Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Chimere Dike (13) celebrating with T.J. Bollers (3) after Dike's touchdown reception during an NCAA college football game against the Purdue Boilermakers, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 in Madison, Wis.
David Stluka

Football

Baggot: Five things to know - A new era begins

Wisconsin opens the 2023 season by hosting Buffalo on Saturday

Andy Baggot header 2

Here’s a telling detail that helps explain why Wisconsin is consistently viewed as an elite program in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Over the last 10 years, UW has navigated three abrupt coaching changes. Bret Bielema left after seven seasons to take the reins at Arkansas in 2012. His replacement, Gary Andersen, bolted after just two seasons in Madison for Oregon State in 2014. Then Paul Chryst, who followed Andersen, was fired five games into his eighth season in 2022.

Yet Wisconsin has crafted such an enduring reputation that, despite the volatility that comes with most regime changes, it was ranked in the Associated Press’ top 25 preseason poll after all three episodes.

UW checked in at No. 23 when Andersen debuted in 2013 and was 20th in 2015 when Chryst took over. The streak will continue into the Luke Fickel Era in 2023. The latest AP preseason ranking, released earlier this month, has the Badgers at No. 19.

No other UW coach made his debut with a team situated in the AP preseason poll, which was introduced in 1950. A curious omission came in 2006 when Bielema took the reins from Hall of Famer Barry Alvarez. Even though the Badgers went 10-3, toppled seventh-rated Auburn in the Capital One Bowl and finished the ’05 season ranked No. 15, they weren’t included in the AP preseason poll to open the ’06 season.

UW proceeded to go 12-1 overall, finish tied for second in the Big Ten Conference and outlast No. 15 Arkansas in the Florida Citrus Bowl. Bielema was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year.

All told, Wisconsin has appeared in the AP preseason ranking 32 times – the sixth-most among current Big Ten members – heading into its season-opener vs. Buffalo at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday. Ohio State has 70, Michigan 52, Penn State 49, Nebraska 46 and Michigan State 33.

Here are five more things to know:

ONE

Long-time Badgers fans may want to brace themselves for a blast of culture shock. Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo have brought an up-tempo offense that promotes balance between the run and pass, but UW may wind up throwing the ball more than any previous team. Senior quarterback Tanner Mordecai, a transfer from Southern Methodist, has thrown for 400-plus yards twice in his college career. UW has had two 400-yard passing performances in program history. Mordecai has thrown for at least 350 yards in a game seven times in his career. Wisconsin has had five different quarterbacks throw for 350 yards or more in a game and only one, Darrell Bevell, did it more than once. Mordecai has topped 300 yards passing in a game 13 times in the last two seasons. Randy Wright and John Stocco have the most in UW history with four each in their careers. Mordecai had 72 touchdown passes in 24 starts spanning two seasons at SMU. The career mark at UW is 59, set by Bevell over the course of four years and 43 starts.

TWO

Tailback Braelon Allen, a junior from Fond du Lac, is vying to become the first Wisconsin product to top 1,000 yards rushing in a season three times. John Clay (Racine) did it in 2009 and ’10. Melvin Gordon (Kenosha) did it in 2013 and ’14. Allen is looking to join 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne and two-time Doak Walker Award recipient Jonathan Taylor as the only true freshmen in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in their first three seasons. Allen had 1,242 as a freshman and 1,268 as a sophomore. He needs 905 to crack the career top-10 list at UW.

THREE

The Wisconsin single-season record for per-game total offense is 480.8 yards in 2013. That club featured a UW first: two 1,000-yard rushers (Gordon and James White) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Jared Abbrederis). Three different tailbacks had 100-yard outings and eight different receivers caught TD passes.

FOUR

The program record for average passing yards per game in a season is 234.3 set in 2011 when Russell Wilson ran the show. UW had two wide receivers with 900-plus yards per outing – Abbrederis and Nick Toon – and three running backs – Montee Ball, Bradie Ewing and James White – combine for 59 catches and 702 yards out of the backfield.

FIVE

Based on the pace of play in spring and preseason practices, it’s likely UW will longer be one of the national leaders in time of possession. Since 2010, the Badgers have led the country in TOP three times and finished in the top 10 nine times.