Wisconsin football kicks off year two under Luke Fickell on Friday, as the Badgers host Western Michigan at 8:00 at Camp Randall in a Friday Night showdown. To help preview the matchup, Badger247 caught up with WOODTV8 sports reporter Andy McDonald, to hear about the expectations for the Broncos, key players to watch for on Friday, and much more in this preview.
Meet the Opponent:
Osen: At 4-8 last season, how would you say that the season went relative to expectations in the first year under Lance Taylor, and what are fair expectations for this Fall?
McDonald: Any time that you beat Central Michigan, a Bronco fan will tell you that's the main goal. So Taylor did accomplish that in front of the home crowd, but expectations will always be raised after PJ Fleck's magical season in 2016 when the Broncos went 12-0 in the regular season and lost in a competitive game to Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl. Ever since, the Broncos have been searching for that kind of success again.
Taylor is the kind of person who raises the energy in a room when he walks into it, seems to be a great motivator. He will tell you 4-8 isn't good enough (it was the worst season record wise since Fleck rebuilt the program starting in 2013), but that isn't keeping his sights set on a mediocre goal this season either. The Broncos return more experience on both sides of the ball, and the defense can go nowhere but up after being outscored 58-10 in the final two weeks of the season when they had a chance to go bowl eligible.
After the non-conference slate, the schedule is favorable for the Broncos to me. Somewhere around 6-6, 7-5 is a fair record to expect after a tough first season with lots of Taylor's players back this Fall.
Osen: Obviously it's the first game of the year for both of these groups, so who are a few key returners on each side of the ball that should help impact WMU during their season? What are their starring roles?
McDonald: It starts on offense for the Broncos, where they excelled for most of the season last year. Two 2023 Mid-American Conference First-Team members return for WMU in offensive lineman Jacob Gideon and wide receiver Kenneth Womack. Womack led the conference with 76 receptions, while his 691 yards ranked second. They also return All MAC Third Team members OL Addison West, WR Anthony Sambucci and running back Jalen Buckley. Buckley was the MAC Freshman of the Year, rushing for 1,003 yards and 10 touchdowns. Hayden Wolff should be the starting quarterback after taking over midway through last season, throwing for 1,505 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games.
On defense, there's plenty of room for improvement. The Broncos ranked sixth worst in the nation in yards per play a season ago, and were a big reason the Broncos went 1-6 on the road. WMU hit the transfer portal heavily to attempt to fix the issue, adding six players total and four from a power conference. Tate Hallock and Bilhal Kone return to the secondary and are expected to start, but WMU ranked towards the bottom of the country against the pass a season ago. So they hope to get help on the pass rush to correct the problem. The Broncos added three transfers (Iowa transfer Anterio Thompson, plus Louisville transfers Popeye Williams and Rodney McGraw) up front to help with losing Marshawn Kneeland to the NFL.
Osen: Western Michigan keeps this a close game in Madison and hopes for the Big Ten upset if…
McDonald: To me it comes down to how the newly assembled defensive front can apply pressure to Badgers transfer quarterback from Miami, Tyler Van Dyke. With over 7,400 passing yards and the ability to scramble in his belt, it will be the biggest key for the Broncos to shut down.
The offense should be able to score some points, especially if the Bronco defense gets off the field and puts Wisconsin's back on it.
Osen: Wisconsin wins comfortably at home if…
McDonald: They expose the Broncos secondary like it was all of last season, and the running game helps to open that up. Chez Mellusi was the backup a season ago but proved he is capable by averaging six yards a carry in his chances.
Will Pauling will need to give the WMU secondary fits, after making the All-Big Ten Second Team a year ago.
Osen: What do you see happening and why?
McDonald: While I do think this WMU defense will be improved from a season ago, asking it to shut down a Big Ten opponent on the road in game one isn't exactly the easiest assignment (or Ohio State in week 2). I think the Broncos will get a couple scores in this one and make it respectable early, but once the rust is knocked off for the Badgers, I expect them to pull away… Final score: Wisconsin 31, WMU 16.
