College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Wisconsin Badgers season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Wisconsin Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2019 Record: 10-4 overall, 7-2 in Big Ten
Head Coach: Paul Chryst, 6th year, 52-16
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 7
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 11
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 18
No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: Wisconsin Badgers Offense 3 Things To Know
– Plenty of parts will be different, but you know what’s coming. Great running backs will work behind elite offensive linemen in the ultimate ball control offense built on third down conversions and maximum efficiency.
The Badgers finished second in the Big Ten in total offense, led the nation in time of possession, was ninth in third down conversions, and managed 35 points or more eight times.
However, all four losses came when the O scored 27 points or fewer – only getting by Northwestern and Iowa when failing to hit 30 – and now the attack has to be better and more consistent without Jonathan Taylor and top receiver Quintez Cephus.
Again, it’s Wisconsin. You know what it’s going to do.
CFN in 60 Video: Wisconsin Badgers Preview
– As always, everything starts with the devastating offensive front. Three starters are done – with the biggest hit losing new Dallas Cowboy center Tyler Biadasz – but OT Cole Van Lanen and OG Logan Bruss – who can work at tackle – are all-star blockers to work around. It’s another line full of very big, very versatile options to play around with the combination. But who will they block for?
Jonathan Taylor was on pace to the NCAA all-time leading rusher if he had stuck around for his senior year. It’s not like the cupboard is ever bare, but the Indianapolis Colt was a special talent, even by Badger running back standards.
229-pound sophomore Nakia Watson is a pounder who finished second on the team with 331 yards, and Garrett Groshek is a reliable option, but star recruit Jalen Berger should be the next great New Jersey back – JT23 and Ron Dayne weren’t bad – in the system.
– Can the passing game get even more out of Jack Coan? There were times last season when he looked and played the part of a possible next level passer – he was brilliant in the wins over Michigan and Michigan State – but there were just enough key mistakes that didn’t get the job done against Illinois and in the Rose Bowl against Oregon. He hit almost 70% of his passes for 2,727 yards and 18 scores with five picks – and now he’ll need to do more with the offense on his shoulders.
Waiting in the wings is 2019 top recruit Graham Mertz, who’ll do more than just take up the backup job – he’s good enough to push his way through for the starting job and give the Badgers their most talented quarterback since Russell Wilson.
– Having dangerous go-to wide receivers isn’t the norm for Wisconsin. Losing leading receiver Quintez Cephus and his 59 catches and seven scores hurts, mainly because No. 2 wideout Kendric Pryor only caught 23 passes. There are enough targets to do what Wisconsin does and spread the ball around, and TE Jake Ferguson is an All-Big Ten talent, but a dangerous go-to guy needs to emerge.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Wisconsin Badgers Defense 3 Things To Know
4. College Football News Preview 2020: Wisconsin Badgers Defense 3 Things To Know
– The defense was special. Coordinator Jim Leonhard – who somehow isn’t someone’s head coach yet – put together a killer that finished fourth in the nation overall and No. 1 in third down defense.
And now 18 of the top 20 tacklers are expected to be back. The two guys missing, though, are big ones.
Zach Baun and Chris Orr were special linebackers, but the Badgers are used to having to replace irreplaceable linebackers – the 2019 D was fantastic despite losing TJ Edwards, Ryan Connelly, and Andrew Van Ginkel.
Baun and Orr combined for 24 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss, and now it’s up to senior Noah Burks to take over as the potential big star on the outside, and for leading tackler Jack Sanborn to be Jack Sanborn again on the inside.
The pass rush will come from several spots – there are just enough options to play around with the rotation – and Sanborn and sophomore Leo Chenal will eat up everything against the run.
– The line might not have a whole slew of brand-name stars, but it’ll be among the nation’s most effective. Seniors Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand aren’t going to be pass rushers, but they’re tough run defenders around 315-pound Keeanu Benton and 300-pound Bryson Williams – who’s coming back from missing half of last year with a knee injury – on the nose.
– Last year’s secondary was promising, but young. It had problems in a few key moments – like with the game on the line against Illinois – and it didn’t come up with enough interceptions in the second half of the season, but it was mostly effective.
There might not be the 51 sacks overall as a D for the defensive backs to help the cause, but all the starters are back with safeties Eric Burrell and Reggie Pearson back after combining for 115 tackles, and the corner combination of Rachad Wildgoose and Faion Hicks among the best in the Big Ten.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Top Wisconsin Badgers Players
College Football News Preview 2020: Top Wisconsin Badgers Players
Best Wisconsin Badgers Offensive Player
RB Jalen Berger, Fr.
Let’s just get there already. As always, a few Badgers will be givens on the All-Big Ten teams, Jake Ferguson will be an all-star tight end, and either Jack Coan or Graham Mertz could rise up and be the star of the offense if one can raise the quarterback play.
Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson are fine running backs – and one could blow up statistically by taking over the job with Jonathan Taylor gone – but the 6-0, 205-pound Berger is the type of talented runner who can be the next superstar in the system.
LSU, Alabama, Penn State, Ohio State, and on and on and on – everyone wanted him. Wisconsin got him, and they might ask him to lead the way immediately.
2. OT Logan Bruss, Jr.
3. OT Cole Van Lanen, Sr.
4. TE Jake Ferguson, Jr.
5. QB Jack Coan, Sr.
Best Wisconsin Badgers Defensive Player
LB Jack Sanborn, Jr.
All he had to do was try to replace TJ Edwards on the inside of the Wisconsin linebacking corps. It helped to have Chris Orr alongside him, but he still more than did his part with a team-leading 80 tackles with 5.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and three picks. The 6-2, 232-pounder has great range, a good burst, and now he gets to be one of the leaders in another terrific Badger defensive front seven.
2. S Eric Burrell, Sr.
3. DE Isaiahh Loudermilk, Sr.
4. CB Rachad Wildgoose, Jr.
5. CB Faion Hicks, Jr.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Wisconsin Badgers Keys To The Season
College Football News Preview 2020: Wisconsin Badgers Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Wisconsin Badgers Offense
Seriously, Wisconsin … DON’T TURN THE BALL OVER. Most good programs will screw up with a turnover, and then life goes on. Wisconsin might be able to get by a Purdue or a Northwestern – at least last year – after giving it up a few times, but it almost never gets beaten by anyone outside of the elite if it doesn’t screw it up.
Losing twice to Ohio State is losing twice to Ohio State – no big whoop. But the Badgers controlled Illinois, had the thing in hand, and blew it with two bad late turnovers and with three in all.
Watch the Rose Bowl against Oregon, and outside of the four giveaways, try to figure out how Wisconsin possibly gacked that thing away.
The program lost nine games over the last two seasons – it was -15 in turnover margin in those nine. In the 18 wins over the last two years, it was +16, finishing tied for last in the nation in lost fumbles in 2019.
Biggest Key To The Wisconsin Badgers Defense
Find the pass rushers to replace Zach Baun and Chris Orr. The defense is going to be good no matter what, but generating a pass rush isn’t a given.
The Badgers finished fifth in the nation in sacks, with the 51 being even more impressive considering the defense was only on the field for almost 25 minutes per game. The year before, though, getting to the quarterback was an issue, with the Badgers generating just 19, with almost all of them in four games.
In 2017, the defense came up with 42 sacks with the production coming from several spots, and in 2016 it came up with 34, mostly helped by that TJ Watt guy.
The improved pass rush last season was a massive reason why the defense led the nation in third down conversion stops. Without Baun and Orr, the Badgers have to quickly figure out who can be the next statistical star.
Outside of projected starting linebackers Noah Burks and Izayah Green-May …
Key Wisconsin Badgers Player To A Successful Season
PK Collin Larsh, Jr.
And if it’s not Larsh, someone who can nail every key field goal.
2017 was the only season in the last five with a relatively air-tight Badger kicking game – Rafael Gaglianone nailed 16-of-18 field goals, and neither miss mattered. Last year, the kickers went 14-of-21. As long as Larsh nails the big ones in the key games, the Badgers will be fine.
No, Wisconsin didn’t lose to Illinois and Oregon because of the kicking game, but it sure didn’t help that Larsh missed a 47-yarder in the Rose Bowl and a 37-yarder against the Illini – the Badgers lost both games by a point.
Key Game To The Wisconsin Badgers Season
at Iowa, Nov. 28
The Minnesota game is early this year. The battle for the Paul Bunyan Axe normally ends the regular season, but it’s on October 10th this time around and it’s in Madison. Most likely, the showdown against the Hawkeyes will end up deciding the West.
Last year the Badgers were able to get by the Gophers on the road to get to the Big Ten title game. This time, they might have to do it in Iowa City in an attempt to win for the sixth time in seven games in the series.
– Wisconsin Badgers Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Wisconsin Fun Stats
– 1st Quarter Scoring: Wisconsin 103 – Opponents 30
– Time of Possession: Wisconsin 35:38 – Opponents 24:22
– Average Rushing Yards Per Game: Wisconsin 233.1 – Opponents 99.8
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Wisconsin Badgers Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
1. College Football News Preview 2020: Wisconsin Badgers Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
The Badgers lose their historically great running back, their leading wide receiver, their best offensive lineman, their two best defensive players, and …
They might actually be better.
Everyone loses stars, but the defense and the system should be more than fine as long as there aren’t a slew of key early injuries. If the pass rush is decent, everything else will be in place to be among the nation’s best again.
But is there anyone who can come close to being another Jonathan Taylor?
Of course – it’s Wisconsin – but Taylor really was just that good. Replacing top target Quintez Cephus might be a wee bit tougher, but as long as the offense is bashing away like it normally does, and as long as there aren’t a slew of big turnovers in key spots, the offense will get the job done.
There’s no Ohio State, Penn State, or Michigan State on the schedule, but …
Set The Wisconsin Badgers Regular Season Win Total At … 9
Bet at BetMGM Win Total Line: 9.5
It’s still a relatively rough slate.
Don’t laugh – Indiana and/or Appalachian State have the potential to be real problems early on. Going to Michigan is never easy, and facing Notre Dame in Lambeau Field will be a fight.
Throw in a November with three of the last four games on the road – including the regular season finale at Iowa – and there are just enough landmines to expect three losses …
And another trip to the Big Ten Championship game.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
