Biggest games for Wisconsin football the rest of the year

MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 06: Jake Ferguson #84 of the Wisconsin Badgers makes a catch to score a touchdown in the second quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 06: Jake Ferguson #84 of the Wisconsin Badgers makes a catch to score a touchdown in the second quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – OCTOBER 20: Clayton Thorson #18 of the Northwestern Wildcats throws during the second quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on October 20, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /

Wisconsin at Northwestern

Perhaps one of the best things that Bret Bielema left this program with was his philosophy of trying to go 1-0 every week. I haven’t heard it in a while, but I still think of it from time to time. It was a good idea and something I think this program truly lived by.

It’s more important now than ever to go 1-0.

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The next game up on the schedule is arguably the most important for that exact reason; It’s the next game up. After being dismantled by Michigan, Wisconsin rebounded well against Illinois. The cupcake in that slot on the schedule was perfect. The Badgers had a chance to recoup and regain confidence before facing a tough divisional opponent on the road.

Northwestern has been up and down this year. They beat Purdue week one, hung in there against Michigan, but almost dropped the game last weekend to Rutgers, and lost to Akron earlier in the year. Pat Fitzgerald is always talked about as one of the best coaches in the Big Ten. We’ll see how he gets his team ready for this game.

Wisconsin needs this win to get momentum moving forward. Losing to Rutgers the following week is simply out of the question. Having a three-game winning streak heading into Happy Valley is far more desirable than having to beat Rutgers and regather all that momentum all over again.

Northwestern is very beatable, but they can’t be taken lightly. If the Badgers are going to have a chance in any of the remaining games on this list, or on the schedule, they need to win this game.