Looking Ahead
The outlook for this team is positive. It’s 3-1 and in first place in the division. The good moments far outshine the bad ones to me. The loss to BYU will haunt the Badgers in the polls and the eyes of the College Football Playoff committee if it comes to that. However, the big win against Iowa and the strong showing from Alex Hornibrook is a very welcomed sight. Jonathan Taylor has been great so far and should only get better.
The defense has struggled but its leaders are too good to let it fall too far. D’Cota Dixon, T.J. Edwards, Ryan Connelly, and Olive Sagapolu are some of the best defenders in the Big Ten. Others around them like Zack Baun, Isaiahh Loudermilk, and Scott Nelson will improve down the stretch and the unit will strengthen.
The schedule ahead is going to ensure the Badgers earn whatever success they find this year. Road games at Michigan and Penn State have been written and talked about for months. More road games at Purdue and Northwestern will only make things tougher.
The Badgers have a solid mix of veterans and bright underclassmen that should make for a strong contender in the Big Ten when everything starts clicking. The ceiling is high and there are plenty of stars to help the young guys get there. I feel the best is yet to come from Jonathan Taylor too. He’s just itching to have a monster game. I expect to see it soon.