Cards have fallen in Luke Fickell's favor ahead of Wisconsin's matchup vs. Penn State

Through three games of the Wisconsin Badgers’ 2026 campaign, plenty of skepticism and optimism have begun to circulate. Some fans seem to think doom is on the horizon, as a rough first two outings and a big-time opponent in Penn State on the horizon could create the storm for a disappointing loss.

However, despite some of the pessimism, favor has begun to swing in the way of the Badgers in recent days, with some recent injury updates and positive momentum hinting at the fact that this game might be more winnable than previously thought.

Stroke of Injury Luck

For one, starting running back Abu Sama III has reportedly returned to a clean bill of health. The Iowa State transfer missed a large portion of the Western Illinois game, along with sitting out the entirety of the Eastern Michigan game, battling through a nagging shoulder injury.

The rest, however, may have been exactly what he needed, as now he is ready to return and bring back the explosive threat to the Wisconsin backfield.

Sticking with the theme of injuries benefiting the Badgers in the short term, rumors have begun to circulate that Penn State’s leading pass catcher, Koby Howard, may not be able to suit up on Saturday. Howard is currently listed as questionable, with Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell citing him being a bit dinged up following a 70-yard touchdown in their previous game.

Losing him would mean Penn State losing its top threat, as Howard has already racked up 322 yards and two touchdowns, along with tacking on 24 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Him not playing would mean less pressure on an otherwise struggling Wisconsin secondary, instilling a bit more hope in the defense’s ability to hold up.

Controlling the controllable

The other, and arguably much larger reason, why the cards are falling in the Badgers’ favor has nothing to do with chance. Rather, it’s the optimism that was built from the in-game performance in Wisconsin’s latest outing.

After the first two games of the year, a handful of questions really began to build up. Some wondered if Colton Joseph was “the guy” he was built up to be. Others wondered if the Badgers had weapons capable of making plays and taking pressure off of QB1. And everyone wondered why Wisconsin still couldn’t figure out how to win the possession battle against inferior teams.

That said, a lot of those questions were answered — at least for the time being — against Eastern Michigan. Joseph had his “breakout” performance, throwing for 362 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. Tyrell Henry had one of the best receiving performances in Badger history, notching 14 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown.

But most importantly, the defense did what fans had been begging for, turning Eastern Michigan over three times and even adding some extra juice on special teams with a blocked kick and punt. These are the kind of things that should really have Wisconsin fans excited, as it’s tangible momentum to carry into the next week.

Now, with the first Big Ten test on the horizon, Badger fans have a bit of hope to hold onto, which could be all that’s needed.

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