Wisconsin football schedule 2020: Predicting every Wisconsin Badgers game
The Wisconsin football schedule has its challenges, but can the Wisconsin Badgers emerge as Big Ten West champions?
It is a new age in Madison, Wisconsin as Jonathan Taylor took his talents to the NFL after just three seasons for the Badgers. What a three-season run it was for Taylor as he ran all over college defenses, cementing himself as one of the best Badger running backs of all-time.
That is an impressive feat considering the vast history of Wisconsin running backs over the years. Wisconsin has always been a run-first offense that produces an NFL offensive lineman just about every year. That is their calling card, and I don’t expect that to change in 2020.
The problem is, who will be the one taking the majority of the handoffs? Nakia Watson is the first and most obvious choice as he was second on the depth chart last season. But there is a freshman that has a chance to steal the job and become a dominant freshman running back much like Taylor was in 2017.
Jalen Berger is a four-star running back prospect out of New Jersey who was recruited by virtually everyone. He chose to attend Wisconsin though, and for good reason, their running backs have a history of being really good.
Related Story. Best Wisconsin football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore. light
Only time will tell whether or not Berger will step in and be the next running back phenom for the Badgers, a player like Watson will take the lead into 2020, or it will be a platoon. But no matter who the running back is, their success or failure will be very telling of the Badger’s 2020 season.
The quarterback position at first look seems like a done deal with Jack Coan returning. But redshirt Graham Mertz has a legit shot at taking the starting position from Coan. Coan was fine last season throwing for 2,727 yards, 18 touchdowns, and five interceptions, but people around the Wisconsin camp believe that Mertz has the chance to be something special.
With the uncertainty on whether or not the running game will be as good as it had been under Taylor, Wisconsin finding someone who can stretch the field more could be pivotal.
On defense despite losing two pivotal linebackers in Zach Baun and Chris Orr, the Badgers return 18 of their top 20 tacklers from last season.
Jack Sanborn was the leading tackler last year as an inside linebacker and he returns. All of the defensive line starters will be back as well set this up to be a Wisconsin team that is stout against the run.
The secondary showed its youth at times last season, but with an added year under their belt, this pass defense should be stout as well.
Wisconsin’s schedule should be tough as normal, but it is especially tough early as they get Michigan, Notre Dame and Minnesota all in a row for the fourth, fifth and sixth games of the season. Survive that gauntlet and the Badgers could be looking at a special season. Let’s get into how Wisconsin’s season will play out.
The Wisconsin football schedule has Notre Dame and the usual Big Ten foes. So how many games can the Wisconsin Badgers win in 2020?