Wisconsin Badgers vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Braelon Allen informed reporters this month he’s feeling higher after battling shoulder and ankle accidents down the stretch, and the ankle damage was what saved him out of the loss towards Minnesota. He’s taking part in towards Oklahoma State, and the Badgers want him to be nearer to his traditional self than the restricted model they obtained late this season. Oklahoma State has one of many worst speeding defenses within the Power Five conferences, rating fiftieth of the 65 groups.

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Allen may have assist in the backfield from senior Chez Mellusi, whose onerous working helped UW win at Nebraska to turn out to be bowl eligible. They’ll be getting handoffs from a brand new quarterback after Graham Mertz transferred to Florida. Senior Chase Wolf or freshman Myles Burkett are choices to start out, and Badgers coach Luke Fickell mentioned he’ll go away that call to the offensive workers who’s seen them observe all year long.

Whoever is beneath middle can be clever to make use of the entire receiving weapons at his disposal. Junior Chimere Dike, redshirt freshman Skyler Bell and sophomore Keontez Lewis have been the first receivers this season, and the Badgers will want them to transform third downs. Oklahoma State has allowed simply 27% of third downs to be transformed this season, the fourth-best mark within the FBS this season.

Spencer Sanders primarily grew to become the identification of the Cowboys’ offense over 4 years as a starter. He might scramble and salvage one thing out of nothing if the go play didn’t develop as anticipated. But the Cowboys are going to want both Garret Rangel or Gunnar Gundy to supply at the very least the specter of the QB run with Sanders within the switch portal. Both passers have fast toes, however Rangel’s passing makes him the seemingly selection to start out.

UW wants defensive tackles Gio Paez and Curt Neal to play their greatest video games. Most of Oklahoma State’s speeding assault is read-option based mostly, however the Cowboys intention for straight-forward, between-the-tackles runs when the quarterback arms off the ball. Paez and Neal have to interchange a number of the manufacturing that gifted run-stuffer Keeanu Benton dropped at UW’s protection.

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Watch out for receiver Brennan Presley getting unfastened within the UW secondary. He’s a formidable runner after the catch, and he leads the Cowboys in catches and yards. PFF credit Presley with 55.6% of his receiving yards after the catch. The Badgers would possibly ask redshirt freshman Ricardo Hallman to maintain up with Presley, who stands 5 foot 8 and wins with quickness.

Oklahoma State’s main rusher, tailback Dominic Richardson, isn’t taking part in within the sport both, so search for freshman Ollie Gordon II to get the majority of the work at working again.

The Cowboys have a big benefit at kicker — Tanner Brown earned All-Big 12 second-team honors and was 21 of twenty-two on field-goal makes an attempt this season. Brown’s lengthy make was from 52 yards, and his solely miss was a 48-yarder towards Texas. Redshirt freshman tailback Jaden Nixon is a risk on kick return that UW has to comprise. He averages 27.5 yards per return and broke off a 98-yard landing towards Baylor.

UW may have a brand new kick returner after Isaac Guerendo entered the switch portal, with receivers Keontez Lewis and Chimere Dike being choices to subject kicks. Badgers punter Andy Vujnoich struggled in robust climate circumstances late within the season, however he gained’t have to fret about that at Chase Field, which has a retractable roof.

This is the Badgers’ first assembly with Oklahoma State, however they’re 17-6-1 towards present Big 12 groups all-time.

UW is 108-34-4 in its first assembly with opponents.

The Badgers would finish the season 6-7 with a loss, marking their first sub-.500 file since 2001. Oklahoma State is 7-5 getting into the sport, so a loss would mark its fewest wins in a season since 2018.

The Cowboys haven’t performed a Big Ten faculty since they beat Purdue within the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Jan. 1, 2013.