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Notre Dame football: Wisconsin matchup in 2021 could be a dogfight

By Daniel Morrison

MADISON, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 28: Jack Coan #17 of the Wisconsin Badgers drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Camp Randall Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 28: Jack Coan #17 of the Wisconsin Badgers drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Camp Randall Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Dec 30, 2020; Charlotte, NC, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) hands off to running back Jalen Berger (8) during second quarter action against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2020; Charlotte, NC, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) hands off to running back Jalen Berger (8) during second quarter action against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football: Wisconsin matchup in 2021 could be a dogfight

Wisconsin’s Offense

Wisconsin’s offense is built surprisingly like Notre Dame’s offense. They want to run the ball behind a big and strong offensive line, with dependable quarterback play. Their best offensive player, meanwhile, is a tight end in Jake Ferguson.

Maybe that’s why Jack Coan made so much sense going to Notre Dame from Wisconsin?

The challenge for the Badgers is going to be getting Graham Mertz to take a major step forward and become the quarterback they feel that he can become because he has the potential to be their best quarterback since Russell Wilson. That’s why it was an easy decision to choose to go forward with their future decision-maker at quarterback, even if he was a little bit rough around the edges at times. The potential was clearly there.

He needs help beyond Ferguson, though.

A receiver or two on the outside could make his life much easier. Danny Davis III is going to be a key piece of this, as the senior leader needs to step up for Wisconsin. Kendric Pryor is another option to fall back on for the Badgers, but the truth is that their receiver room needs help to be a true threat.

More importantly, Wisconsin needs to fix the running game that has been their pride in recent seasons. Jalen Berger is the hope for the future here, but the proof of concept really wasn’t there in 2020. As far as the offensive line goes, they return three of five starters, so there are questions there too.

There is potential on offense for the Badgers, but no proof of their ability in the long-term.

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