Wisconsin football opens 2025 with a win over MAC contender Miami (OH)
Despite an injury to QB Billy Edwards Jr., the Badgers defeat Miami behind the impressive game from the defense.
It took a half, but the Wisconsin football team certainly looks like an improved one from a year ago.
The Badgers came away with a 17-0 victory over the Miami RedHawks to start the season 1-0. Here are my takeaways from the Badgers’ season-opening victory.
Game Recap
For the third year in a row, the Badgers have had to call upon their backup quarterback after starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. left the game in the second quarter with what appeared to be a non-contact knee injury. Immediately after the half, the team announced he would be out for the remainder of the game.
The offense seemed sluggish and ineffective, leading their MAC opponent just 3-0 at the half after starting the game as 17.5-point favorites. Backup quarterback Danny O’Neil manufactured a drive into the red zone but threw a questionable interception on 4th and 3 that left many Wisconsin fans wondering if it was really Braedyn Locke in disguise rocking No. 18 in the Cardinal and White.
But then on the next drive, we saw some life. O’Neil showed both his running and passing abilities. He threaded a dime to tight end Grant Stec down to the three-yard line, setting the Badgers up for a first-and-goal. The very next play, he pulled the handoff on an RPO and hit Vinny Anthony in stride on a slant for a touchdown, putting the Badgers up 10-0.
A Preston Zachman interception in the middle of the fourth quarter got Wisconsin down to the two-yard line led to a Danny O’Neil quarterback sneak to put the Badgers up 17-0 with 6:45 to play.
As the RedHawks were driving, Finn threw up a deep pass with 5:05 left in the game, and Zachman came down with his second pick of the game.
After that, the Badgers were able to run out the clock and come away with a 17-0 victory, making them 1-0 on the young season.
What I Liked
The defense
This phase of the team was impressive. They were flying around the field making plays left and right. The team that struggled with mobile quarterbacks a year ago held Dequan Finn in check, allowing just 13 yards on the ground. The pass rush didn’t allow him to do a whole lot through the air either. Finn completed just 9/18 passes for 83 yards and two interceptions.
They also didn’t allow a third-down conversion all game, forcing the RedHawks to go 0/9 on third downs.
Speaking of the pass rush…
The Wisconsin coaching staff made a concerted effort to rebuild that room, and it showed. Louisville transfer Mason Reiger made his presence felt early, getting to the quarterback in the first quarter. But Sebastian Cheeks, who was with the program last year, was everywhere. Finn was constantly under pressure and forced to tuck the ball and run, take a sack, or attempt difficult passes. Nothing was easy for him all night.
If they can get even half of that consistently in conference play this season, this defense could be a huge factor in the Badgers’ exceeding expectations and that well-known 5.5-game win total.
Danny O’Neil > Braedyn Locke
Danny O’Neil came off the bench after Billy Edwards Jr., and outside of his bad interception, he looked pretty good. He may have hung onto the ball a little long, which resulted in some sacks, but some of that is on the offensive line, specifically the left tackle, who didn’t give him a ton of time to throw.
O’Neil was in control of the offense all game, and you never got the feeling that he was a back-breaking turnover waiting to happen like Braedyn Locke was in the past two seasons.
I’m not sure he is going to be a player who can lead the Badgers to big wins in conference, but I definitely have more confidence in him after one game than I ever did with Locke.
What I Didn’t Like
Davis Heinzen
The senior left tackle has been the replacement for preferred starter Kevin Heywood, who went down with a knee injury in the spring. Heinzen committed to Wisconsin in late April, missing all of spring practice. He won the ‘competition’ for the left tackle spot in fall camp, but there never seemed to be much of a competition.
Whether it was Edwards Jr. or O’Neil, Wisconsin quarterbacks were under duress a lot more often than you’d like to see against an opponent at the level of Miami (OH). When the Badgers start Big Ten play against teams with some serious pass rushers, the Badgers could be in trouble if they can’t get that position fixed.
Quarterback injuries
Are we cursed?
Three straight years, the Badgers brought in a veteran quarterback from the portal, and three straight years that quarterback has gotten hurt.
Obviously, we don’t know the extent of Edwards Jr.’s injury, but he could potentially miss some time with a trip to Tuscaloosa looming in just two weeks. If he were to miss some time, the Badgers would be just one play away from Hunter Simmons coming in and taking snaps for the Badgers.
Not ideal.
Top Performers
Danny O’Neil
O’Neil ended the game with 120 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception. But he also made some plays with his legs, running for 13 yards (with sacks counting against him), including a 17-yard scamper and a one-yard touchdown run to ice the game in the fourth quarter.
Danny O’Neil is a gamer.
Preston Zachman
The ball-hawking safety had interceptions in back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter for the Badgers, putting the game away. He added a pair of tackles to boot.
Last season, the Badgers had just four interceptions all season. Tonight, Zachman had half of that himself.
The linbacking corps
I couldn’t just pick one. Mason Reiger, Sebastian Cheeks, Christian Alliegro, Tackett Curtis, and Darryl Peterson all combined for 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks.
This is a deep group, and they showed tonight that any of them can make plays. Having a rotation with this much depth will keep them all fresh, specifically on the edge.
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Wisconsin will host Middle Tennessee next Saturday, September 6th, at 3:00 PM CT on FS1.
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