Wisconsin Badgers vs Michigan Wolverines Is 2019 Statement Game

MADISON, WI — To say that the Wisconsin Badger football game this Saturday at home against the Michigan Wolverines is a statement game for both teams would be an understatement.

The 13th-ranked Badgers and 11th-ranked Wolverines come into Saturday’s contest as two of the most formidable teams in the country. It’s also just the fourth time in the last 20 years that two top-15 teams have locked horns at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.

Wisconsin has opened the season by obliterating two non-conference opponents. On Aug. 30, Bucky defeated the South Florida Bulls 49-0, and then followed that up a week later by clobbering Central Michigan 61-0.

The Wolverines, by contrast, defeated Middle Tennessee 40-21 in their opener, and then eked out a 24-21 win against Army in double overtime.

Game At a Glance

Wisconsin Badgers at home against Michigan Wolverines
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019
11 a.m. CDT
Camp Randall Stadium
Madison, Wis.

Previous Meeting

Last time out, Wisconsin fell to Michigan 38-13 in Ann arbor. Badger quarterback Alex Hornibrook was harassed all day by Michigan defense. He threw for 100 yards and two interceptions. Michigan's Shea Patterson accounted for 214 yards of offense and one touchdown. Karan Higdon ran for 105 yards and one touchdown in the game.

“I think when you look back at that one, or any game like that, it’s execution — or failure to execute,” Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst said Monday in a Wisconsin State Journal report.

Big Questions Will Be Answered Saturday

This game will answer a really big question that faces the Big Ten’s two most prominent teams: will either team’s new-look offense be able to overpower the other’s top-ranked defense? Which team will make the statement of the day?

Michigan safety Josh Metellus said in a Detroit Free Press article. “Everybody playing better football, not a lot of mistakes, everybody running to the ball, everybody playing hard, doing their job," he said. "That’s what we want to put out as our statement.”

Wisconsin wide receiver Quintez Cephus said in a Wisconsin State Journal report this week: We just have to be strong and be really aggressive and explosive and kind of play downhill and fast. I think that’s my approach to the game is to come out and be as physical as I can be, as strong as fast as I can and try to win the one-on-one matchups.”

The Badgers

The 2019 Badgers aren't your run-of-the mill Wisconsin football team. Running back Jonathan Taylor leads the Badger rushing attack with 237 yards on 35 attempts, and five touchdowns. He's also benefitted from a vastly improved passing attack to catch five passes for 65 yards and three touchdowns.

Wide receiver Quintez Cephus, back from a suspension and an acquittal in a sexual assault case, has hauled in nine receptions for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Jack Coan has been a revelation for the team's passing attack, and has torched inferior competition for 564 passing yards and five touchdowns without throwing an interception.

As if that weren’t enough, the Badgers sport the best defense in college football. They haven's surrendered a point yet in 2019, and have limited their opponents to a microscopic 107.5 yards per game. Linebackers Mike Maskalunas, Leo Chenal and Chris Orr lead the team in tackles, and linebacker Zack Baun has already notched two quarterback sacks.

The Wolverines

The 2019 Wolverines aren't your typical Michigan team, either. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh brought in a new offensive coordinator in Josh Gattis to transform the team's style of play.

According to an MLive report, Michigan finished 50th in college football in yards per game at 419.5, even though they averaged more than 35 points per game. The coaching staff felt the team needed more big plays.

Michigan had already started using run-pass option plays - called RPOs for short. An RPO is a play that is designed to be executed as either a run or a pass, with the quarterback deciding whether to run or pass based on how the opposing defense lines up against the formation.

This year, Michigan fans can expect to see a quick-tempo offense with no-huddle plays and more spread-out offensive formations. Quarterbacks Shea Patterson and Dylan McCaffrey will use their athletic gifts to scramble and throw downfield in the hunt for more explosive plays.