(UW ATHLETICS) – The Badgers hit the road to battle No. 6 Oregon on Saturday inside Autzen Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT, live on FS1.
Wisconsin visits Eugene for the first time since 2001 – The Badgers fell to No. 7 Oregon, 31-28 on Sept. 1, 2001. Wisconsin claimed a victory at Camp Randall in the first bout of the home-and-home non-conference series, winning 27-23 at Camp Randall in 2000.
UW nearly knocked off then-ranked No. 1 Oregon in Madison last fall, suffering a 16-13 defeat (Nov. 16, 2024) in a game that came down to the final minutes. Wisconsin was the only team to hold the Ducks without a passing TD in a game last season.
Headed west… The Badgers head to the state of Oregon for the first time since a 2012 visit to Corvallis, Oregon to take on Oregon State (L, 10-7). Wisconsin has played Oregon in Eugene twice, scoring a 22-10 win in 1977 and falling to the Ducks in 2001, 31-28. Wisconsin has taken on Oregon 7 times in program history. The last 6 meetings have been decided by 7 points or fewer. The Badgers look to score their first win in the series since 2000. Oregon claimed Rose Bowl victories over UW in 2012 and 2020.
Some slate… Wisconsin meets the nation’s No. 6 team on Saturday. ESPN currently ranks the Badgers’ 2025 slate as the 3rd-toughest in the nation, trailing only Florida and Alabama. Wisconsin is currently tabbed to face 3 top-10 teams and 6 top-25 teams this season. The last time UW faced 3 top-10 teams during the regular season was 2016. That season, Wisconsin knocked off No. 5 LSU, No. 8 Michigan St. and No. 7 Nebraska on its way to a Cotton Bowl victory. Wisconsin has never played 6 top-25 teams in a single regular season. The Badgers are slated to do so this fall.
Run game… The Big Ten’s best rushing offense (Oregon – 241.9 ypg) meets the conference’s 5th-best rush defense (Wisconsin, 97.6 ypg). The Badgers have allowed more than 100 yards rushing in only 2 games this season (at Mich., vs. Iowa). Ohio St. and Indiana are the only Power-4 programs to allow 100+ rushing yards in only one game this season. Offensively, Oregon has run for 150+ yards in every game this season except for its loss to Indiana (81 yds. rushing).
Injuries taking a toll… First-year Offensive Coordinator Jeff Grimes looks to spark the offense despite early-season shuffling on the offensive line and at QB. QB Billy Edwards Jr. is battling back from a knee injury suffered in the opener (vs. Miami OH), and three R-Fr. have started on the OL this fall for the first time since 2015. The Badgers have deployed 6 different starting offensive line configurations through 7 games this season. UW is 8-3 under Fickell when the starting QB (proj. season starter) plays the entire game. QB Hunter Simmons made his first start as a Badger at Michigan. UW has now deployed 5 starting QBs since the beginning of 2024 – tied for the most in the Big Ten. Oklahoma State, UCF and Charlotte are the only FBS teams to start more (6) in that span. Wisconsin has used 3 starting QBs this season. The last time the Badgers started 3 QBs in a single season was 2012 (Danny O’Brien, Joel Stave, Curt Phillips).
Young talent… Wisconsin has deployed youth in a variety of important positions this season. LB Cooper Catalano became the first true freshman to lead the team in tackles (7 vs. OSU) since Nick Herbig in 2020 and LB Mason Posa has the best PFF defensive grade among Big Ten LBs with 50+ snaps this fall (90.3).
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