After a long offseason, spring football and fall camp, Wisconsin Football returns tomorrow night as the Badgers take on Western Michigan from the MAC. After going 7-6 in their first season under coach Luke Fickell, this Wisconsin football team will be looking to start 2024 faster and more consistently. Enter Western Michigan, a team that went 4-8 last year. Kickoff is at 8:00 PM CST on FS1. Here’s a preview of tomorrow’s game.
Let’s take a look at the modern starting seven for the Wisconsin football team
Fickell and the Wisconsin football staff have been very aggressive in the transfer portal at defensive linebacker. Last year, it was a group that averaged about two sacks per game. It just wasn’t good enough, and they did something about it.
Veterans like Jaheim Thomas, Leon Lowry and John Pius will all make their Wisconsin football debuts tomorrow and should see plenty of reps. Add in Darryl Peterson and Jake Chane from last year’s group, and that’s at least five solid linebackers.
With the likely loss of James Thompson Jr. this season, rookies like Elijah Hills and Brandon Lane could also see their fair share of reps. Veterans Curt Neal and Ben Barten will need to set the tone early. If this is a group that can attack the Broncos’ offense early, it should be a good day.
Make Tyler Van Dyke’s life easier
Last season, when Wisconsin football opened the year against Buffalo, Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo didn’t play much of Tanner Mordecai, opting instead to let the veteran offensive line and running backs set the pace and slowly soften up the passing game as the game wore on.
Tyler Van Dyke, on the other hand, is a seasoned veteran coming out of the ACC. Playing in a Power Five program is nothing modern to him. Add another veteran to the offensive line and wide receiver group this year and you have a potentially formidable offense. I don’t think Longo and Fickell will throw everything at Van Dyke, but this offense needs to establish its gear early.
Forecast
Like me and many other Wisconsin football fans, last year was a good lesson. It takes time to build a program and a culture with a modern coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. You saw flashes all year long, but there was never any consistency. I thought the Badgers were going to blow Buffalo away. Instead, it was a two-and-a-half quarter game.
I will say I feel better after this opener. Western Michigan has three modern coordinators. While they return a ton of production on offense, including quarterback, running back and top pass catchers, this is a more experienced Wisconsin football team this year than last year.
These opening games may be sluggish early for the home team, but as long as the Badgers take care of the ball and do the basics, I don’t see this being a game. On paper, Wisconsin is much better at almost every position. I expect the running game to be there early on and the defense to generate pressure early on. It may be a sluggish first quarter or so, but I think once the Badgers get into a rhythm, it won’t be a game in the second half. I’m taking 1-0 for Wisconsin football tomorrow night.
Wisconsin 38 West Michigan 13
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