Vinny Anthony II and Jayden Ballard shake during an NCAA college football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, Sat., Sept. 13, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)

2025 David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications

Football September 17, 2025

Baggot: Five things to know - Badgers open Big Ten play

Wisconsin hosts Maryland for a 11 a.m. kick on NBC

The Wisconsin football team has had impressive success in Big Ten Conference home openers of late.

Entering its duel with Maryland on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium, UW is 17-8 (.680) in conference lid lifters since 2000.

Since 1990, the Badgers are 22-13 (.629) when facing a Big Ten opponent at home for the first time in a season.

Those numbers include some interesting details. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell is unbeaten in league home openers, knocking off Purdue 52-6 last season and Rutgers 24-13 in 2023. Nine of those 13 losses came against ranked opponents. Meanwhile, the Badgers have knocked off ranked foes six times in Big Ten home openers over the last 30 seasons.

Maryland (3-0 overall, 0-0 in league play) comes to Madison for the fifth all-time meeting, having lost the previous four matchups under three different coaches (Randy Edsall, D.J. Durkin and Mike Locksley).

Here are five more things to know:

Vinny Anthony TD return vs. Alabama

VIN NUMBERS

Senior wide receiver Vinny Anthony II is working on a unique project. Through the first three games, he already has scored touchdowns via rush, reception and a kickoff return. So far, he’s the only player in Football Bowl Subdivision to accomplish that feat this season, the first Big Ten player since Jaylin Lucas of Indiana in 2023 and the first UW player since Michael Jones in 1984. Check back later to see if Anthony can maintain his status as the team’s leading scorer, which would make him the first wideout to lead the Badgers in that category since Lee Evans totaled 78 points in 2003.

Jayden Ballard lines up against MTSU

GOOD GO-TO GUY

Ohio State transfer Jayden Ballard is quickly becoming a favored pass-catching target of UW quarterbacks. He’s got two long TD catches so far, one vs. Alabama covering 41 yards and one spanning 58 yards vs. Middle Tennessee State. He now has six receptions for 141 yards. His per-catch average of 23.5 yards would set the program standard for a single season.

Wisconsin home-opener vs. Miami (OH)

600 AND COUNTING

The Badgers began their 2025 home schedule having played 600 games at Camp Randall going back to their first season in the facility in 1917. Their overall home record is 374-206-22 (.656). The top-five best records by an individual coach belong to Gary Andersen from 2013-14 (13-1, .929), Bret Bielema from 2006-12 (44-5, .898), Paul Chryst from 2015-22 (37-10, .787), Ivy Williamson from 1949-55 (25-7-2, .765) and Barry Alvarez from 1990-05 (67-32-3, .672).

Wisconsin rallies to the ball vs. Alabama

YOU CAN RUN, BUT…

The UW defense continues to play well against the run, allowing opponents a mere 1.93 yards per carry, which ranks fifth nationally, and 46.3 yards per game, which has the Badgers ranked fourth among the 136-team FBS. Wisconsin has held opponents to 75 yards or fewer in three straight outings, the first time that’s happened since 2021. The Terrapins come into this meeting with the lowest ranked rushing offense in the Big Ten and No. 113 nationally.

LB Christian Alliegro pressures Alabama QB Ty Simpson

TRENDING UP ON THIRD DOWN

After the Badgers limited 19th-ranked Alabama to just two third-down conversions on seven tries, their success ratio improved to 23.3 percent (7-for-30) on the season. That ranks third in the Big Ten and 11th nationally. Meanwhile, Maryland sits 112th and 17th, respectively, in the league in third-down success ratio at 14-for-43 (32.56).

Sticky Bar

Wisconsin Badgers