The time has come. The highly anticipated matchup between the unranked Wisconsin Badgers and the No. 5 LSU Tigers is a day away and the gloom of the football off-season is clearing at last. The hallowed grounds of Lambeau Field, will be the setting for the first game of the year and the start of the 2016 season. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. central time and will be broadcasted on ABC, ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
It is the third year in a row Wisconsin has opened with an SEC opponent. The Badgers lost both of those games, the first to LSU by a score of 28-21 in 2014 and then to Alabama, 35-14 this past season. Those previous matchups took place at neutral sites in Texas. The Badgers played LSU in Houston and then took on the Crimson Tide at “Jerry World” in Dallas. This year’s matchup is a lot closer to home, both geographically and psychologically.
For some Badgers, this game will represent much more to them than just simply the start of another season. For those born and raised in Wisconsin, this game represents their wildest dreams. To those individuals, the culture and spirit of football wakes up and goes to sleep in Green Bay, Wisconsin. To call this a truly “neutral” site would be foolish.
Wisconsin’s starting fullback Alec Ingold grew up in the shadow of Lambeau Field.
“It’s going to be good to go home and to play on a field that I’ve lived around my entire life and to play in a big time game,” Ingold said. “A lot of guys definitely have ties to the area besides just me and a lot of family members are going to be able to go, so we have to take advantage of that. There is a lot of pride involved.”
Bart Houston’s pride will be on the line as his first start at quarterback for UW is set to take place on the very field where his namesake, Bart Starr, led the Packers to Super Bowls I and II in the 1960s.
Houston won the job over redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook after a lengthy and publicized position battle. Coming in as a highly touted recruit, some were disappointed by Houston’s inability to grab the starting job early, but the 5th year senior got more consistent near the end of camp.
Houston will be tested, but he will have a stable of highly talented backs to relieve some of that pressure. With Corey Clement back in action, Taiwan Deal dramatically improving and Dare Ogunbowale as a third legitimate threat, the Badgers’ backfield looks as imposing as ever.
Clement struggled last year with injury and off the field issues and many people started to question his resolve and maturity, but it appears the NFL prospect has made a change for the better, and his team and coaches have taken notice.
“It allowed him time, that he probably needed, to be able to mature,” said running backs coach John Settle. “If he gets an opportunity to play at the next level, I think last year made him more ready to handle it. I’ve seen a guy that has grown and matured through adversity.”
Running against one of the best front sevens in all of football, Clement will need that maturity and ability to thrive in adversity.
Though Clement is back and healthy, he likely won’t be the most brilliant back on the field on Saturday. LSU’s Heisman hopeful, Leonard Fournette, will certainly be looking to put on a show on the national stage and is considered by many to be the next Adrian Peterson.
“He’s a great combination of size and speed,” said Coach Settle. “You see a young man at 6-foot-1 or 6-foot-2 and weighing 235 pounds, and the way he’s able to pound people and the next play he puts a move on a guy and hits the edge and takes it 70 yards for six, it’s just not something a lot of people can do.”
Fournette will be running against one of the nation’s best defenses from last season, and despite a change in coordinators, the Badgers appear ready to return to that same dominating form.
While the defensive clan is still a strong unit, they lost defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to LSU this off-season. While coaches changing teams is a somewhat regular occurrence, losing your coach to your first opponent of the season is much more rare. Justin Wilcox, formerly under the USC label, has taken Aranda’s place and has continued a similar intensity and defensive philosophy. You can still expect to see the Badgers in their 3-4 base defenses and getting after the quarterback with a variety of blitz packages.
The Badgers have some big talent returning on defense, including one of the most talented linebacking corps in the nation. Vince Biegel is the most well-known name and he will be back on the edge for the Badgers this season after making the decision to return for his senior season. Biegel excels at all aspects of the game and is a force both pass-rushing and stopping the run.
Replacing Biegel’s comrade, Joe Schobert on the other side, who left for the NFL last season, has actually gone fairly smoothly for the Cardinal and White, thanks to T.J. Watt. The youngest brother of the former Badger, now NFL standout J.J. Watt, is set to make his starting debut, and T.J. is looking to make his own lasting mark on the program. His growth from last spring to this fall is noticeable and he could have a breakout year.
LSU is currently the favorite with betting lines hovering at around +10 for LSU. But, the unique environment and bright lights could make a huge difference. Talking with Badgers you get the sense that they truly see this as a winnable game and view the setting of Lambeau as a distinct home field advantage.
When asked about the Lambeau Leap, you could see Ingold’s face light up.
“I don't know. I think I won’t be able to think if I get in the end zone,” said Ingold with a smile.
“I’ll be pretty choked up, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
