Baggot: Five things to know - Badgers host No. 3 Penn State
October 23, 2024 | Football
UW squares off with Nittany Lions under the lights
The Wisconsin football team has an opportunity to do something oddly significant Saturday night at 6:30 when it hosts third-ranked Penn State at Camp Randall Stadium.
The Badgers will try to have an unbeaten record in the month of October, something they’ve managed only six times since 2001.
So far, Wisconsin (5-2 overall, 3-1 in the Big Ten) has knocked off Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern this month. A victory over the Nittany Lions (6-0, 3-0) would not only give UW its most meaningful triumph of the Luke Fickell coaching era, it would make them bowl eligible for the 23rd consecutive year, give them an unbeaten record in October along with the 2020, 2017, ’13, ’06 and ’04 seasons and put their four November opponents – Iowa, Oregon, Nebraska and Minnesota – on heightened alert.
UW went 4-0 in October of 2017 on its way to a 13-1 overall record and 4-0 in October of 2006 enroute to a 12-1 mark. The 2013 and ’04 squads won nine games each. The 2020 club went 4-3 overall as part of a season disrupted by the COVID pandemic.
By the way, the Badgers went 5-0 in October of 1999 and 4-0 in October of ‘98 on their way to winning consecutive Big Ten titles and Rose Bowls.
Here are five more things to know:
SPEAKING OF OCTOBER
The UW defense has had a strong, encouraging month. It ranks first nationally in scoring defense (5.3 points per game), total defense (232 yards per game), pass defense (100.7 yards per game) and third-down defense (19.1 conversion rate).
RANK AND FILE
Wisconsin has never hosted three top-five opponents at Camp Randall, but that could turn out to be the case this season. Alabama came in as the No. 4 team in the Associated Press top-25 on Sept. 14 and rolled to a 42-10 victory over the Badgers. Now UW waits on No. 3 Penn State and Oregon, currently the top-ranked team in the nation, on Nov. 16.
ONE-SIDED
UW has allowed only one touchdown over its last three Big Ten games. The last Wisconsin team to manage such a feat was in 1998 when the Badgers thumped Illinois 37-3, Iowa 31-0 and Minnesota 26-7.
NIGHT VISION
The Badgers have won 10 of their last 11 games at night going back to 2016. The lone setback was a 24-10 decision at the hands of No. 3 Ohio State last October.
GETTING IT DONE UP FRONT
Wisconsin ranks third in the Big Ten with 1,358 rushing yards and is tied for second in league play with 18 rushing touchdowns.
1st & 10 with Braedyn Locke
Could you tell us about your parents, Troy and Ashley?
My mom had me when she was 17. My dad turned 18 the day I was born. The older I’ve gotten and the more that I’ve been able to understand life, I have so much respect for my parents. Not only are they still together, they raised me and showed me what a loving relationship looks like and what a healthy household looks like. As a kid, I never knew that we struggled. I never knew that we were operating a certain way. We’ve never wanted for anything. My parents were so, so instrumental in my life and still are to this day. They mean the world to me. I’ve got so much respect for the work that they’ve put in and the life that they’ve built. Truthfully, I hope to be half the adult that they’ve been. … My parents were 21 with three kids and no college degree. It’s unbelievable to witness what they’ve done and what they’ve built.
Your worst habit?
Procrastination.
What's your favorite thing about yourself?
My charisma. I think I’m a fairly witty guy. I think I’m likeable.
Is there something people would never guess just by looking at you?
I’m a great hula-hooper.
Is there a new teammate you've come to admire?
I’d say Darrion Dupree. Being in the backfield with him, working with him all the time and spending time with him after practice – getting a chance to really being around him and learning how he thinks and how he operates – has been great.
What's the best gift you've ever given?
I’m a phenomenal gift-giver to my girlfriend, but I think the best gift I ever got was for my mom last Christmas. I got her a coffee mug that said, ‘My favorite child …’ and it had my brother’s and sister’s names crossed out and it had my name circled underneath.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
My aunt played softball at Alabama and this was like the dynasty years for Alabama football, 2012, 2013. A.J. McCarron was the quarterback (of the Crimson Tide) at the time and I was obviously a big fan of. … I actually got a signed picture from him that he signed for me. That was one of my Christmas gifts that year.
What’s next on your bucket list?
I want to attend a Super Bowl.
Attend or play in?
Play in would be my first choice.
Is there a personality trait you’re most proud of?
“Perseverance or leadership because I think those are two areas that I’ve been challenged in a lot over the course of life in general, but also being here at Wisconsin. I’ve been in a situation where I wasn’t always the starter, but I had to kind of stay the course. I’ve also been challenged leadership-wise because that’s a piece of me that’s kind of had to grow. I don’t think that when I got here, my leadership wasn’t where it needed to be. That’s something that I’ve developed and will continue to develop.’’
