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Wisconsin Football vs. New Mexico Lobos: Tale of the tape

By Christian Borman

MADISON, WI - AUGUST 31: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers breaks a tackle attempt by Kyle Bailey #36 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the first quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - AUGUST 31: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers breaks a tackle attempt by Kyle Bailey #36 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the first quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin football head coach Paul Chryst
PROVO, UT – SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Paul Chryst of the Wisconsin Badgers looks on from the sideline during the Badgers game against the BYU Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

The Coaches

Wisconsin

Wisconsin boasts some of the most respected coaches in the country. Some believe they have the best coaching staff in the country. Wisconsin is led by Paul Chryst. Since rejoining Wisconsin in 2015, he has led Wisconsin to 10, 11, and 13 win seasons respectively.

He has also won back-to-back Big Ten coach of the year awards in 2016 and 2017. In those two years, he led Wisconsin to the Big Ten Championship game. Chryst has a career 4-1 bowl game record, and 3-0 while at Wisconsin. He has bowl wins at the Holiday Bowl over USC, the Cotton Bowl over Western Michigan, and an Orange Bowl victory over Miami last season.

Along with Chryst, Wisconsin has one of the best young defensive coordinators in the country in Jim Leonhard. Leonhard has only been at the helm for a year, but in that year the Badgers defense finished 2nd in total defense (262.1 ypg), trailing only the eventual national champion, Alabama. They also finished 3rd in points allowed (13.9 ppg), behind Alabama and Clemson.

Position grades from week one vs Western Kentucky. light. More

New Mexico

New Mexico is led by Bob Davie. Davie has been the head coach for the Lobos since 2012 and has a record of 31-45 in that time. He led the Lobos to a 9-4 record and a Mountain West Conference championship in 2016 with a victory in the New Mexico Bowl over the UTSA Roadrunners.

Davie previously coached the University of Notre Dame from 1997-2001. He has a career bowl record of 1-4.

Calvin Magee came from the University of Arizona to New Mexico to be the offensive coordinator. Last season he helped Arizona finish 3rd in rushing yards per game and 12th in total offense. He helped Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate win the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week four consecutive weeks, despite only playing in 11 games.

The Lobos defense is manned by Kevin Cosgrove, who is in his fifth season with New Mexico. Last season the Lobos finished 70th in total defense (398.0 ypg)  and t-94th in scoring defense (31.8 ppg) in the NCAA.

Advantage: Wisconsin