What Wisconsin football's offense showed vs. Middle Tennessee
Insights into the Badgers' offensive performance last weekend, and what to watch for against Alabama.
A late spring transfer is leading the revitalization of the University of Wisconsin tight end group to start the 2025 season.
Lance Mason moved on to Wisconsin from Missouri State, and Saturday’s performance in the win over Middle Tennessee showed he could contribute at the Power Four level. He caught a career-high seven throws for 102 yards receiving and a touchdown.
Mason caught passes from quarterback Danny O’Neil at every level of the Blue Raiders defense, from receptions around the line of scrimmage to getting open for a 34-yard catch to put the Badgers in position for its first touchdown. His 17-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter capped Wisconsin’s scoring where he lined up in the backfield before running a route down the right seam.
But what also stood out is Mason’s abilities after he reels in a pass. Fifty of the 102 yards receiving came after the catch, according to StatBroadcast’s in-game stats. A 13-yard reception early in the fourth quarter could have gone for more if he would have eluded an open-field tackle.
“I just think that there's a combination of things that Lance gives us an opportunity to use, and it's not just speed, it's not just ability to catch,” coach Luke Fickell said. “His versatility, I think, at least makes him a little bit more difficult to say, ‘Hey, this guy isn't just in there to catch balls.’
“He's really kind of grown since he's walked in the door here. He's kind of a complete guy right now, and so he's every bit a part of the blocking in the run game, at the point of attack, on pulls and counters and kick outs as well as he is, I think, down the field in the passing game as well.”
Badger Observer breaks down a few takeaways from Wisconsin’s offensive performance from the week that was, along with early thoughts of what’s ahead with an 11 a.m. CT kickoff Saturday at Alabama.
Tight ends once again prominent for Jeff Grimes
The Badgers ran more multiple tight-end sets Saturday (31 of the 58 official snaps) against the Blue Raiders, according to Badger Observer’s notes. Wisconsin implementing 12 personnel ruled the day as the most-used grouping, as it did last week.
Note: Badger Observer designates redshirt senior Jackson Acker as a tight end, in keeping with what Wisconsin lists him on its roster. He honestly could described as a fullback/tight end hybrid with the variety of ways he’s used on the field, but we’ll keep things simple here.
How these personnel uses change against Alabama will be worth watching, especially if Wisconsin begins to trail against the Crimson Tide and may need to revert to three or more wide receivers on the field to play catch up.