2023 College Football Catalog: Previewing the Wisconsin Badgers
Josh Frey
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Just like the NFL season is right around the corner, college campuses are preparing to welcome back their football squads for the fall season. As the summer progresses we will be taking a look into how many of the FBS college football programs fared in 2022, what they did during the offseason, and how they can find success during the 2023 season. As we continue our tour through the Big 10, we move onto the Wisconsin Badgers today.
Overview
2022 Results
- W vs. Illinois State, 38-0
- L vs. Washington State, 14-17
- W vs. New Mexico State, 66-7
- L @ Ohio State, 21-52
- L vs. Illinois, 10-34
- W @ Northwestern, 42-7
- L @ Michigan State, 28-34
- W vs. Purdue, 35-24
- W vs. Maryland, 23-10
- L @ Iowa, 10-24
- W @ Nebraska, 15-14
- L vs. Minnesota, 16-23
- W vs. Oklahoma State, 24-17 (Guaranteed Rate Bowl)
Overall Record: 7-6 (4-5)
2022 All-Big 10 Members
- RB Braelon Allen (Coaches and Media Second-Team)
- DL Keeanu Benton (Coaches Third Team)
- LB Nick Herbig (Coaches and Media First-Team)
- LB Maema Njongmeta (Media Third-Team)
- DB John Torchio (Coaches Second-Team, Media First-Team)
Recent Vikings Draft Picks
N/A
Every one of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Draft Picks
2023 Draft Picks
- C Joe Tippmann (R2, P43; New York Jets)
- DL Keeanu Benton (R2, P49; Pittsburgh Steelers)
- LB Nick Herbig (R4, P132; Pittsburgh Steelers)
2023 Schedule
- 9/2 vs. Buffalo
- 9.9 @ Washington State
- 9/16 vs. Georgia Southern
- 9/23 @ Purdue
- 10/7 vs. Rutgers
- 10/14 vs. Iowa
- 10/21 @ Illinois
- 10/28 vs. Ohio State
- 11/4 @ Indiana
- 11/11 vs. Northwestern
- 11/18 vs. Nebraska
- 11/25 @ Minnesota
Notable Additions
- QB Nick Evers (transfer portal, Oklahoma)
- QB Braedyn Locke (transfer portal, Mississippi State)
- QB Tanner Mordecai (transfer portal, SMU)
- WR Bryson Green (transfer portal, Oklahoma State)
- WR C.J. Williams (transfer portal, USC)
- WR Will Pauling (transfer portal, Cincinnati)
- OT Joe Huber (transfer portal, Cincinnati)
- IOL James Durand (four-star recruit)
- IOL Jake Renfro (transfer portal, Cincinnati)
- DL Darian Varner (transfer portal, Temple)
- DB Nyzier Fourqurean (transfer portal, Grand Valley State)
- DB Jason Maitre (transfer portal, Boston College)
- DB Braedyn Moore (four-star recruit)
- DB Amare Snowden (four-star recruit)
Notable Losses
- QB Graham Mertz (transfer portal, Florida)
- QB Chase Wolf (transfer portal, undecided)
- RB Julius Davis (transfer portal, undecided)
- RB Isaac Guerendo (transfer portal, Louisville)
- WR Dean Engram (transfer portal, undecided)
- TE Jaelyn Franklin (transfer portal, Michigan State)
- C Joe Tippmann (NFL Draft, New York Giants)
- DL Keeanu Benton (NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers)
- DL Tristan Monday (transfer portal, Arizona State)
- LB Nick Herbig (NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers)
- LB Spencer Lytle (transfer portal, undecided)
- DB Al Ashford (transfer portal, undecided)
- DB A’Khoury Lyde (transfer portal, undecided)
- DB Semar Melvin (transfer portal, Michigan State)
- DB Titus Toler (transfer portal, Boise State)
Keys to 2023
What Do Luke Fickell and Co. Bring to the Table?
The biggest headline in Wisconsin Badgers news this offseason has been the hire of Luke Fickell at head coach. As a result, the Badgers have been able to land a number of impressive transfers and recruits over the past few months, including a number of quarterbacks that should help awaken the offense from the inconsistencies they faced in 2022. If Wisconsin can pair a strong passing unit alongside the rushing attack from Braelon Allen, they should be one of the top programs in the Big 10 this season.
Someone Must Step up in the Secondary
Not only did the Badgers land Fickell as the new head coach, but the transfer class is one of the best in the nation, headlined by a number of quarterbacks that will be competing for a starting role this fall.
However, outside of some recruiting, the secondary remains rather thin heading into 2023. With so many high-flying passing offenses at the top of the conference, they will need to have a few players step up in pass coverage this season.
Can They Hang with the Big Dogs of the Conference?
Once again, they avoid two of the three big programs in the Big 10-East, but the Badgers will have to prove that they can remain competitive against Ohio State this season. Last year, they went out without a whimper, falling behind the Buckeyes by a score of 28-0 just minutes into the second quarter.
The big-name hires and transfers are great, but Wisconsin is going to have to show a different competitive spirit in this year’s matchup with the conference heavyweight if they want to be considered for a CFP spot.
Prediction
- W vs. Buffalo
- W @ Washington State
- W vs. Georgia Southern
- W @ Purdue
- W vs. Rutgers
- W vs. Iowa
- W @ Illinois
- L vs. Ohio State
- W @ Indiana
- W vs. Northwestern
- W vs. Nebraska
- W @ Minnesota
Overall Record: 11-1 (8-1)
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.