Purdue opponent early outlook: Wisconsin
As the 2023 football season nears closer, GoldandBlack.com will provide a mid-summer outlook of each of Purdue’s opponents. Today, it’s Wisconsin, who will come to Ross-Ade Stadium for a Friday night showdown on September 22.
2022 RECORD: 7-6 (4-5 Big Ten)
HEAD COACH: Luke Fickell (first year at Wisconsin, 57-18 in six seasons at Cincinnati)
KEY PLAYERS: QB Tanner Mordecai, RB Braelon Allen, LB Maema Njongmeta
HISTORY VS. PURDUE: Wisconsin leads the all-time series 52-29 on the back of a current 16-game win streak over the Boilermakers. Purdue last took down the Badgers in 2003 on a walk-off field goal in Madison, but success has eluded it ever since. Close calls in 2004 and 2018 nearly changed the course of the drought, but just three of the 16 losses have come by single digits. With new head coaches on both sides of the matchup, Purdue will hope that they can flip the script on Wisconsin starting on a Friday night in Ross-Ade.
ABOUT THE BADGERS: Few programs in America changed more dramatically over the past 12 months than Wisconsin. On the surface, everything looked A-OK in Madison entering the 2022 season, but a 2-3 start led to the shocking ouster of Paul Chryst. Many expected interim head coach Jim Leonhard to assume the full-time reigns, but the Badgers pulled off the hire of the cycle when they lured Fickell from Cincinnati.
Fickell’s first hire raised many eyebrows, tabbing Air Raid disciple Phil Longo as the offensive coordinator. Despite his pass-happy upbringing, Longo maintains that the Badgers will still feature their signature power running game led by Braelon Allen. The junior running back enters 2022 after back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons and will see high volume again in 2023.
To better suit Longo’s pass scheme, Wisconsin landed SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai to start at quarterback. Mordecai threw for over 7,000 yards and 72 touchdowns in two seasons as a starter for the Mustangs, but he’ll face stiffer competition in the Big Ten. To help him adjust, the Badgers brought in four transfer wide receivers to join a group that already returned the top three pass-catchers from 2022.
New defensive coordinator Mike Tressel aims to keep the Badgers’ defense humming after it finished 10th in the nation in 2022 by limiting opponents to 303 yards per game. Tressel, who came with Fickell from Cincinnati, brings a strong track record of productive defenses. Eight starters return from last year’s defense. If the Badgers can replicate that defensive performance, they will be the favorite to win the West, no matter what happens on the other side of the ball.
More: Athlon on Wisconsin
Previous Purdue opponent previews: Fresno State, Virginia Tech, Syracuse
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