As everyone walked through the gates of Camp Randall there was an excitement that wasn’t felt at all last season. Prior to the game, the student ticket market was one unlike any game in years, with some buying student tickets for roughly $125. Walking into the stadium, security, and funneling the students in was still a disaster. After students picked up their free bucket hats, they were smushed in the entryway of the section gates as kids shoved and squeezed through others in order to reach their friends. Kids were continuously getting to their seats up until 12 minutes were left in the second quarter. However, while I was eating an amazing brat in the scorching sun, the traditions of badger football games were still intact. Bucky’s pushups were a fan favorite as students still chatted about wanting to run the ball every play (I thought we were over that style?) The best new student section addition was the pretzel man. Multiple times, starting in the third quarter, employees from the pretzel stand came up to the student section with huge trays of pretzels to hand out. It is a consensus that students want to see the amazing pretzels at games in the future. Even though half of the students left after Jump Around, the smiles and excitement surrounding the game were impeccable. Students are already counting down the days until the Georgia Southern home game.

In a highly anticipated matchup at Camp Randall Stadium, the Washington State Cougars jumped to an early lead, orchestrating a trio of touchdown drives in the second quarter, while the Wisconsin Badgers managed just a field goal. However, the Badgers mounted a spirited comeback in the second half, cutting a 15-point halftime deficit to just two points early in the fourth quarter. A pivotal fumble by Wisconsin's Chez Mellusi, converted into a 10-play, 57-yard touchdown drive by the Cougars, ultimately sealed the victory for Washington State. Despite Wisconsin's last-ditch effort to mount a comeback, they turned the ball over on downs with 3 ½ minutes remaining, and the Cougars effectively ran out the clock to secure a 31-22 win in a thrilling contest.

As everyone walked through the gates of Camp Randall there was an excitement that wasn’t felt at all last season. Prior to the game, the student ticket market was one unlike any game in years, with some buying student tickets for roughly $125. Walking into the stadium, security, and funneling the students in was still a disaster. After students picked up their free bucket hats, they were smushed in the entryway of the section gates as kids shoved and squeezed through others in order to reach their friends. Kids were continuously getting to their seats up until 12 minutes were left in the second quarter. However, while I was eating an amazing brat in the scorching sun, the traditions of badger football games were still intact. Bucky’s pushups were a fan favorite as students still chatted about wanting to run the ball every play (I thought we were over that style?) The best new student section addition was the pretzel man. Multiple times, starting in the third quarter, employees from the pretzel stand came up to the student section with huge trays of pretzels to hand out. It is a consensus that students want to see the amazing pretzels at games in the future. Even though half of the students left after Jump Around, the smiles and excitement surrounding the game were impeccable. Students are already counting down the days until the Georgia Southern home game.

In a game that was supposed to be filled by celebrating a nationally televised Big Ten opening win on the road, it ended up with a bitter sweet outcome with an injury to Chez Mellusi. The Badgers outlasted the Purdue Boilermakers, 38-17. With the win, the Badgers move to 3-1 heading into a bye week. The Wisconsin offense was led through the ground game as Braelon Allen carried a large weight of the offensive success. Allen had 116 yards with two touchdowns, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. Mellusi had 11 carries for 39 yards before going out with a season ending injury in the fourth quarter. Tanner Mordecai was showing off the use of his legs, scoring twice on the ground while having 14 carries for 44 yards. Mordecai, who is known as a pocket passer, proved that when a play breaks down he can use his legs to extend the play. Through the air Mordecai was 17/27 with 174 yards. Chimere Dike and CJ Williams led the team in receiving with 67 and 56 yards, respectively. On the defensive side of the ball, the third quarter was the only quarter in which the Badgers let up. Purdue scored two touchdowns in the third, but was held to only a field goal in the other three quarters of play. After the bye week the Badgers will host Rutgers, a team that will be coming off a game against FCS opponent Wagner.

In a game that started off extremely well for Wisconsin, the Badgers beat Rutgers, 24-13 to improve to 4-1. On a Saturday with beautiful weather, Wisconsin was able to control the momentum throughout the entire game. Spirits were high as it was the homecoming game and two weeks since the Badgers were home. The Wisconsin defense was great throughout the entire game, but especially in the first quarter, with the only score being a field goal by Nathanial Vakos. However, in the second quarter the electric energy of the home crowd came into full effect with not only a Braelon Allen touchdown but also a 95-yard pick six by Ricardo Hallman. The Badgers continued their run game excellence with Jackson Acker playing the RB2 role with 13 carries for 65 carries. Tanner Mordecai proved yet again that he is an amazing game manager for Wisconsin who can keep the team calm, distribute the ball, and use his legs. Mordecai had 11 rushing attempts for 50 yards to go along with 145 yards and a touchdown. The Badgers are now in first place in the Big Ten West with a one game advantage over Iowa. Wisconsin will remain at Camp Randall for next week's showdown against Iowa, which will decide who will be at the top of the west and could have season long implications for who goes to Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship in Decemeber.

In a game that encapsulated the Big Ten West, the Iowa Hawkeyes beat the Wisconsin Badgers, 15-6. Even though the game was very limited in action, the game had major implications for the road to the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis. With the win in Camp Randall Iowa and Wisconsin are now tied at the top of the Big Ten West, with Iowa now having the tiebreaker. There was much anticipation for the game, as Badger fans knew the implications and whenever there is a trophy involved, students will show up. However the game did not go as planned. The first offensive drive of the game started strong for the Badgers before turning it over on downs at the Iowa 13. From then on, mostly punts were exchanged with only one touchdown, which was scored by Iowa, was scored in the first half. However, the worst for the Badgers was quarterback Tanner Mordecai left the game in the second quarter and did not return. The Badgers had life in the end of the game but a safety and then fumble put the game away for Wisconsin. The Badgers go on the road next week to take on Illinois.

For the people that said Wisconsin football is not exciting, they were proved wrong as Wisconsin defeated Illinois, 25-21, thanks to a last minute touchdown. The game represented a lot for the Badgers as it was a chance to get back on track after a loss to Iowa and marked the first career start for quarterback Braedyn Locke. The Badgers offense started out slow, which was expected for a quarterback making his first start on the road. Wisconsin got on the board with less than a minute left in the first half thanks to a great two minute drill by Locke and ending with a Braelon Allen rushing touchdown. Illinois scored one touchdown in each of the first three quarters, leading 21-7 heading into the fourth quarter. At the start of the fourth quarter Nathanial Vakos hit a 41-yard field goal before the defense got a huge stop. Locke and the offense then drove 80 yards to cap it off with a 20 yard touchdown to Will Pauling. With about 3 minutes left, the Wisconsin defense forced a punt which allowed Locke to yet again go down the field, with Allen having a huge 11-yard gain on a 3rd and 10 play. The drive finished with a 3-yard touchdown pass to offensive lineman Nolan Rucci with just 27 seconds left. The Badgers will look to capitalize off this thrilling victory with their biggest test of the season, a night game on NBC against undefeated Ohio State.

In the most anticipated game of the year, the Wisconsin Badgers were outlasted by Ohio State, 24-10. Even though the score showed the game as a two touchdown game, the game was much closer than the score. Walking into the stadium, there was a feeling that it was a big game: it was all red in the student section, pom poms waving, and most of the students arrived on time. The momentum was all in favor of the Badgers early as they got a 4th down stop in front of the student section. Wisconsin was not able to get points on the board early but kept the full momentum especially with a red zone interception to end the first quarter. The Badgers biggest opportunity for a touchdown came right before halftime on a pass to Skyler Bell. The pass was originally ruled a touchdown, but after review, officials said that Bell’s knee was down and the Badgers had to settle for a field goal. Wisconsin continued the momentum into the second half, scoring a touchdown on the opening drive. However, the Badgers were not able to score after that. Ohio State was able to capitalize on the Badgers’ mistakes, scoring two touchdowns in the second half. Wisconsin will be on the road next week to take on Indiana.

On Saturday the Wisconsin Badgers traveled to Bloomington where the Indiana Hoosiers beat the Badgers, 20-14. Like some of the Badgers’ other games this season, it started out slow for the Badgers, not scoring until the second quarter until Bryson Green scored a 54-yard touchdown. The Wisconsin defense kept them in the game but Indiana had the momentum going into halftime as they scored a touchdown with just 41 seconds remaining in the first half. Braedyn Locke connected with Will Pauling for a touchdown on the first drive of the second half but Wisconsin could not do anything after that. Locke went 21/41 with 243 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions. In place of Braelon Allen’s absence, Jackson Acker and Cade Yacamelli split time almost identically as they had 11 and 10 carries, respectively, and each had 48 yards. Wisconsin will return to Camp Randall next week to take on 4-5 Northwestern.

After going into Minnesota and beating them 28-14, the Axe has officially returned to Madison. The game started out slow with it being a defensive battle and the Minnesota Gophers scoring the only points in the first quarter thanks to a rushing touchdown. In the second quarter the Badgers rushing game got going with Braelon Allen having a 5-yard rushing touchdown to open up the quarter. The Gophers then scored on a passing touchdown before the Badgers answered back with a Will Pauling touchdown to even the game going into halftime. The second half was all Wisconsin with both Braelon Allen and Riley Nowakowski scoring touchdowns in the third. Wisconsin outgained Minnesota 412-286, with 165 of those yards coming from Braelon Allen. Tanner Mordecai was 14/22 to go along with his two touchdowns while Chimere Dike led the receivers with two catches for 46 yards. The Badgers will now await their bowl placement to end the 2023 season.