Wisconsin Badgers 2025 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: 247Sports)

Key Players Returning:

RB Darrion Dupree, WR/RS Vinny Anthony II, WR Trech Kekahuna, OC Jake Renfro, OG Joe Brunner, OT Riley Mahlman, LB Christian Alliegro, LB Aaron Witt, CB Nyzier Fourqurean, CB Ricardo Hallman, NB Austin Brown, SS Preston Zachman, PK Nathaniel Vakos, and PT Atticus Bertrams.

Key Players Departing:

QB Braedyn Locke, RB Tawee Walker, WR Bryson Green, WR Will Pauling, OG Joe Huber, OT Jack Nelson, DE Elijah Hills, DT Curt Neal, LB Jake Chaney, LB John Plus, LB Jaheim Thomas, and SS Hunter Wohler.

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Top 10 Recruits:

4 Star Recruits: 
LB Mason Posa (Albuquerque, New Mexico), TE Tanner Koziol (Ball State transfer), EDGE Tyreese Fearbry (Kentucky transfer), DL Michael Garner (Grambling transfer), WR Mark Hamper (Idaho transfer), DL Parker Petersen (Tulane transfer), DE Jaylen Williams (Palatine, Illinois), DL Jay’viar Suggs (LSU transfer), EDGE Mason Reiger (Louisville transfer), and OL Hardy Watts (Brookline, Massachusetts).

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2024 Results:

G01  WESTERN MICHIGAN  W  28-14
G02  SOUTH DAKOTA  W  27-13
G03  #4 ALABAMA  L  10-42
G04  @ #13 USC  L  21-38
G05  PURDUE  W  52-6
G06  @ Rutgers  W  42-7
G07  @ Northwestern  W  23-3
G08  #3 PENN STATE  L  13-28
G09  @ Iowa  L  10-42
G10  #1 OREGON  L  13-16
G11  @ Nebraska  L  25-44
G12  MINNESOTA  L  7-24

Team Info:

2023 Record:  5-7 (15th in Big Ten)

Home:  3-4
Away:  2-3
Neutral:  0-0
B10:  3-6
Non-B10:  2-1

Head Coach:  Luke Fickell

Wisconsin:  12-13
Bowls:  3-4
Career:  74-38

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:
  None
Rushing:  Darrion Dupree (79 car., 317 yards, 4.0 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving:
  Vinny Anthony II (39 rec., 672 yards, 17.2 avg., 4 TD)
TDs Scored:  Vinny Anthony II (4)
Sacks:
  Christian Alliegro (3)
Tackles:
  Christian Alliegro (66)
Tackles For Loss:
  Aaron Witt (5)
Interceptions:  Preston Zachman (2)
Pass Deflections: 
Ben Barten/Nyzier Fourqurean (5)
Forced Fumbles:
 Austin Brown (1)
Kick Returns:  Vinny Anthony II (14 ret., 390 yards, 27.9 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Vinny Anthony II (7 ret., 26 yards, 3.7 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Nathaniel Vakos (12-19 fg/fga., 63%, 31-31 xp/xpa., 67 pts.)
Punting:  Atticus Bertrams (55 ret., 2491 yards, 45.3 avg., 20 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters

QB:  9  Billy Edwards Jr.  (RS SR/TR)
RB:  25  Cade Yacamelli  (RS JR)
WR:  8  Vinny Anthony II  (SR)
WR:  4  Jayden Ballard  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  2  Trech Kekahuna  (RS SO)
TE:  11  Tucker Ashcraft  (JR)
LT:  00  Davis Heinzen  (RS SR/TR)
LG:  56  Joe Brunner  (RS JR)
OC:  57  Jake Renfro  (RS SR/TR)
RG:  73  Kerry Kodanko  (GR)
RT:  71  Riley Mahlman  (RS SR)
KR:  8  Vinny Anthony II  (SR)
PK:  90  Nathaniel Vakos  (SR/TR)

Projected Defensive Starters:
 
DE:  92  Corey Walker  (RS SR/TR)
NT:  99  Parker Petersen  (RS SR/TR)
DE:  68  Ben Barten  (RS SR)
LB:  17  Darryl Peterson  (RS SR)
LB:  4  Tackett Curtis  (JR/TR)
LB:  0  Christian Alliegro  (JR)
LB:  22  Mason Reiger  (RS SR/TR)
CB:  2  Ricardo Hallman  (RS SR)
CB:  3  Nyzier Fourqurean  (GR/TR)
FS:  13  Matthew Traynor  (RS SO/TR)
SS:  14  Preston Zachman  (RS SR)
PR:  86  Vinny Anthony II  (SR)
PT:  49  Atticus Bertrams  (JR)

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Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  B
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  A

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  A
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  C
Punters:  A

Schedule:

08/30 
MIAMI (OH) REDHAWKS  |  Wisconsin won (58-0) the only prior meeting in 2015.

09/06 
MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS  |  First meeting.

09/13 
@ Alabama Crimson Tide  |  Wisconsin trails the series 1-2.  The Badgers lost (10-42) last season’s meeting, and their only series win (15-0) was at the inaugural meeting in 1928.

09/20 
MARYLAND TERRRAPINS  |  Wisconsin leads the series 4-0.  The Badgers won (23-10) the last meeting in 2022, and they won (38-13) the prior meeting in 2017.

10/04  
@ Michigan Wolverines  |  Wisconsin trails the series 17-52-1.  The Badgers lost (17-38) the last meeting in 2021, and they won (49-11) the prior meeting in 2000.

10/11  
IOWA HAWKEYES  |  Wisconsin leads the series 49-47-2.  The Badgers are 5-5 since 2015, and their last series win (27-7) was in 2021.

10/18 
OHIIO STATE BUCKEYES  |  Wisconsin trails the series 18-63-5.  The Badgers are 0-6 since restarting the series in 2016, and they lost (10-24) the last meeting in 2023.

10/25 
@ Oregon Ducks  |  Wisconsin trails the series 3-4.  The Badgers lost (13-16) last season’s meeting, and they lost (27-28) the prior meeting in 2019.

11/08  WASHINGTON HUSKIES  |  Wisconsin trails the series 0-4.  The Badgers lost (10-27) the last meeting in 1992, and they lost (17-21) the prior meeting in 1968.

11/15 
@ Indiana Hoosiers  |  Wisconsin leads the series 41-20-2.  The Badgers lost (14-20) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost (6-14) the prior meeting in 2020.

11/22 
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI  |  Wisconsin leads the series 45-39-7.  The Badgers are 7-2 since 2015, and they won (25-214) the last meeting in 2023.

11/29  @ Minnesota Golden Gophers  |  The series is tied 63-63-8.  The Badgers are 6-4 since 2015, and their last series win (28-14) was in 2023.

Predictions:

Home:  5-2
Road:  0-5
Neutral:  0-0
B10:  3-6
Non-B10:  2-1

Overall:  5-7 (12th in B10)