A disappointing University of Wisconsin football season continues, as the Badgers (1-3, 0-2) lose to No. 14 Michigan Wolverines (5-0, 2-0), 38-17, on Barry Alvarez Day at Camp Randall Stadium.
Wisconsin falls to 1-3 for the first time since 1990. That was Barry Alvarez’s first year in Madison as head coach. That 1990 team finished the season 1-10.
Wisconsin has now lost eight consecutive games against AP top-25 teams.
The play calling took a step forward today.
Graham Mertz (before his injury early in the third quarter) took a step forward today.
Can’t say the same about the offensive line.
The offensive line has played poorly all season. They haven’t been able to open up holes for the running game, push around the defensive line or give the quarterback any time to set his feet. What happened to the highly touted Rico brothers?
Tyler Beach is the best we can do at Left Tackle?!?! He is just brutal and he needs to sit no matter how bad the guy behind him is.
Rudolph’s O-Line is a steaming pile.
Offensive Line coach Joe Rudolph needs to be terminated, along with Special Teams coach Chris Haering. Both units have been an utter embarrassment and have grossly underachieved (not just in 2021 either).
I would like to see Bob Bostad move from Inside Linebackers coach to the O-Line coach.
Paul Chryst postgame said on the offensive line: “There isn’t a strong identity right now. That’s something we’ve gotta work towards getting.” He went on to say, “Right now, I don’t want us to be known as an inconsistent group. That’s what we’ve been.”
Barry Alvarez and the UW defense deserved much better today.
Wisconsin’s defense is still elite.
You have to wonder how much all these snaps this season have worn on the Badgers defense. They looked a little gassed today. The offense and special teams continue to put the defense in brutal positions and the defense, for the most part, has done their part.
Graham Mertz and Jake Ferguson both went to the locker room after the first possession in the third quarter with injuries and were quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Mertz was taken to the hospital for further tests on his chest. There’s no update on the severity of his injury at this time.
Mertz completed 8-of-15 passes for 115 yards with a touchdown and no turnovers before departing with the injury. As I mentioned above, Mertz took a step forward today and had some really nice throws.
For those of you that were calling to see Chase Wolf, well, you got your wish. Wolf replaced the injured Mertz and completed 3-of-8 passes for 52 yards with a touchdown pass, an interception and a fumble.
Wisconsin quarterback’s have 11 turnovers in the first four games.
My current moods:
I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days, before you actually left them. Someone should write a song about that.
Us fans need to stick with the Wisconsin Badgers. I promise they’ll get this right.
The first four games have been brutal for both the team and the fans. Expectations are different now than they were before the season began, but this will be a winning team and 2022 will be back to what you expect.
And for those of you that want Paul Chryst fired, well to put it nicely, you’re an idiot.
Postgame Chryst said: “I’ve got no problem with people who want to bitch about me. This is my job.”
Up Next:
Wisconsin will look to right the ship next Saturday, October 9th when the Badgers travel to Champaign to play the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-4, 1-2) in what will be Illinois’ Homecoming game. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 PM (Central Time) and will be televised on the Big Ten Network (BTN).
Nick Obot 