In conversations for Athlon Sports’ 2025 College Football Preview magazine, Big Ten head coaches were clear in what they believe held the Wisconsin Badgers back during the first two years of the Luke Fickell era.
“Nothing about the [air raid] offense made sense there,” one coach said. “[Phil] Longo moving on benefits everyone involved, and if they bounce back and become more of a modern version of that classic Wisconsin power run offense, you’ll wonder why they ever made the move in the first place.”
More specifically, Longo’s unit averaged just 23.5 and 22.6 points per game in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Significant variables must be mentioned, primarily the team playing a majority of those games without its Week 1 starting quarterback. 2023 starter Tanner Mordecai missed significant time during the middle of the season with a broken hand, while 2024 starter Tyler Van Dyke went down in Week 3 with a season-ending injury. Backup Braedyn Locke mostly struggled in relief.
Still, Longo’s unit fell far short of expectations in both of his seasons with the program. A lack of positive trajectory and apparent philosophical differences led to his firing after the Badgers’ Week 12 loss to Oregon last season. While the team went on to lose to rivals Nebraska and Minnesota to close the year, it now has renewed optimism entering 2025 with former Kansas offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes at the helm. That first anonymous coach highlighted what Fickell is working toward with Grimes’ hire: ‘A modern version of that classic Wisconsin power run offense.’
A second coach reflected that sentiment, highlighting one position group that can help make it happen.
“Grimes is a great hire,” the coach said. “They flipped the entire offense except for the backs. They need to go back to Wisconsin football this season, and they’ve got a…
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Publish date : 2025-05-27 10:05:00
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