College Football
Preview
Northwestern at Wisconsin
When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, November 11, 2023
Where: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

Wisconsin will try to regain its offensive stride against visiting Northwestern on Saturday as the Badgers look to remain in contention in the Big Ten West.

The Badgers (5-4, 3-3) will return to Madison after a 20-14 setback last Saturday at Indiana, their third loss in four games. Northwestern (4-5, 2-4) lost to Iowa 10-7 at Wrigley Field the same day on a field goal with 14 seconds left.

Wisconsin is tied with Nebraska and Minnesota, its final two opponents, a game behind first-place Iowa in the West. In their three recent losses, the Badgers have just 30 points, including only 10 in the first half.

Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai has missed the last three games after breaking his throwing hand. Senior running back Chez Mellusi suffered a season-ending broken leg in the fourth game. And against Indiana, leading rusher Braelon Allen (ankle) and senior wide receiver Chimere Dike (leg) were out.

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell was not sure Monday of the status of Allen and Dike, although both were listed first on this week's depth chart.

"It's hard to tell, the pace you are at on a Sunday -- what does that translate to a Tuesday, Wednesday, and even push it through to a Saturday," Fickell said. "So I wish I knew more."

Redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke completed 21 of 41 passes for 243 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions against Indiana in his third start.

Northwestern quarterback Ben Bryant has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury. Brendan Sullivan has completed 40 of 65 passes for 522 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions over the last three games, but he threw for just 81 yards against Iowa.

Northwestern interim coach David Braun said Monday that Bryant continues to improve but remains uncertain for Saturday.

"Each day we'll know more, but I'm not willing to sit up here and say he's not going to be available," Braun said. "With the progression that he's shown over the last couple of weeks, I think there's a possibility that he's ready to go."

Wisconsin has won five of the last seven meetings with Northwestern, including 42-7 last season.

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W‑L Strk PF PA Home Away Grass Turf Conf
Northwestern 4-5 L1 20.1 24.2 4-2 0-3 4-3 0-0 2-4
Wisconsin 5-4 L2 23.6 19.1 3-2 2-2 1-0 0-0 3-3
Last Meeting
Northwestern Wisconsin
Date Away Home Tot Rus Pas Tot Rus Pas
10/8/22 WIS 42 NW 7 342 79 263 515 193 322
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Passing Player COMP % YDS TD INT
Northwestern R. Hilinski 45.5 147 0 2
Wisconsin G. Mertz 69.0 299 5 0
Rushing Player CAR YDS AVG TD
Northwestern B. Sullivan 10 33 3.3 0
Wisconsin B. Allen 23 135 5.9 0
Receiving Player REC YDS AVG TD
Northwestern B. Kirtz 2 66 33.0 0
Wisconsin C. Dike 10 185 18.5 3
Touchdowns Player TD
Northwestern A. Tyus III 1
Wisconsin C. Dike 3
Season
Passing Player COMP % YDS TD INT
Northwestern B. Bryant 59.4 926 6 3
Wisconsin T. Mordecai 63.7 1128 3 3
Rushing Player CAR YDS AVG TD
Northwestern C. Porter 105 382 3.6 2
Wisconsin B. Allen 130 754 5.8 8
Receiving Player REC YDS AVG TD
Northwestern B. Kirtz 33 507 15.4 4
Wisconsin W. Pauling 46 500 10.9 3
Touchdowns Player TD
Northwestern B. Kirtz 4
Wisconsin B. Allen 8
Quickchart Matchup
Northwestern Northwestern Off vs  Wisconsin Wisconsin Def
Northwestern 292.1 yards
Wisconsin 333.6 yards
Northwestern 2.8 yards/rush
Wisconsin 3.8 yards/rush
Northwestern 6.5 yards/attempt
Wisconsin 6.1 yards/attempt
Wisconsin Wisconsin Off vs  Northwestern Northwestern Def
Wisconsin 374.8 yards
Northwestern 331.1 yards
Wisconsin 4.6 yards/rush
Northwestern 4.1 yards/rush
Wisconsin 5.8 yards/attempt
Northwestern 6.5 yards/attempt