9 questions about Wisconsin football after 8 games of the 2025 season
The Badgers are two-thirds of the way through their season. There's still plenty to ask about this program.
There are more questions than answers about this University of Wisconsin football team two-thirds of the way through the 2025 season.
Wisconsin (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten) just completed its daunting four-game October slate that included games against three ranked foes (two of which are Associated Press Top 10 teams). It was an arduous task on paper upon the release of the Big Ten conference schedule, and the Badgers finished the month being shut out in their two home games and outscored 116-17.
Plenty of variables and factors have contributed to a six-game losing streak, another stretch where Wisconsin hasn’t beat a Power Four program in over a year, and overall questions about the Luke Fickell era. As the 2025 schedule perfectly breaks up into equal four-game sections, and with the program now entering its second weekend off of the season, it allows for a nice assessment of what’s been seen and what needs to be asked ahead of the Badgers’ final quartet of contests.
Can this Wisconsin offense and find its way for the final 4 games?
Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes came to Madison to install his scheme that emphasizes a wide-zone emphasis paired with downfield passing. The change from Phil Longo’s variation of the Air Raid was a necessary one, as was the shift to this “NFL-style” version that still holds a similar philosophy of physicality — and perhaps that dreaded “i” word (identity) — that Wisconsin fans are used to.
It hasn’t clicked yet. The Badgers are averaging a putrid 12.5 points and 261.9 yards per game. Take out the 59 points scored against Group of Five foes Miami (Ohio) and Middle Tennessee to start the season, and Wisconsin’s only put up 41 points in the last six games (that’s just over 6.8 points per game).
The 109.8 yards rushing per game on 3.2 yards per carry is the lowest since the 1991 season, and Wisconsin, barring a substantial turnaround, will not have someone eclipse 1,000 yards for the third consecutive season. Not having a Badgers player hit that mark for three straight years hasn’t happened since 1990-1992, which were the first three seasons under former legendary coach Barry Alvarez.
Injuries are a major culprit for the inefficiencies seen this season. Saturday’s availability report was flabbergasting with the amount of players designated as out or questionable.