After a much-needed bye week for the Badgers, can Luke Fickell’s 2-2 team turn their season around?
The Badgers won their first two games of the season, but things deteriorated fast. A 38-14 loss at the then No. 17 Alabama Crimson Tide sparked signals of worry, but a 27-10 loss to the Maryland Terrapins, a game in which Wisconsin was favored by double digits, signaled panic.
Despite Badger fans posting continuous GoFundMe edits to buy out Luke Fickell's contract, Fickell remains intact and ready to take on the Wolverines.
Wisconsin hasn’t played Michigan since 2021, when the two iconic Big Ten teams completed a six-year series in which each squad won three games.
2016:
With two top 10 victories already on their September resume, an undefeated No. 8 Wisconsin squad travelled to Ann Arbor’s “Big House” to take on undefeated No.4 Michigan in an early October showdown. The underdog Badgers were able to play aclose game.
The game was scoreless until the second quarter, when Michigan broke through with a 1-yard touchdown.
Halfway through the 3rd quarter, Wisconsin tied the score. However, Michigan took the lead in the fourth quarter and never gave it back, winning this defensive battle 14-7.
The next season, when the two teams played, this time in mid-November, Wisconsin came into the game 10-0 with their eyes set on a College Football Playoff berth. Michigan, meanwhile, was 8-2, ranked No. 19.
The Badgers owned the home field advantage and used Camp Randall to their best interest. Wisconsin’s defense overpowered Michigan, while the offense did enough for the Badgers to win 24-10.
2018: One year later, No. 12 Michigan got the best of No. 15 Wisconsin. The Badgers stuck around, and after a scoreless first quarter, Wisconsin trailed only 13-7 at half. However, Michigan took control in the second half, scoring 17 fourth quarter points to take a 38-7 lead, eventually winning 38-13.
2019:
In 2019, the two teams, both ranked yet again, faced off in September at Camp Randall.
Seven minutes into the game, the Badgers got on the board with a Jonathan Taylor touchdown. Minutes later, Taylor broke free for a 72-yard run, igniting the home crowd and giving Wisconsin a 14-0 lead.
Wisconsin eventually scored four touchdowns in the first half and triumphed 35-14 in a game in where Taylor stole the show.
2020 :
In 2020, in an eerie COVID-19 restricted season, Wisconsin dominated. On Michigan’s first two offensive possessions, Wisconsin intercepted quarterback Joe Milton, while the offense cashed in both times, making it 14-0 early.
The Badgers led 28-0 at halftime and eventually won the game 49-11.
2021:
In 2021, No. 14 Michigan completed the two team’s six-year series by rolling over Wisconsin 38-17 at Camp Randall Stadium.
Wisconsin came into the game 1-2 and on the heels of an embarrassing loss to Notre Dame, while the Wolverines were 4-0, ready to stay undefeated. Wisconsin kept the game close, trailing 13-10 at half before Michigan dominated the second half.
Michigan held possession for 34 minutes, compared to Wisconsin’s 25 minutes, and scored four touchdowns and three field goals, with 15 first downs, to expose the Badgers defense.
For Wisconsin, the last six matchups against the Wolverines were a whirlwind of success and disappointment. But a lot has changed since 2021 for both teams, each with new head coaches since their last meetings.
After suffering a back-breaking loss against Maryland two weeks ago, Wisconsin comes into this game off a bye week. A win against Michigan, however unlikely, would get Wisconsin back on the right track.
