It’s finally that time of the year. The 2025 college football season kicked off last Saturday, with Iowa State vs. Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland. This Thursday, the Wisconsin Badgers take on the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at Camp Randall Stadium at 8 p.m. CT. This will be Wisconsin’s second all-time matchup against Miami (OH), with their first on September 12, 2015, a game the Badgers won 58-0.
This will be Luke Fickell’s third season in Madison and arguably his most important. Although the Badgers’ schedule ranks among the toughest in the nation, Fickell will still need to prove both to the fans and the athletic department that the program is headed in the right direction, regardless of the difficulty of that schedule. It’s hard to see a world where Fickell is fired after this season because of how hard the schedule is, but a good season could determine the temperature of his seat entering 2026.
As we inch closer and closer to kickoff, it’s time to preview the upcoming matchup. Here are five stats that will define Wisconsin vs. Miami (Ohio):
1. Miami (Ohio) rushing yards
Wisconsin struggled mightily last season against teams that established the run early and had fast players at both running back and quarterback. The RedHawks brought in transfer quarterback Dequan Finn this offseason, whose best attribute is his allusiveness and rushing ability. If Wisconsin can limit Finn’s outside runs, it can help prevent Miami (Ohio) from scoring comfortably.
2. Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree’s rushing yards
Similar to the first stat, Wisconsin’s efficiency running the football will be crucial for the team’s success. Both Jones and Dupree will be used frequently, both in this season opener and the rest of the season. Starting off strong against a solid MAC team is important. If Jones and Dupree can both find success early, both the offensive coordinator and head coach Luke Fickell will be thrilled.
3. Time of possession
Wisconsin struggled last season at controlling the pace of the game. Thankfully, Jeff Grimes’ new offense should help them in that department. Limiting the number of three-and-outs on offense and vice versa, forcing more on defense, will help the team control games, setting its own pace instead of falling behind and playing catch-up. Wisconsin’s time of possession in this game will be a key factor in the contest’s outcome.
4. 2,881 passing yards
You might be wondering what the significance of this stat is. Wisconsin’s starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. ranks second among Big Ten quarterbacks in returning passing yards, behind only Penn State’s Drew Allar. While Edwards didn’t receive as much attention as other Big Ten transfers, he was one of the more consistent players in conference last season. That is exactly what the Badgers need at the quarterback position after suffering major injuries in each of the last two seasons. Edwards staying healthy and consistent both this season and in this game will be a key factor.
5. 8-1 in season-openers
During Fickell’s nine seasons as a college football head coach, he is 8-1 in season-openers, with his only loss coming in 2022 against Arkansas in Fayetteville. With another MAC team on the docket, I expect Fickell and his staff to have little trouble beating the RedHawks Thursday night.
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