STEVE MEGARGEE
Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan (17) throws against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Stingy Wisconsin defense readies for Coan, Fighting Irish

By Steve Megargee 9 hrs ago
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin ranks second in the nation in total defense. The

Jacksonville State quarterback Zerrick Cooper (6) is sacked by Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson II (11) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
Prospect watch: FSU's Johnson capitalizing on expanded role

By Steve Megargee Sep. 17, 2021 11:30 AM EDT
Jermaine Johnson bet on himself when he decided to transfer from Georgia to

Wisconsin's Chez Mellusi runs during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Madison, Wis. Penn State won 16-10. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
No. 18 Badgers seek to end Eastern Michigan's Big Ten streak

By Steve Megargee Sep. 09, 2021 12:03 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin will try to bounce back from its season-opening

Wisconsin's Chez Mellusi celebrates his touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Madison, Wis. Penn State won 16-10. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Clemson transfer Mellusi enjoys heavy workload with Badgers

By Steve Megargee Sep. 08, 2021 12:35 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi devoted his offseason

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, file photo, Iowa offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum (65) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Indiana in Iowa City, Iowa. As much as Big Ten teams love having fans back this year after playing without spectators in the pandemic-delayed 2020 season, the change is requiring some adjustments because communicating on the field isn’t quite as easy as it was a year ago when they were in empty stadiums. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
So long, sound of silence: Teams adapt again to noisy crowds

By Steve Megargee Sep. 07, 2021 03:46 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — College football teams spent the first big weekend of the

Wisconsin's Graham Mertz throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football gameagainst Penn State Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Badgers' Mertz remains optimistic after disappointing opener

By Steve Megargee Sep. 06, 2021 05:25 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz wants to make sure he

Wisconsin's Jake Ferguson catches a pass in front of Penn State's Joey Porter Jr. during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Defense helps No. 19 Penn State edge No. 12 Wisconsin 16-10

By Steve Megargee Sep. 04, 2021 04:13 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Penn State’s defense continually stood tall and Wisconsin

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Penn State head coach James Franklin leads his team onto the field for an NCAA college football game against Rutgers in State College, Pa. Penn State faces Wisconsin on Saturday as they open their college football season. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
No. 12 Wisconsin, No. 19 Penn State eager for fresh starts

By Steve Megargee Sep. 02, 2021 02:28 AM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin and Penn State believe they are ready to contend

Francesca Dehorta, 9, left, has a bear painted on her arm by Ayla Rose Barreau while tailgating before an NCAA college football game between the Hawaii Warriors and the UCLA Bruins Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. Colleges across the country are cautiously optimistic that pregame tailgating will largely return to normal even since the emergence of the delta variant of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Tailgaters cautiously optimistic but wary as season starts

By Steve Megargee Aug. 31, 2021 03:20 AM EDT
This usually is the time of year that Mississippi alumnus Sid Seal is putting

FILE - Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz is interviewed during the team's NCAA college football media day at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., in this Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, file photo. Mertz and the Wisconsin Badgers are eager to show how far they’ve come since a disappointing 2020 season that ended with a 4-3 record. They’ll get a chance to showcase that Saturday with a tough season-opening test against No. 19 Penn State. (Kayla Wolf/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File)
No. 12 Badgers eager to show offense is back vs Penn State

By Steve Megargee Aug. 30, 2021 03:36 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin has plenty of reasons to believe its offense

FILE - In this Dec. 19, 2020, file photo, Wisconsin linebacker Jack Sanborn chases Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim (24) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Madison, Wis. Sanborn collected a team-high 52 tackles last season to help Wisconsin place fifth nationally in total defense and tie for ninth in scoring defense. He will lead Wisconsin’s defense again when the 12th-ranked Badgers open their season Saturday by hosting No. 19 Penn State. (AP Photo/Andy Manis, File)
Sanborn leads defense, guides brother for No. 12 Wisconsin

By Steve Megargee Aug. 29, 2021 10:49 AM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin linebacker Jack Sanborn was making an impression

FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2020, file photo, Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson runs up field during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. Ferguson has a special understanding of his school’s football history that makes him want to leave his own legacy on the program. Growing up as the grandson of former Wisconsin football coach and athletic director Barry Alvarez will do that. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Ferguson continuing family tradition for No. 12 Wisconsin

By Steve Megargee Aug. 25, 2021 01:17 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson has a special

FILE - Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks (26) carries during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., in this Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, file photo. Most of the top college football players who opted out of the 2020 season due to the pandemic decided to leave school and launch their pro careers. But plenty of other players who opted out of last season chose to continue their college careers either at their original school or opted to transfer. The list of notable players back this season after opting out last year features two-time, 1,000-yard rusher Kennedy Brooks of Oklahoma.(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
PICK SIX: Brooks tops list of players back after opting out

By Steve Megargee Aug. 20, 2021 02:20 AM EDT
Most of the top college football players who opted out of the 2020 season

North Carolina running back Ty Chandler runs during an NCAA college football practice in Chapel Hill, N.C., Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
PICK SIX: Ex-Tennessee players head list of impact transfers

By Steve Megargee Aug. 18, 2021 02:35 AM EDT
Tennessee hasn’t finished a season ranked higher than 22nd since 2007, yet

Wisconsin head football coach Paul Chryst talks to reporters during the team's NCAA college football media day at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. (Kayla Wolf/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)
Experience could help Wisconsin return to form this season

By Steve Megargee Aug. 16, 2021 11:03 AM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Perhaps no program savors a return to normalcy this season

FILE - Then-Dallas Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown looks at the score board during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., in this Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, file photo. Wisconsin’s run-oriented tradition coaxed former NFL assistant Gary Brown into the college ranks after a bout with cancer caused him to spend a year away from the game. The Badgers’ new running backs coach wants to get Wisconsin back among the nation’s elite rushing attacks as he mentors a group returning Jalen Berger and adding Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi and freshman Braelon Allen. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally, File)
Badgers' ground attack has plenty of options and uncertainty

By Steve Megargee Aug. 11, 2021 05:57 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin believes it has enough talent in the backfield

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Friday, July 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Badgers aim to regain consistency that was missing last year

By Steve Megargee Aug. 05, 2021 06:03 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst discussed the key to

FILE - Chris McIntosh smiles as the Seattle Seahawks first-round draft pick is shown during an introductory press conference in Kirkland, Washington, in this April 16, 2000, file photo. Chris McIntosh played for Barry Alvarez on two of Wisconsin’s Rose Bowl championship teams and spent the last few years working as his right-hand man. Now he is about to succeed his former coach and boss as the Badgers’ athletic director. Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced Wednesday, June 2, 2021, that McIntosh will take over when Alvarez finalizes his retirement. (AP Photo/Jay Drowns, File)
Wisconsin promotes Chris McIntosh to replace Alvarez as AD

By Steve Megargee Jun. 02, 2021 11:27 AM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Chris McIntosh played for Barry Alvarez on two of

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, file photo, Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck enters the stadium with the team prior to the start of an NCAA college football game against Purdue, in Minneapolis. Fleck spoke for many coaches nationwide in December 2020, when he noted he still hadn’t shaken the hands of about half the prospects who were about to sign with his program. Those days finally are coming to an end. The NCAA has lifted the recruiting dead period that has been in place since March 13, 2020, due to the pandemic. The NCAA returns to its usual recruiting calendar Tuesday, June 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs, File)
End of recruiting pause has football programs catching up

By Steve Megargee Jun. 01, 2021 02:24 AM EDT
Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck spoke for many coaches nationwide last December when he

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2020, file photo, Wisconsin wide receiver Danny Davis III celebrates a touchdown catch with Jake Ferguson (84) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin is cautiously optimistic that a year full of adversity on and off the field will help its passing attack live up to the promise it showed last season. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
Badgers end spring cautiously optimistic about passing game

By Steve Megargee Apr. 30, 2021 05:45 PM EDT
Wisconsin spent spring practice looking for consistency in its passing game