TEAM NOTES
*Today’s captains: senior LB Jake Chaney, senior SS Hunter Wohler, senior TE Riley Nowakowski, and senior WR Will Pauling. Former UW QB Joel Stave, the winningestQB in program history, served as the honorary captain.

Wisconsin has now won 27 straight non-conference home opener victories since 1995.

Tonight is the Badgers’ 17th straight victory in a season opener at Camp Randall against a non-conference opponent. Wisconsin has not lost a non-con season opener at home since 1995 (Colorado).

Wisconsin improved to 16-0 in night games at Camp Randall against unranked foes. The Badgers survived a scare in 2023 by outlasting Nebraska in OT, 24-17.

HC Luke Fickell improved to 8-1 in season openers during his head coaching career.

Dating back to 1996, Wisconsin has won 28 of its last 29 home openers (Only loss vs. #19 Penn State, 2021). Since 2000, UW has claimed 22 of its last 25 season openers.

Since a win over No. 5 LSU at Lambeau Field in 2016, Wisconsin is 7-0 in season openers against non-conference opponents. UW has outscored opponents, 262-58, in those games.

Wisconsin’s Friday night opener is its first since 2020. The Badgers opened 4 consecutive seasons with Friday night games from 2017-20.

Wisconsin opens the season with a night game at Camp Randall for the 10th time in school history. The Badgers are 9-1 in prime-time openers at home.

Wisconsin is 6-0 in Friday games since a 59-10 victory over Utah State in the 2017 opener.

The Badgers have never lost a night game at Camp Randall versus an unranked opponent. UW is 17-0 in those matchups.

In night games at Camp Randall overall, Wisconsin is 21-6 all-time.

Wisconsin is 5-1 all-time vs. Western Michigan and improved to 36-2 against current membership of the Mid-American Conference.

Wisconsin collected two 16-play drives, marking the first time in at least 10 seasons the Badgers have accomplished that feat.

The Badgers recorded 27 first downs, their most in the Luke Fickell era.

The Badgers had 35:18 possession, their most since a 24-17 win against Oklahoma State on Dec. 27, 2022 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

The Badgers committed just 3 penalties for 11 yards.

The Badgers wore black socks, white pants, red jerseys and white helmets with red facemasks.

First play - Run or Pass?
How many rushing yards (UW)?
How many passing yards (UW)?
How many plays for Dillon and Dupree?
What's on the back of Fick's Vest?
How many takeaways do we have on D?
Who leads the team in receptions?
Do we surpass 50 pts?
Who leads in tackles?
TD passes for TVD?
How many beers does Aqua have during the game?


Have at it, fun to talk about.

The upcoming football season could be longer than any season on record. Now more than ever, we need to get depth.

Where I'd like to see depth used in the first two games:

QB: Locke has improved. I want him to see that translate to the field early this season.
RB: Let one freshman get meaningful reps in each of the first two games. Acclimate Walker. Limit Mellusi.
WR: Rotate generously on the outside to see who can catch 50/50 balls. Acclimate Trech. Limit Pauling.
OL: Get experience with alternative combos using 2nd team. Get lots of 2nd team reps.
DL: Limit your workhorse to the degree you can. Play Howard and Johnson as much as you can

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Watkins visited today.

We know one now -

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A look at the list here as they all hit the field this weekend: