As different variations of the spread offense stretch to all corners of the college football landscape, the Wisconsin offense has the luxury of tuning out all the change.
Russell Wilson threw 33 touchdowns a year ago, and junior running back James White lined up at quarterback in the Badgers’ version of the Wildcat offense—dubbed “Barge”—last week, but the offensive philosophy is still obvious: Use big people and run the football.
Far more changes come on the defensive side of the football, where combating spread offenses in the Big Ten—long a bastion of smash-mouth football—has become the norm.
That will not be the case Saturday when Michigan State comes calling at Camp Randall Stadium, however. The similarities between the two teams become more and more apparent as fewer and fewer teams in their league play the traditional breed of power football.
“It’s completely flipped,” UW co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Charlie Partridge said. “It’s just sort of the nature of the way the game’s going right now. This really is the first style of offense like this that we’ve seen besides playing against our offense every day.”
Junior defensive tackle Beau Allen said Oregon State lined up like a traditional team at times in their Sept. 8 matchup, but still predicated their offense on a quick passing game. In the Badgers 10-7 loss, sophomore quarterback Sean Mannion threw the ball 47 times.
For the Spartans, junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell has attempted over 31 passes in each of the last four games, but the offense still starts on the ground.
“They’ve got a strong offensive line like they usually do, they’ve got big tight ends and [junior running back Le’Veon] Bell is a special player, obviously,” Partridge said.
Bell, listed at 244 lbs., leads the Big Ten with 226 carries (No. 2 in the NCAA) and is second in the league in yards (984). Partridge was quick to point out that size is not the only asset the decorated back has at his disposal.
“People look at him and I think that’s what they see, but when you put the film on and really watch him, he’s very elusive,” he said. “He’s got quick moves, he’s got a nice spin move. I think just a big back isn’t going to normally be as successful as he is. He’s got a lot more than that.”
Unlike the Badgers’ multi-back rushing attack, Bell has essentially carried the entire load for the Spartans. Senior Larry Caper is the team’s second-leading rusher and has just 85 yards on 16 carries. Sophomore Nick Hill has one of the team’s nine rushing touchdowns and Bell has the rest.
“He’s the ultimate matchup, the ultimate test,” redshirt junior linebacker Ethan Armstrong said. “As a competitor, you really look forward to playing against somebody like that because you get to see where you’re at personally. You have to bring your A game against somebody like him.”
A year ago, UW and Michigan State combined for 68 points in MSU’s October victory in East Lansing, Mich. , and 81 points in UW’s win in the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis.
This year, a low-scoring game would not be surprising. The Spartans have scored 30 points just twice this season and are averaging 18.3 points per game in conference play. The Badgers offense has been much better of late, but Michigan State boasts the league’s top scoring defense, allowing just 15.2 points per contest.
“We’re ready for a Big Ten, pro-style game,” redshirt junior middle linebacker Chris Borland said. “Powers and zones and stretches, three yards and a cloud of dust, all that stuff they always say. That’s how we like to play.”
