Wisconsin Football: 3 Observations from Humiliating Loss to Indiana

The Wisconsin Badgers football team (5-4, 3-3) faced a soul-crushing 20-14 defeat against the Indiana Hoosiers (3-6, 1-5) in a game that they never led, putting their odds of winning the Big Ten West race out of reach. 

Offensively, the Badgers struggled, putting up only seven points in each half, all while missing key players like running back Braelon Allen and wide receiver Chimere Dike.

Defensively, the Badgers faced an early struggle but managed to hold Indiana to just three points in the second half, striving to keep the offense in the game, though the efforts ultimately went unrewarded.

Here are three key observations from the Wisconsin Badgers’ 20-14 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers.

Wisconsin Football QB Braedyn Locke Struggled

Despite criticisms of offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s playcalling, the game’s outcome often rested in the hands of Wisconsin football quarterback Braedyn Locke, who couldn’t seize the moment. 

In a crucial situation, Locke failed to recognize the play clock, resulting in a costly delay of game penalty that pushed the offense back to a 3rd & 15 at the Indiana 23-yard line. Later, he took a detrimental sack on 3rd down, causing the Badgers to get pushed outside of field goal range. 

Locke’s inaccuracy was evident throughout the game, completing 21-of-41 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Despite some external factors, Locke had ample opportunities to change the game’s outcome but couldn’t deliver. There’s plenty to like about his future under center, but today was forgettable, to say the least. 

There Was Nothing Complimentary About the Way Wisconsin Football Played vs. Indiana

Head coach Luke Fickell has consistently stressed the importance of complementary football. Unfortunately, the Wisconsin Badgers have struggled to execute this strategy effectively. The defense stumbled at the beginning of the game, conceding a touchdown on the first drive and narrowly avoiding a missed field goal on the next.

While Mike Tressel’s defense improved drastically in the second half, holding the Hoosiers to just 36 yards, the offense couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities presented, missing out on scoring points. 

The Wisconsin football team needs to find a way to play as a cohesive unit to start stringing together something down the stretch or it’ll just be more of the same. 

Discipline Issues Continue 

Wisconsin continues to grapple with discipline problems, accumulating eight penalties for 78 yards during the game. 

These penalties often occurred in crucial situations, disrupting offensive drives or prolonging defensive ones — either way, this team isn’t good enough to overcome them week in and week out. Luke Fickell has to figure this out — period. 

Holding penalties, false starts, and delay of game infractions plagued the team. Defensively, the Wisconsin Badgers also faced challenges, with three pass interference penalties extending drives for the Hoosiers.

Consistent, complementary football remains elusive for the Badgers, and discipline issues, including penalties, have been a significant hindrance. The team must address these concerns to regain control of their season.

It’s hard to feel good about this season — hopefully, brighter days are ahead. 

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