A week after starting the Lane Kiffin era with a 42-19 loss to Navy, FAU faces an even tougher opponent, No. 9 Wisconsin. The Badgers are fresh off a 59-10 whooping of Utah State.
Wisconsin only gave up 304 yards last week to Utah State, including 85 yards on the ground. This can cause problems for FAU, which is arguably better on the run.
FAU’s defense has a tall task, too, against a Wisconsin offense that gained 478 total yards, 234 on the ground. FAU gave up that many yards to the Navy quarterback, Zach Abey, alone last week.
Last week, Wisconsin trailed Utah State early as the Badgers struggled to get the offense going. FAU needs to hope for a similar fast start.
THE FILE: FAU vs Wisconsin
The Series: First meeting.
WISCONSIN’S OFFENSE: The Badgers run a pro style offense that allows the quarterback to play under center and in the shotgun. This system usually has two running backs, a tight end, and two receivers. This is a very different offense than what they Owls usually see the remainder of the season, which will feature more spread offenses. It is a big change in pace for FAU to go against this instead of the triple option run by Navy. Sophomore quarterback Alex Hornibrook. He had a solid game last week passing for 244 yards and three scores. Watch for the Badgers to throw down the field.
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
- 23 Jonathan Taylor, Fr., RB: Expect Taylor to get the start since Bradrick Shaw is questionable. Taylor rushed for 87 yards on nine carries during his collegiate debut last week. He’ll have that big Badger line plowing the way.
- 91 Troy Fumagalli, Sr., TE: The Badgers leading receiver last week, Fumagalli caught five passes for 105 yards and a score. He is a massive target at 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds. Look for him to be Hornibrook’s main target.
WISCONSIN’S DEFENSE: Wisconsin runs a bunch of different packages out of their defense. Most of the time, like Navy, they will have at least one linebacker on the line ready to rush. Unlike Navy, they run many different formations including a 2-4-5, which allows them to put two linebackers on the line. The Badgers often blitz linebackers. Watch for Wisconsin to run multiple blitz packages at FAU to try to get Owls’ quarterback Daniel Parr out of his comfort zone.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
- 53 T.J. Edwards, Jr. LB: With the loss of T.J. Watt to the NFL, Wisconsin’s defense lost a huge talent. Last week they found another. Edwards led the team in tackles last week and also picked off a pass. The Owls will have to account for him on every play.
- 32 Leon Jacobs, Sr., LB: Jacobs led the team last week in tackles for loss with two. He’ll rush the passer and also try to negate Devin Singletary and Buddy Howell out of the backfield.
GOING CAMPING
This will be the biggest stadium that FAU plays at during the season. Camp Randall can hold up to 81,000 fans. The fans will get loud in that stadium. This will be like a Kansas State type vibe from last season.
UNFAMILIARITY
Wisconsin is 3-1 verses C-USA schools, with their only loss coming against Cincinnati in 1999. FAU has one win against a Big Ten team, defeating Minnesota in 2007.
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