No matter how bad a football team may be, no one can afford to end their season on a major five-game losing streak, but the Wisconsin Badgers football team did just that.
To make matters worse, the Badgers mustered a measly 42 points against three Big Ten rivals in Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota, who scored a combined 110 points. Their 5-7 record was the worst in 24 years, and they failed to qualify for a bowl for the first time since that same 2001 season.
To us fans, the message is clear.
But the players themselves may need a quick reminder: Wisconsin football is not good anymore. The team has not threatened the CFB, or even the Big Ten, since 2019. The optimism of the Badgers fan base cannot go unappreciated, but a reality check is needed. Understanding what went wrong offensively in 2024 and what to look forward to in 2025 may provide just that.
The stats
It’s safe to call former offensive coordinator Phil Longo, and whatever “Air Raid” blasphemy he attempted to bring to Wisconsin, a failure. To succeed in a spread offense, Longo needed to bring in dynamic talent and a dual-threat quarterback. He didn’t accomplish any of that — the Badgers were doomed from the start with quarterback Braedyn Locke at the helm.
Locke finished with 1,936 passing yards and 13 passing touchdowns, ranking 14 out of 18 in both these stats among starting Big Ten quarterbacks. Longo’s promised ‘dynamic’ offense had Locke throw just 296 times. Despite minimal attempts, the now Arizona Wildcat threw 10 interceptions — the fifth-most in the Big Ten — and ranked first in interception percentage at 3.4%.
But not all the blame should be placed on Locke. His lack of mobility and willingness to run was painfully frustrating to a Wisconsin fan’s eye, but it’s nearly impossible to succeed with a new playbook and little surrounding talent. Wide receiver Will Pauling led the Badgers with just 42 receptions (32nd in Big Ten) and regressed in all statistical categories with 32 fewer receptions, 430 fewer yards and three fewer touchdowns than 2023. The most abysmal statistic came from the historically successful tight end core, with Tucker Ashcraft posting a season stat line that could be interpreted as a successful game with 12 receptions, 82 yards and one touchdown.
Statistics don’t tell the entire story, but they sure help outline the glaring issues. The offensive line let up just 13 sacks the entire season, a number good for 10th in the nation (first in Big Ten). The Badgers were also the third least penalized team in the conference. With strong offensive line play and established WR success in 2023, one can only wonder why the Badgers couldn’t get it going. Well, it was Longo.
Despite having a statistically solid rushing offense, the Badgers’ run game seemed ineffective for most drives, a consequence of Longo’s failure to craft passing concepts that would provide the separation needed for receivers. Even with promises to modernize the offense, Longo rarely incorporated pre-snap motions, a tactic used to keep defenses off balance.
Instead, the opponent's defense knew Wisconsin’s passing game was weak and could focus on the run game entirely, filling gaps without hesitation. No matter how good your offensive line or receivers are, no team can succeed with the defense sending seven, eight or even nine men at you.
The offensive line worked hard to overcome this, paving the way for 4.3 yards per attempt. Yet in the end, Longo’s Badgers couldn’t overcome their shortcomings. Having the second-to-last most explosive offense and the 15th-best play efficiency in the Big Ten is a recipe for disaster. Even if they were productive, the lack of ball security (-6 turnover margin, 16th in the Big Ten), something an offensive coordinator should perfect, would have negated any gains — a truly catastrophic offensive season.
The fix: coaching
Despite his new extension into 2032, head coach Luke Fickell has failed to meet expectations. Badgers fans don’t care that he brought an above-average Cincinnati program to the CFP. We do care that he is 12-13 in his first two full years, going 3-11 against teams that finished the season with a winning record.
On Dec. 4, Fickell stated in a press conference, “[Wisconsin] wants to be more of a pro-style,” then explaining he wants to utilize 11, 12, 13 and 21 personnel, with the first number representing the number of backs and the second representing tight ends. Under Longo, the offense was in the gun most of the time, even in short-yardage situations. Yet, his ideology failed in a game-changing fourth down situation against No. 4 Alabama.
In a conference like the Big Ten, an important component of a successful offense is balance, and the Badgers haven’t found that in a long time. In Wisconsin’s most successful seasons in recent history, 2017 and 2019, they relied heavily on running back Jonathan Taylor to carry the workload, opening up opportunities for play-action passes. While we may not have a generational talent like Taylor, the goal is to achieve that level of offensive fluidity once again. To do so, it starts with new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes.
Grimes’ resume is quite extensive but not overly impressive. Wisconsin will be his fifth OC job in 11 years, going from LSU (14’-17’), BYU (18’-20’), Baylor (21’-23’) and finally Kansas in 2024.
What we are getting is something to be excited about, or at least it will be different…hopefully. He opts for a “reliable and violent offense,” utilizing outside zone concepts and a heavy dose of pre-snap motion…Hallelujah! Despite Kansas’s 5-7 record, Grimes willed the offense to success, averaging 6.4 yards/play (13th in CFB) and converting 50% of the time on third-down (third in CFB).
For Grimes to be successful in his first season, he must bring the balanced offense he used in Kansas. The Big Ten is full of defenses that can stop the run at will, unlike the Big 12. Wisconsin will not succeed by stacking the box with two TEs and a FB, nor will they win by running the spread offense out of the shotgun every play. Balance is key. But most importantly, talent is needed and must be utilized correctly.
The fix: talent
No matter how good a coach may be, success cannot be achieved without talent, especially at the collegiate level. Premier Big Ten teams have rosters filled to the brim with dynamic and highly recruited talent, yet Wisconsin cannot seem to reach that level.
Fortunately, the Badgers’ 2025 recruiting class, including their transfers, is overwhelmingly promising and should be looked forward to by all fans, including pessimists like myself. 247Sports ranked it 25th in the country, including eight 4-star recruits. Much of the top talent hails from the defensive side of the ball, but Fickell has brought in some vital offensive pieces.
The offensive line was a priority this winter, and despite the team’s strength at the position, this shouldn’t be opposed. Every great offense needs an even greater offensive line.
The most exciting prospect is Hardy Watts out of Brookline, MA. The 6-foot-6, 290 lb mammoth is ranked as the 23rd at his position (IOL) and first overall player in Massachusetts. Watts’s outstanding athleticism as a former tight end allows him to utilize a quick get-off, attacking at angles other heavier linemen cannot. Fickell also grabbed three-star tackles Nolan Davenport (OH) and Michael Roeske (WI), both monsters who can protect the pocket.
Skill-wise, excitement levels drop considerably, but Fickell did manage to secure the 24th quarterback in the class Carter Smith (2023 FL Gatorade Player of the Year). As a dual threat, Smith flawlessly throws the ball on the run and isn’t afraid to make a man miss in open space. While a raw talent, sitting a few years behind the experienced gunslingers may provide Grimes with his guy.
In the portal, Fickell and the staff exceeded expectations. While skeptical, I believe that either Danny O’Neil (SDSU) or Billy Edwards Jr. (Maryland) could be effective starting quarterbacks for the Badgers. Both have experience, but my pick is O’Neil, as he opened this season by throwing 127 passes without an interception, and not one in his final five games. San Diego State may have gone 3-9, but he was a lone bright spot on a poor Atzecs roster.
Even more important were the additions of wide receiver Jayden Ballard (OSU) and tight end Tanner Koziol (Ball State). Ballard, a former four-star recruit, has seen little playing time despite being highly touted out of high school. Thus, his level of athleticism and experience at Ohio State, a place known for producing elite WR talent, gives us hope. Koziol on the other hand is a proven star. At 6-foot-7, Koziol put up 839 yards on 94 catches along with eight scores, earning All-MAC second team. With little experience at tight end, Koziol will fill the role and become a primary target.
I despise how overwhelmingly negative this article is, but the truth has to be said. Many Wisconsin fans would agree. From casual fans to analytical nerds, one thing holds true: Badgers football was unwatchable in 2024.
Do I have confidence in Fickell to bring us to the CFP? No, I do not. Do I think Wisconsin can recover from last season, build up the camaraderie that has been lacking and play efficient enough football to be ranked or make a respectable bowl game? I do. But who am I to say? I’m just a frustrated student fan.
