked solid. That changed in Wisconsin’s most recent lackluster performance, contributing to the dumpster fire that was Saturday.
What went wrong?
This failure was threefold: Iowa’s offense combatted Wisconsin’s defensive schemes, the Badgers didn’t adapt and Wisconsin’s offense proved a major detriment to their own defense.
Simply put, Iowa’s offensive coordinator Tim Lester outplayed Wisconsin defensive coordinator Mike Tressel and employed difficult offensive looks for the Badgers defense to adjust to.
Wisconsin’s 3-3-5 nickel base defense plays three down linemen at all times, often walking up a linebacker. They also are mostly in zone coverage and typically in Cover 3.
Against Iowa’s overloaded offensive line, plus a tight end or two, having three man fronts is a recipe for disaster. With facing less lineman, offenses can better run gap schemes, which Iowa did seamlessly.
The Hawkeyes attempted 36 rush
plays and 25 pass plays. They completed 18 of those passes, with an average yards per pass of only 4.4.
In other words, Iowa almost exclusively ran the ball or threw short passes. In fact, the longest completion Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski threw all night was only 16 yards. Scoring 37 points despite not completing a deep pass is unorthodox, yet it obviously worked because of Wisconsin’s Cover 3 scheme, which benefits this style of play.
The Hawkeyes ran iso gap schemes that were easy to employ with the sheer lack of men up front for Wisconsin. Iowa also made use of tight ends to crowd the line on bunch plays and even frequently sprung offensive lineman to the second and third level, blocking defensive backs.
Iowa was able to do this because of the amount of men they already had in the box. Let’s be clear: 6’3”, 302 pound Iowa graduate offensive lineman, Logan Jones, moving downfield and blocking 5’11”, 185 pound Wisconsin redshirt freshman cornerback, Omillo Agard, was not a pretty sight.
To further complicate things for Wisconsin, the Hawkeyes motioned pre-snap on nearly every play. This simple tactic gave a hint as to whether the defense was in man or zone coverage and made running zone coverage more difficult, as the Badgers were abruptly tasked with
shifting and communicating changes in zone responsibilities on each of these plays.
What Wisconsin did wrong is obvious: they didn’t adapt.
As mentioned before, the Badgers mostly play a 3-3-5 scheme with three down linemen and five defensive backs, typically in Cover 3 zone coverage.
Against tight bunch trips sets, they kept their Cover 3 look. After being exposed by gap running schemes, they stuck to only three
down lineman and a six-man
They didn’t change any of this.
Beyond the problematic scheme, Wisconsin’s offense turned a disheartening game into a hopeless situation.
Wisconsin’s defense was abruptly put on the field twice: once having to start in the redzone and again starting at the goal-line due the offense’s carelessness. Quarterback Hunter Simmons threw two interceptions and was responsible for a fumble on an overthrown, backwards pass. The
Badgers’ longest offensive drive was just 40 yards.
Deep in their own field, Wisconsin’s defense helplessly faltered, allowing 14 points and falling behind 17-0. The Badger defense was put in less than ideal situations because of their offense and were understandably exhausted.
All night the Badger’s defense was forced to pick up after their offense’s sloppiness. Unsurprisingly, the results were not pretty.
Mnookin cuts entire College of Engineering to pay Fickell contract buyout
By Dominic Violante BEET EDITOR
All articles featured in The Beet are creative, satirical and/or entirely fictional pieces. They are fully intended as such and should not be taken seriously as news.
University of WisconsinMadison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin announced Tuesday the College of Engineering would “sunset” in order to pay Badger head coach Luke Fickell’s $45 million buyout. The news comes directly after the team’s embarrassing 37-0 loss to Iowa Saturday.
“While some students might be upset that we’re cutting the College of Engineering, all eight of its departments, laying off all the staff involved in it and ending all engineering related majors, we believe this was the right choice in the long run,” Mnookin said. “We are making tough decisions for the long-term financial viability of this esteemed institution.”
Mnookin said the decision came down to “serious talks” about the university’s priorities.
“Either our football team would continue to be an embarrassment, or some nerdy ass losers would get laid off and a bunch of virgins would have to switch majors. To us, the answer was clear,” she said.
This announcement sparked nationwide celebration. Students and alumni of all ages were seen dancing with joy and celebrating in the streets of all 50 U.S. states
and four separate countries.
“We sifted and winnowed over this decision and ultimately, while difficult, the decision to fire Fickell and sunset engineering won in the free speech marketplace of ideas,” Mnookin said.
“While I acknowledge this decision may come as a surprise, UW remains committed to our core institutional priorities: football!”
When news reached Badger fans in Milwaukee, chants of “U-SA” erupted during the BrewersDodgers game Tuesday night.
“It was a big night for us and a big win for Madison, as well as
for America. I got chills hearing that crowd,” Brewers Manager Patrick Murphy said.
“When I heard the news, I cried. After everything we’ve been through, everything we’ve lost. After how much we as a city, we as country, have suffered because of that man, to know his reign of terror is over, I’m just so proud of the chancellor for getting this done. Truly a historic day I’ll never forget.” Badger fan Sara Hughes said while holding back tears.
While many were celebrating the firing of Fickell, I won-
dered what those in the College of Engineering thought, so I interviewed Ryan Jackson, a sophomore engineering major.
“Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of getting an engineering degree at UW. But as I’ve grown up, I’ve realized some things are more important than diplomas. Part of the Wisconsin Idea is putting the needs of the many ahead of the needs of the few, so if not getting that piece of paper means the Badgers won’t suck as hard the rest of this season, I’m willing to make that sacrifice.” Jackson said.
Dean of the College of Engineering, Devesh Ranjan, agreed with Jackson. “While it kind of sucks that me and all of my colleagues are going to be out of jobs, I probably would’ve quit anyway with how bad the Badgers have been doing. I mean, did you see the Iowa game? That shit made me cry,” he said. We reached out to Fickell for comment, who was last seen speeding down Milwaukee Street in a brand new Rolls-Royce Boat Tail with several comically large duffel bags of cash in the passenger’s seat. He has not responded.
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MAGGIE SPINNEY/THE DAILY CARDINAL
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