Wisconsin will sit idle this weekend as the Big Ten conference schedule heats up.
Badgers fans will get a Saturday without a game for the first time in a month. That might be a good thing given the current state of the team after a 42-10 Week 3 loss to Alabama and with starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke done for the season.
Related: Ranking the most important storylines entering Wisconsin’s Week 4 bye
Luke Fickell’s team returns to the field next Saturday, Sept. 28 on the road at No. 11 USC. That game kicks off what will be a gauntlet Big Ten schedule, which includes games against Rutgers, No. 10 Penn State, Iowa, No. 9 Oregon and No. 22 Nebraska.
The Badgers need to figure things out during their bye week. The development of both an offensive and defensive identity will be crucial to extending the bowl streak, as will catering the offense to the strengths of new starter Braedyn Locke.
While the Wisconsin staff is hard at work trying to right the ship, Badgers fans do have some interesting matchups to watch this weekend. Here is a clear viewing guide and list of teams to root for while Wisconsin sits idle:
Aug 31, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule reacts during the second quarter against the UTEP Miners at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Rooting Interest: Illinois
Wisconsin plays Nebraska later this season. It will be hard to avoid overreacting to the result of that game, in either direction. Either Wisconsin maintains its dominance over its pseudo-rival and we feel confident about the state of the program, or Nebraska wins for the first time since 2012 and the sky begins to fall.
Wisconsin should want Nebraska to lose a few games before that date. The Cornhuskers have to look beatable, or else our big-picture questions about the Luke Fickell era only grow.
Also, Bret Bielema winning games is good for the Big Ten. The conference is better when more teams are interesting…
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