Wisconsin Badgers
#6 Oregon
Baggot: Five things to know - Badgers head to Eugene
October 23, 2025 | Football
Wisconsin takes on #6 Oregon in Autzen Stadium on Saturday night
Much has been made about the Wisconsin football team’s degree of difficulty when it comes to its current schedule.
The Badgers just faced top-ranked Ohio State and endured a 34-0 Big Ten Conference setback at Camp Randall Stadium that extended their losing streak vs. opponents ranked in the top-10 of the Associated Press’ top-25 poll to seven games. That includes at 38-14 non-conference loss to No. 4 Alabama back on Sept. 13. The last time UW defeated a top-10 club was on Oct. 30, 2021 when it knocked off ninth-ranked Iowa 27-7.
Now the Badgers (2-5 overall, 0-4 in the Big Ten) play at sixth-rated Oregon (6-1, 3-1) on Saturday at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., with a trip to face second-ranked Indiana (7-0, 4-0) looming on Nov. 16.
Since the AP poll came to be in 1936, Wisconsin has had six other seasons where it took on more than three top-10 schools. There were six in 2016 and four each in 2019, 1961, ‘60, ’59 and ’56. There have been five seasons where the Badgers didn’t face a single top-10 team, the most recent in 2018. The other instances took place in 1991, ’87, ’83, ’82, ’71 and ’39.
Here are five more things to know:
COOPER'S (A) HAWK
Inside linebacker Cooper Catalano became the first true freshman to lead the Badgers in tackles in a single game since Nick Herbig did it vs. Michigan in 2020. Catalano, from Richfield, was credited with seven solo stops vs. Ohio State.
MAKING THE GRADE
With a 90.3 grade, according to Pro Football Focus, true freshman inside linebacker Mason Posa, from Albuquerque, N.M., ranks fourth nationally among Football Bowl Subdivision linebackers who have played at least 50 snaps.
TAKING FLIGHT
Redshirt freshman punter Sean West no doubt turned a few heads with his efforts vs. Ohio State. He got off six punts – all surpassing 50 yards – including a 62-yarder. The redshirt freshman from Mequon (Homestead) High School also executed a fake punt that produced a first down.
NOWHERE TO RUN
It’s now been 12 games since the Badgers last had a back rush for 100 yards and there are a multitude of reasons to explain why. Injuries at quarterback, health and inexperience along the offensive line and lack of healthy, high-quality depth at running back. Now throw in the fact that UW has played five teams that are ranked in the top 25 in total defense and you have issues that won’t go away overnight. By the way, Tawee Walker was the most recent back to have a 100-yard outing. He picked up 126 yards on 23 carries during a 23-3 victory over Northwestern on Oct. 19, 2024 before transferring to Cincinnati.
BY THE NUMBERS
Under coach Luke Fickell, the Badgers are 7-0 with a 100-yard rusher, 11-4 with more rushing yards than their opponent, 11-2 with 40-plus rushing attempts and are 13-4 when scoring 20-plus points.
