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Wisconsin football: 3 preseason 2023 storylines to follow

By Earlzo Singleton

Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell speaks to the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Clinic at the Easton Hilton on Feb. 3, 2023.Dsc05130
Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell speaks to the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Clinic at the Easton Hilton on Feb. 3, 2023.Dsc05130 /
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Nov 26, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Maema Njongmeta (55) commits a penalty on Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (8) during the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Maema Njongmeta (55) commits a penalty on Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (8) during the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Can the defense recover?

The Badgers’ defense has been one of the best in the country the past six seasons, ranking in the top five in total defense three of those years, but that was under former defensive coordinator Jim Leonard. Income’s new coordinator Mike Tressel, who was also at Cincinnati with coach Luke Fickell last season.

Under Tressel, the Cincinnati defense helped the program get back-to-back 11-win seasons, and in 2021, Cincinnati was the only undefeated regular-season team in college football. Tressel’s defense ranked first in sacks, scoring defense, quarterback passer rating, passing yards, and total defense in the ACC that year.

The Badgers did lose two key contributors on defense to the NFL draft in Nick Herbig and Keanu Benton, both drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the defense does bring back its leading tackler, Maema Njongmeta. Look for Tressel to bring his 3-3-5 defense to the Big Ten.

The only consistent thing Wisconsin continues to do is have an impactful running back and a consistent defense. Case in point, Wisconsin’s 2019 team played in the Big Ten championship game against Ohio State. The defense ranked fifth, the running game with Johnathan Taylor ranked first, meanwhile the passing game was ranked near the bottom.

Let’s just hope Fickell can put together a more well-rounded team this season.

Next. College football's post-spring Top 25 projections. dark

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