Week 10 Know Your Opponent: Wisconsin Badgers
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Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)
Head Coach: Luke Fickell
Overall: 6-3 at Wisconsin, 69-28 overall
Bowl Appearances at Wisconsin: Zero (first season in Madison)
2023 Record: 5-3 (3-2)
Mascot: Bucky Badger
Colors: Cardinal and White
Outfitter: Under Armour
National Titles: Zero
Conference Titles: 14 (most recently in 2012)
Heisman Winners: Two – Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne
Last Week: 24-10 Loss to Ohio State
Statistical Leaders
Passing: Tanner Mordecai – 114 – 179 for 1127 yards with 3 TDs
Rushing: Braelon Allen – 130 carries for 754 yards with 8 TDs
Receiving: Will Pauling – 41 catches for 449 yards with 2 TDs
Tackles: Hunter Wohler – 78 tackles (49 solo)
Stat of the Week: The Wisconsin Badgers are averaging 4.77 yards per carry in 2023. That number places ahead of everyone else in the Big Ten. Despite bringing in spread coordinator Phil Longo, the Badgers are still leaning on the running game and doing so with great success.
Badgers Talking Points
1. Is Braelon Allen Healthy?
One of the major reasons the Wisconsin Badgers have been so good on the ground in 2023 is running back Braelon Allen. The junior tailback is averaging 5.8 yards per carry on 130 carries and has been toting the rock more than 16 times per contest. Allen left the game against Ohio State late in the first half and his status for Saturday’s contest is unknown. Quarterback Tanner Mordecai was also a key piece of the ground game for Wisconsin but the mobile quarterback is out with a long-term injury and freshman Braedyn Locke is less of a threat to run. If Wisconsin is without Allen, the running game would take a big hit. Backup Jackson Acker had only 34 yards against OSU after Allen left the game.
2. Badgers Defense
Wisconsin typically has a very strong defense and that is the case again in 2023. However, this unit is not on the same level as the elite defenses in the Big Ten East. Wisconsin has surrendered 19 points per game and is giving up north of five yards per play. This will be another stern test for the IU offense though. The Hoosiers showed improvement, particularly in finding explosive plays, against Penn State but Wisconsin has ten interceptions on the season and does a good job of pressuring the opposing quarterback.
3. Changes in Madison
For the entirety of the current IU players lives, the Wisconsin Badgers have played the same style of football: strong defense, physical running from big tailbacks, two-tight end sets and an offense that would eventually use all that running to throw play-action passes to one of those tight ends. Some things have remained under Luke Fickell and Phil Longo but things have changed as well. The Hoosiers won’t see much of the tight ends for Wisconsin. The Badgers don’t utilize very many two tight end sets and the position is not really involved as pass catchers at all. Hayden Rucci is the leading tight end and he has seven catches all season. Wisconsin is using more and more four wide receiver sets and running from the shotgun and spread formations. Will Pauling is easily the top target for Wisconsin, his 41 catches dwarfing the next highest individual with 25 (for only 210 yards). The Hoosiers can’t just forget about defending the tight end but this is a different scheme than IU fans are used to seeing from the Wisconsin Badgers.