Less than 100 days remain before Wisconsin football takes the field to open its 2024 season against the Western Michigan Broncos. While that date is nearly exactly three months away, Big Ten coaches are currently speaking out on opposing teams and their expectations in 2024.
It is interesting to see and hear the public sentiment surrounding the Wisconsin Badgers. The program entered the 2023 season with sky-high expectations in year one under head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo. The program’s 7-6 season fell far short of those expectations, and tempered everybody’s belief entering what will be a gauntlet 2024 season.
Related: Wisconsin full 2024 football schedule with locations, kick times and TV channels
To understand a piece of that sentiment, Athlon Sports got some anonymous quotes from various Big Ten coaches last week. It did not specify whether they came from head coaches or assistants. Regardless, the comments come from qualified voices and likely reflect the general tone surrounding Wisconsin around the league.
Here is what those anonymous coaches said about the Wisconsin Badgers entering the 2024 season:
Apr 11, 2023; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, left, talks with head coach Luke Fickell during practice Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Wisconsin finished the 2023 season with SP+’s No. 7-ranked defensive unit. That digit may be a bit inflated, but the unit did finish the season ranked No. 21 in points allowed, No. 25 in yards per play and No. 39 in total defense. That side of the ball wasn’t the problem during the team’s 7-6 2023 season.
Predictably, the opposing coaches expect big things from the Badgers defense in 2024.
“Defensively, we expect them to be much improved. I’d say they’re on a timeline similar to what Luke [Fickell] did at Cincinnati. That’s not the side of the ball to worry about here.”
That path saw the Bearcats go 4-8 in Fickell’s first season in 2017 before going 11-2 and 11-3 in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
An improvement on Wisconsin’s respectable 2023 defense could see it rise toward the top of the conference. Given the transfer additions and personnel changes, that rise shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo works with the team’s quarterbacks during practice on Tuesday April 9, 2024 at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
The anonymous coaches did not predict an improvement on offense or continued struggles. The sentiment was more one of wonder. The program’s move to an air raid under Phil Longo was a drastic change and one that abandoned an identity that had worked in the Big Ten for more than three decades.
“The focus here is on offense. It was a hard sell for a program like this to embrace a system like Phil’s [offensive coordinator Phil Longo], and it ended up being a mismatch because of personnel.”
As the coach pointed out, Longo tried to implement his new system with many players left over from the Paul Chryst era. 2024 now sees an influx of more transfer talent and a unit more specifically catered to the air raid system.
But the coach is right: fans are mostly dubious of the team’s new approach on offense. The only thing that can win them over is results.
Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke throws a pass as offensive coordinator Phil Longo watches during spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday April 2, 2024. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
This is a central question everybody should ask entering the season. Wisconsin’s offense finished 2023 ranked No. 93 in points per game, No. 84 in yards per play and No. 71 in yards per game. It also did so against a weak schedule without some of the nation’s top defenses. A 20-14 loss to a 3-9 Indiana team and 24-10 loss to Northwestern is the only necessary evidence.
The coaches are asking the same thing. What will change?
“Are they going to make any big changes? I think there’s extra pressure here in Year 2 because they didn’t score points last season, and they got away from an identity that worked so well in this league.”
One more year of continuity and practice could be enough to clean up some of the mistakes from last season. But the offense will need to see changes if it is to work in the Big Ten.
Again, the on-field results will tell the final story.
Oct 7, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell greets players during the third quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Fans can love Fickell’s messaging and the idea of Longo’s air raid all offseason. But nothing will matter when the 2024 campaign begins other than will the team put up points. It’s that simple.
The coaches expressed that sentiment:
“They need to put up points to get everyone on board with their new identity — it’s that simple.”
A 7-5 season with close losses to top teams including Oregon, Penn State, Alabama, Iowa and USC could be palatable if the defense looks improved and the offense is competitive. If those losses are blowouts where the Badgers cannot score, some will call for changes after the season.
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