The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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126 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Luke Fickell took Cincinnati to the 2021 College Football Playoff and won nine-plus games in five consecutive seasons. With Paul Chryst ousted, Fickell was tapped to take Wisconsin to the next level. It hasn't quite worked out that way, though, with the Badgers going 12-13 over the last two seasons, missing a bowl in 2024 for the first time since 2001. Pressure is mounting, but Fickell re- ceived a one-year extension in February that places him under contract through the 2031 season. (Chryst was extended before the 2022 season, then fired five games in.) The 51-year-old former Ohio State in- terim head coach (2011) has been given the chance to respond to a rough season, and he made one critical move that could define which direction the program is going. Fick- ell canned offensive coordinator Phil Longo — who implemented an air raid scheme — in November and replaced him with Jeff Grimes, a two-time Broyles Award finalist (in 2021 while at Baylor and 2020 at BYU). Grimes spent the 2024 season at Kansas, engineering a unit that ranked 37th na- tionally in total offense. Most importantly, Grimes has brought in a more traditional offensive scheme much more familiar to those in Madison, based on physicality and running the football. Last season, Kan- sas checked in 13th in the sport with 211.4 rushing yards per game. Wisconsin was much worse at 78th with 153.7 yards on average. Quarterback Braedyn Locke didn't live up to expectations and transferred to Ari- zona, while graduate student Billy Edwards Jr. made the trek within the Big Ten from Maryland to Madison. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns with 9 interceptions last season, and he's the type of rugged quar- terback that could mesh well with Grimes' system. Three starters are back on the Badgers' offensive line, and both the second-leading rusher (sophomore Darrion Dupree, 371 yards, 4 TD) and second-leading receiver (senior Vinny Anthony II, 672 yards, 4 TD) are there to help out Edwards. Wisconsin's defense, led by coordinator Mike Tressel, checked in tied for 14th in the nation against the pass but 91st versus the run last season. Allowing 165 rushing yards per game was the highest mark for the pro- gram since 2005 (167.5), and it could've had something to do with facing an air raid scheme, not a ground-and-pound attack, in practice. Four starters are back in the secondary, and second-leading tackler and junior linebacker Christian Alliegro will anchor the middle of the defense. He recorded 66 tackles, 5 stops for loss and 3 sacks last sea- son and is poised for a breakout after serv- ing as a backup for much of the 2024 cam- paign but earning a starting role by the end. Following a disappointing season from the defensive line, Wisconsin nabbed four transfer defensive tackles in the December portal window. Both Corey Walker from Western Michigan (38 tackles, 5.5 sacks) and Jay'viar Suggs from LSU (2.5 sacks in eight games) have upside as disruptors up front. Graduate student Ben Barten is re- turning after a productive season in which the 6-foot-5, 323-pounder batted down 5 passes, blocked a kick and made 22 tackles. Wisconsin needs to create more havoc across the board. The Badgers forced only 12 turnovers (tied for 110th nationally) and averaged 1.4 sacks (121st) and 3.5 tackles for loss (134th) per game last season. A pivotal season for Fickell and Co. co- incides with Wisconsin having one of the toughest schedules in America. The Bad- gers have to play Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and Alabama — four programs with championship pedigree — plus tilts against Iowa, Illinois and Indiana will be challenges, too. ❑ 2025 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2024 Result Aug. 28 MIAMI (OHIO) — Sept. 6 MIDDLE TENNESSEE — Sept. 13 at Alabama L, 42-10 Sept. 20 MARYLAND — Oct. 4 at Michigan — Oct. 11 IOWA L, 42-10 Oct. 18 OHIO STATE — Oct. 25 at Oregon L, 16-13 Nov. 8 WASHINGTON — Nov. 15 at Indiana — Nov. 22 ILLINOIS — Nov. 29 at Minnesota L, 24-7 REASONS FOR OPTIMISM • OC Jeff Grimes' system • Defensive line transfers • QB Billy Edwards Jr. provides promise At the very least, Wisconsin will play its traditional style of football offensively with a quarterback who had a solid season in the conference last year. REASONS FOR CONCERN • Schedule is as tough as it gets • Run game on both sides of the ball must improve • Wisconsin is trending downward under Luke Fickell Making a bowl game will be a tall task with this schedule, and Fickell hasn't provided much confidence for the fan base two years in. GAME 5 • WISCONSIN BADGERS • OCT. 4 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 52-17-1 First Meeting: U-M 10, Wisconsin 6 (Oct. 15, 1892, in Madison) Last Meeting: U-M 38, Wisconsin 17 (Oct. 2, 2021, in Madison) Head Coach: Luke Fickell, 13-13 at Wiscon- sin (third year), 76-38 overall (10th year) 2024 In Review: 5-7, 3-6 Big Ten Final 2024 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 12 (4 offense, 6 de- fense, 2 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2023 (ReliaQuest Bowl vs. LSU, L 35-31) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: None Rushing: Darrion Dupree (317 yards, 1 TD) Receiving: Anthony Vinny II (672 yards, 4 TD) Tackles: Christian Alliegro (66) Sacks: Christian Alliegro (3) Interceptions: Preston Zachman (2) Wisconsin Returns To Its Roots On Offense Junior linebacker Christian Alliegro posted dou- ble-digit tackles in three games in 2024. PHOTO COURTESY WISCONSIN ATHLETICS