Can’t Wait For Saturday | A trip to Alabama makes Wisconsin’s task more challenging | Newsletter

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Greetings from “Can’t Wait For Saturday,” your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He’ll give you his views each day on the game he loves.

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The countdown continues.

On Sunday, I rated Ohio State’s nonconference schedule, which includes a home game against Texas, as the most difficult in the Big Ten.

Up next …

2. Wisconsin.

The Badgers didn’t make a bowl last season, finishing 5-7. That prompted Luke Fickell to overhaul his offensive staff, with Phil Longo replaced as coordinator by Jeff Grimes. Grimes spent the 2024 season at Kansas following stops at BYU and Baylor.

Kenny Guiton will coach the quarterbacks after working with the receivers in ’24.

The offense needs to improve against a killer schedule. The Badgers play at Alabama on Sept. 13. Last season, the Crimson Tide came to Camp Randall Stadium and rolled the home team 42-10. If it happens again — and it might — the whispers about the viability of Fickell’s tenure will turn into shouts.

There is nobody else to worry about in the noncon, but the Big Ten schedule is brutal. Wisconsin plays at Michigan, Oregon and Indiana and hosts Ohio State and Iowa.

Unless the team improves in a hurry, could be a more changes in store in Madtown.

Bob Asmussen is a college football reporter and columnist for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at 217-393-8248 or asmussen@news-gazette.com.

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Publish date : 2025-03-17 14:51:00

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