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Breaking: Badgers Projected To Lose 29-Game Starter To Big Ten Rival (Report)

By McQuade ArnoldDecember 22, 2024Updated:December 23, 2024No Comments3 Mins Read

Nov 16, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell during the game against the Oregon Ducks at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Nov 16, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell during the game against the Oregon Ducks at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

It will be Luke Fickell‘s third year as Wisconsin Badgers head coach in 2025. Fickell may face the axe if Wisconsin doesn’t return to its competitive self. There has been a demand from fans for a more aggressive recruiting process for quarterbacks.

However, today they lost a piece of their defense.

Breaking: Badgers Lose 29-Game Starter To Big Ten Rival (Report)

Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers nose tackle Curt Neal (92) celebrates after making a tackle for loss against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason-Imagn Images — Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers nose tackle Curt Neal (92) celebrates after making a tackle for loss against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason-USA TODAY Sports

According to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Wisconsin transfer defensive lineman Curt Neal is expected to sign with Illinois:

Neal entered the portal earlier this month after three years with the Badgers. He redshirted in 2022 before growing into a significant starting role in both 2023 and 2024. He’s in the portal, and likely heading to Illinois, with two years of eligibility remaining.

On3 currently ranks Neal as a three-star transfer, the No. 901 player in the portal and the No. 84 defensive lineman.

He is projected to join an Illinois program that will face the Badgers in 2025 — Nov. 22 at Camp Randall Stadium. The Fighting Illini finished the 2024 regular season with a stellar 9-3 record. The team is a bowl win away from its first 10-win season since 2001.

Here is a look a Neal’s career stats:

Dec 27, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers nose tackle Curt Neal (92) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images — Dec 27, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers nose tackle Curt Neal (92) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

						Tackles					Def Interceptions				Fumbles
Season	Team	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Solo	Ast	Comb	TFL	Sk	Int	Yds	IntTD	PD	FR	Yds	FRTD	FF	Awards
2022*	Wisconsin	Big Ten	FR	DT	4	1	2	3	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2023*	Wisconsin	Big Ten	SO	DT	13	6	7	13	2	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2024	Wisconsin	Big Ten	JR	DT	12	14	15	29	3	0.5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career					29	21	24	45	5	0.5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Wisconsin offensive lineman James Durand (65) and nose tackle Curt Neal (92) are shown during spring football practice Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Badgers football team plays their season opener against Western Michigan on August 31. © Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

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McQuade Arnold

McQuade Arnold is a Sports Columnist and Co-Owner of Wisconsin Sports Heroics (WSH), Gridiron Heroics (GH), and Hardwood Heroics (HWH). He is originally from Superior, WI, and is a die-hard Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Milwaukee Bucks fan. McQuade's work for WSH has been featured on Yardbarker, Bleacher Report, NewsBreak, and MSN.

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