Wisconsin College Football Preview 2024: Key Players, Game Schedule, Season Predictions

Wisconsin College Football Preview 2024

This is where the pivot to Luke Fickell has to kick in because, to go full cliché, the goalposts have moved—in a good way.

For the last 30 years, Wisconsin has lived in the world of the very, very good. (As someone who was there during the very, very bad, to this day, the idea of the Badgers going to a bowl game still seems a tad far-fetched.)

Winning 16 bowl games since that breakthrough run to the Rose Bowl to end the 1993 season, six Big Ten titles during the era, 13 seasons of ten wins or more, and five more seasons with nine wins—the program enjoyed as much success as it could possibly have in college football without playing for something truly massive.

Not that the Rose Bowls weren’t nice, but let’s just say Y2K was a thing the last time the Badgers won in Pasadena.

The program was never really in the mix for the BCS Championship, and it holds the dubious honor of having the most wins of any Power Five program during the College Football Playoff era without making the tournament .

Wisconsin had a style that was just good enough to get close, only to be beaten down by the reality of Ohio State talent when it really mattered. But the Badgers would’ve made the CFP in 2016, 2017, and 2019 if it was the 12-team setup like it’ll be starting this season, and now that’s the goal.

Without a slew of magical breaks, forget about winning the Big Ten title in an 18-team league with no divisions and Death Star programs getting even more powerful up top. Go 10-2, and that’s almost certainly good enough to get in.

To take this even further, over this 30-year run, the 1993, 1998, 1999, 2006, and 2010 teams probably get into a 12-team playoff, too. It’s more than possible, it has to be demanded going forward.

Yes, it’s okay that Wisconsin changed up its style under the new coaching staff. But now the expectations are real.

Wisconsin, get into the College Football Playoff already.

Wisconsin Football Preview 2024: Offense

- It wasn’t good. If you’re going to change around one of the most consistent and reliable offenses in college football - even if it was struggling a bit at the end of the Paul Chryst era - at least make the new aspects work.

The running game was inconsistent, the deep passing attack wasn’t there, controlling the clock wasn’t a thing, and the offensive line didn’t dominate like is should’ve.

There wasn’t a problem on third downs, but overall the thing just didn’t move. Again, this wasn’t WISCONSIN, at least when it needed to be.

- So how does it get better? Start with the passing attack that needs to be more effective. Tanner Mordecai balled out and had a few nice moments, but the attack wasn’t efficient. In comes Tyler Van Dyke from Miami as more of a pure passer who should stretch the field more.

Top deep threat Chimere Dike left for Florida, but Will Pauling is back after leading the team with 74 catches and six scores, and Bryson Green will be on the outside as the main deep shot playmaker.

The tight ends weren’t used enough—at least not like Wisconsin normally used them before—but Tucker Ashcroft has the talent to be more of a safety valve. However …

- Wisconsin has to commit to the run more. It worked. When the Badgers ran 35 times or more, the team was 7-0. They were 0-6 when they didn’t.

New offensive line coach AJ Blazer should get more out of his guys. OT Nolan Rucci left for Penn State, but the Badgers are loaded up front with Jack Nelson and Riley Mahlman forming one of the nation’s better tackle tandems.

Jake Renfro is a strong center who should be great with Tanor Bortolini done, and there’s enough depth in the interior around guard Joe Brunner to mix and match. Now the backs have to rise up.

Braelon Allen is a New York Jet, but Chez Mellusi is back after suffering a brutal leg injury early on. Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker should be a factor right away in the rotation.

Wisconsin Football Preview 2024: Defense

- The defense wasn’t incredible, but it was effective allowing more than 24 points just twice. The run D was great, but the pass rush was hit-or-miss, and outside of a fun day against Georgia Southern, the big plays weren’t there - 12 of the 17 takeaways came in three games. There’s hope to be a whole lot better in a hurry.

No, the defense wasn’t bad - it just wasn’t a rock, especially against teams that could hit midrange throws. The secondary didn’t often get bombed, but it got dinked-and-dunked on too easily.

There’s talent in place with leading tackler Hunter Wohler back at his safety spot - he could push for All-America honors - and corner Ricardo Hallman coming off a huge season with seven picks. This group will be good, and …

- The pass rush should be more interesting. The Badgers landed a pass rushing terror from William & Mary in John Pius for one outside spot, and Jake Chaney should be a volume tackler on the inside. The linebackers will clean up behind this front three.

- As always there’s bulk up front and decent depth for a good rotation. It’s actually a front two at times with the way the Badgers try to get hybrid playmakers in on the outside. As long as the combination of Curt Neal and James Thompson are holding up, the run defense will be fine.

Key To The Wisconsin Football Season

Stop quarterbacks from getting into a groove.
It’s not like the Badgers had to deal with anyone special other than Washington State’s Cam Ward - it missed LSU’s Jayden Daniels in the bowl game.

The defense allowed offenses to complete 61% or more of their passes nine times, and the team was 0-4 when offenses got to 64% or better.

Wisconsin Key Player

Tyler Van Dyke, QB Sr.
The Badgers have quarterback prospects with Braedyn Locke and freshman Mabrey Mettauer a big 6-4 recruit from Texas. The season, though, is about the Miami transfer getting the passing attack rolling.

Van Dyke won’t run like tanner Mordecai did, but he should crank up the downfield throws and hit about 65% of his passes. The interceptions have to chill - he threw 12 last year for the Hurricanes - and he needs to be far more consistent, but when he’s on, he’ll give the Badgers a high-powered air attack. At least that’s the hope.

Wisconsin Football Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: John Pius, EDGE, Sr.
Yeah, there were some other big transfers coming in, and Pius is coming in from little old William & Mary, but … LOOK … OUT.

Pius is a 6-2, 235-pound pass rushing flash with 24.5 sacks and 40.5 tackles for loss in three seasons. Put him on the Badger outside and watch him spend this football season jumping on quarterbacks’ heads.

Top Transfer Out: Nolan Rucci, OT Jr.
Penn State swooped in and grabbed an NFL-caliber tackle to put in on the left side. Had the 6-8, 300-pounder stuck around in Madison, the Badgers would’ve been close having one of the best lines in the Big Ten. It’ll still be great, but Rucci was starting to grow into something fantastic.

Wisconsin Key Game

Alabama, Sept. 14
The Luke Fickell era needs a flex.

With a brutal stretch coming in the second half of the season, and with a trip to USC to follow the date with Alabama, getting this win would mean everything.

(By the way, the two have met twice. Wisconsin won the first meeting at home 15-0 in 1928, and lost to Derrick Henry and the eventual national champion to open up the 2015 season.)

Beat Alabama and you know what’s coming. “It’s not the same Crimson Tide team without Saban.”

So what? It’s still Alabama, it’ll be very good, and winning this would be when Badger fans might finally think that this Fickell thing just might work.

10 Best Wisconsin Football Players

1. Riley Mahlman, OT Jr.
2. Hunter Wohler, S Sr.
3. Jack Nelson, OT Sr.
4. Ricardo Hallman, CB Jr.
5. John Pius, EDGE Sr.
6. Tyler Van Dyke, QB Sr.
7. Chez Mellusi, RB Sr.
8. Jake Chaney, LB Sr.
9. Will Pauling, WR Jr.
10. Jake Renfro, C Sr.

Wisconsin 2023 Fun Stats

- 3rd Quarter Scoring: Wisconsin 105, Opponents 55

- Fumbles: Wisconsin 17 (lost 12), Opponents 11 (lost 4)

- 2 Point Conversions: Wisconsin 2-of-3, Opponents 0-for-0

Wisconsin Football 2024 Win Total Prediction: What to Expect This Season

This won’t be easy.

Wisconsin should be better overall in Year Two of the Luke Fickell era - the starting 22 should be stronger - but when you have Alabama and at USC on your schedule in September, there’s a concern.

However, there’s no Ohio State, Michigan, or Washington, and as bad as it is to get the Crimson Tide, Penn State, and Oregon, all three games are in Camp Randall. And yeah, the run of four road games in six weeks stinks, but going to Rutgers, Northwestern, Iowa, and Nebraska isn’t horrible.

No, this won’t be that breakthrough run Badger fans might be hoping for, but don’t be shocked if there’s a win or two against the big boys coming to Madison.

It might not always be pretty, but the team should get to a bowl game with the potential to push past a two-year stretch of seven-win seasons.

Set The Wisconsin Win Total At … 7

Likely Wins: Purdue, South Dakota, Western Michigan


50/50 Games: Alabama, at Iowa, Minnesota, at Nebraska, at Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, at USC

Likely Losses: There aren’t any projected sure-thing losses

2024 Wisconsin Football Schedule

Aug 31 Western Michigan
Sept 7 South Dakota
Sept 14 Alabama
Sept 21 OPEN DATE
Sept 28 at USC
Oct 5 Purdue
Oct 12 at Rutgers
Oct 19 at Northwestern
Oct 26 Penn State
Nov 2 at Iowa
Nov 9 OPEN DATE
Nov 16 Oregon
Nov 23 at Nebraska
Nov 30 Minnesota

Missing: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, UCLA, Washington