(Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Graham Mertz, RB Jalen Berger, WR Jack Dunn, TE Jake Ferguson, OC Kayden Lyles, OG Josh Seltzner, OT Logan Bruss, NT Keeanu Benton, LB Leo Chenal, LB Nick Herbig, LB Jack Sanborn, CB Faion Hicks, CB Caesar Williams, NB Donte Burton, FS Collin Wilder, SS Scott Nelson, KR Devin Chandler, PR Dean Engram, PK Collin Larsh, and PT Andy Vujnovich.
Key Players Departing:
RB Garrett Groshek, FB Mason Stokke, OG Jon Dietzen, OT Cole Van Lanen, and SS Eric Burrell.
Top 10 Recruits:
Blue Chip Recruits: OT Nolan Rucci (Lititz, Pennsylvania).
4 Star Recruits: OT J.P. Benzschawel (Grafton, Wisconsin), OT Riley Mahlman (Lakeville, Minnesota), LB T.J. Bollers (Tiffin, Iowa), LB Braelon Allen (Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin), and S Hunter Wohler (Muskego, Wisconsin).
3 Star Recruits: WR Markus Allen (Clayton, Ohio), LB Jake Ratzlaff (Rosemount, Minnesota), LB Darryl Peterson (Akron, Ohio), and TE Jack Pugh (Hilliard, Ohio).
2020 Results:
G01 ILLINOIS W 45-7
G02 at Michigan W 49-11
G03 at Northwestern L 7-17
G04 #12 INDIANA L 6-14
G05 at #16 Iowa L 7-28
G06 MINNESOTA W | OT 20-17
BOWL vs. Wake Forest W 42-28
Team Info:
2020 Record: 4-3 (3rd in Big Ten West)
Home: 2-1
Away: 1-2
Neutral: 1-0
B10: 3-3
Non-B10: 1-0
Head Coach: Paul Chryst
Wisconsin: 56-19
Career: 75-38
Bowls: 6-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Graham Martz (118-193, 1238 yards, 61.1%, 6.4 avg., 9 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Jalen Berger (60 car., 301 yards, 5.0 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Jake Ferguson (30 rec., 305 yards, 10.2 avg., 4 TD)
TDs Scored: Jake Ferguson (4)
Sacks: Leo Chenal (3)
Tackles: Jack Sanborn (52)
Tackles For Loss: Leo Chenal/Nick Herbig (6)
Interceptions: Scott Nelson (2)
Pass Deflections: Faion Hicks (4)
Forced Fumbles: Keeanu Benton (2)
Kick Returns: Devin Chandler (6 ret., 156 yards, 26.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Dean Engram (9 ret., 14 yards, 1.6 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Collin Lynch (5-7 fg/fga., 71%, 23-23 xp/xpa., 38 pts.)
Punting: Andy Vulnovich (34 ret., 1419 yards, 41.7 avg., 13 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 5 Graham Mertz (RS SO)
RB: 8 Jalen Berger (RS FR)
FB: 44 John Chenal (SR)
WR: 7 Danny Davis (RS SR)
WR: 3 Kendric Pryor (RS SR)
TE: 84 Jake Ferguson (RS SR)
LT: 65 Tyler Beach (RS SR)
LG: 70 Josh Seltzner (RS SR)
OC: 76 Kayden Lyles (RS SR)
RG: 79 Jack Nelson (RS FR)
RT: 60 Logan Bruss (RS SR)
KR: 86 Devin Chandler (RS FR)
PK: 19 Collin Larsh (RS SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 92 Matt Henningsen (RS SR)
NT: 95 Keeanu Benton (JR)
DE: 99 Isaiah Mullens (RS JR)
LB: 19 Nick Herbig (SO)
LB: 57 Jack Sanborn (RS SR)
LB: 5 Leo Chenal (JR)
LB: 41 Noah Burks (RS SR)
CB: 1 Faion Hicks (RS SR)
CB: 21 Caesar Williams (RS SR)
FS: 18 Collin Wilder (RS SR/TR)
SS: 9 Scott Nelson (RS SR)
PR: 6 Dean Engram (RS SO)
PT: 38 Andy Vujnovich (SR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/04 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS | Wisconsin trails the series 9-10. The Badgers are 1-4 since 2011, and they lost (10-22) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/11 EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES | Wisconsin leads the series 3-0. The Badgers won (24-3) the last meeting between schools in 1996.
09/25 vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Wisconsin trails the series 6-8-2. The Badgers lost (7-31) the last meeting between schools in 1964.
10/02 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES | Wisconsin trails the series 17-51-1. The Badgers are 3-2 since renewing the series in 2016, and their last series loss (13-38) was in 2018.
10/09 at Illinois Fighting Irish | Wisconsin leads the series 43-37-7. The Badgers are 9-1 since 2011, and their last series loss (23-24) was in 2019.
10/16 ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS | First meeting between schools.
10/23 at Purdue Boilermakers | Wisconsin leads the series 50-29-8. The Badgers are 9-0 since 2011, and they won (45-24) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/30 IOWA HAWKEYES | Wisconsin leads the series 48-44. The Badgers are 6-2 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series win (24-22) was in 2019.
11/06 at Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Wisconsin leads the series 3-0. The Badgers won (31-17) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
11/13 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS | Wisconsin leads the series 60-37-5. The Badgers are 3-5 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series win (24-15) was in 2019.
11/20 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS | Wisconsin leads the series 10-4. The Badgers are 8-1 since 2011, and they won (37-21) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/27 at Minnesota Golden Gophers | Wisconsin leads the series 62-60-8. The Badgers are 9-1 since 2011, and their last series loss (15-37) was in 2018.
Predictions:
Home: 5-2
Road: 2-2
Neutral: 0-1
B10: 5-4
Non-B10: 2-1
Overall: 7-5 (3rd in Big Ten West)
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