The Wisconsin Badgers football team will welcome the No. 1 Oregon Ducks to Camp Randall on Saturday night in what may be their biggest challenge of what has already been a season full of tough opponents.
The Badgers and Ducks will face off for the seventh time in history and their first as Big Ten opponents. They last met in the 2020 Rose Bowl, where Wisconsin suffered a one-point loss in Pasadena.
With only three games remaining in the regular season, the Badgers are just one win away from achieving bowl eligibility, looking to extend a streak of 22 consecutive bowl appearances.
It may be a tall task for Wisconsin to earn both their sixth win of the season and a bowl berth this weekend since Oregon earned the No. 1 spot in college football for the first time since 2012 just two weeks ago.
Oregon, on the other hand, is seeking its first national championship in head coach Dan Lanning’s third year at the helm. The Ducks are looking to remain the top-seed in the projected College Football Playoff bracket. Oregon is currently undefeated at 10-0 after defeating Maryland last Saturday.
The Ducks are led by sixth-year quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who arrived in Eugene following a two-year stint at the University of Oklahoma from 2022 to 2023 after beginning his career at the University of Central Florida in 2019. Gabriel currently sits second in the NCAA record books for career passing yards, just 1,504 yards shy of former Houston quarterback Case Keenum. Gabriel is also a candidate for the Heisman trophy, looking to join Marcus Mariota as the only Ducks player to win the award.
In Oregon’s matchup against Maryland, Gabriel broke the NCAA record for total touchdowns in a career. Gabriel’s total now sits at 180 and will have several opportunities to pad his lead in the record books.
While Gabriel is a Heisman candidate, don’t get the wrong idea — he doesn’t carry the team.
Fifth-year wide receiver Tez Johnson and junior running back Jordan James are the two supplementary stars in the Ducks’ prolific offense. But Johnson won’t start against the Badgers after he suffered a shoulder injury against Michigan. Johnson has eight receiving touchdowns on the season and also has served as Oregon’s primary punt returner, bringing a punt back for a touchdown against Boise State on Sept. 7.
Oregon will look to receivers Traeshon Holden and Evan Stewart to fill the void left by Johnson’s absence. Both have had positive moments during the season: Holden recorded 149 receiving yards against Michigan, and Stewart had 149 receiving yards and a touchdown in a key win against No. 2 Ohio State.
Oregon running back Jordan James is set to play in the backfield against the Badgers defense, who have struggled to stop the run this season. The Badgers rank 91st of 134 FBS teams in rushing yards allowed per game. James ranks 16th in the nation with 946 rushing yards, and should have a big day if the Wisconsin defense has not fixed their issues over their bye week.
The Ducks have one of the most potent offenses in the nation, ranking seventh in third down conversion rate, 11th in total yardage and 19th in scoring offense. Gabriel also currently leads the country in completion percentage. If the Badgers want to pull off the upset, they will have to step up defensively to keep themselves in the game.
Wisconsin’s passing defense has been the bright spot of a shaky unit. The Badgers allow the sixth fewest passing yards per game in the country, and with Johnson out, the efficiency of Oregon’s passing game could be affected.
This year’s Oregon team might be known for their high-flying offense, but that doesn’t mean they are a slouch defensively. Like the Badgers, the Ducks limit passing yards, allowing the 19th fewest passing yards per game. The Ducks have recorded nine interceptions this season, something quarterback Braedyn Locke will have to be aware of when taking the field, as he has thrown at least one interception in each of his last six starts.
The Badgers will need to play their best offensive game of the season to have a chance at the win. Despite showing success against lesser opponents, they have struggled to score against real competition. Locke will need to have a mistake-free game and the offensive weapons around him will have to step up. Individually, the receiving corps have had successful stretches of play, but it will all need to come together on Saturday night.
The Badgers have not had many recent opportunities to knock off the No. 1 team in the country. In the last 15 years, both matchups against the top-ranked school have unsurprisingly come against Ohio State.
In the 2019 Big Ten Championship, the No. 8 Badgers lost to the Buckeyes 34-21 after racing to an early lead. In the 2010 season, No. 18 Wisconsin knocked off Ohio State 31-18 in Madison, sparking a run to the 2011 Rose Bowl.
While the Badgers are not aiming for a Rose Bowl appearance this year, a win would go a long way. Under head coach Luke Fickell, the Badgers are 0-5 against top 25 opponents. If that were to change this weekend, the outlook for the rest of the season will be much more positive.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m., as the Badgers air on NBC’s Saturday Night Football for their third consecutive game.
