The Wisconsin Badgers have dropped a final chance at becoming a bowl eligible squad this season, and likely have snapped a 22-year record.
The Badgers had been face of consistency over the past two decades, setting a floor of a bowl game a season. Many programs do not get to say the same, and have to make the most of every bowl game they receive when they infrequently occur. However, Wisconsin is likely going to be among those programs unless an academic progress report bowl is awarded and accepted.
Since 2012, five-win teams have been used in the past to fill in the remaining bowl games if a lower amount of teams traditionally qualified. An academic progress report is a report designed to showcase the development of the academic portion of the program, which includes a high graduation rate.
Some schools such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers have been hurt in the past with large amounts of transfers, thus hindering the academic progress report score. Wisconsin likely will not receive a bowl bid due to the amount of 6-5 teams that were predicted to have losing records, thus snapping the 22-year streak.
Regardless, the Wisconsin Badgers had an extreme amount of chances to secure one final win but had a meltdown similar to the Cornhuskers a season ago. In the end, the Badgers were their own worst enemy and tried to fight out of a hole that was dug far too deep. The second-half of the season for Wisconsin was played with a lower level of intensity and skill compared to the previous hot start for Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Badgers not only likely snapped a 22-year bowl game streak, but also lost Paul Bunyan’s Axe to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
What Went Wrong For the Wisconsin Badgers Football Team Against Minnesota?
For the Wisconsin Badgers, it was one of the worst showings of the year on offense and the unfortunate loss felt like an ironic way to end the season.
On offense, the Wisconsin Badgers did not crack 50-yards total or the opponents side of the field until nearly the end of the third-quarter. Wisconsin found some success in the small slants and check-down plays, but no real success anywhere else. However, quarterback Braedyn Locke had multiple deep desperation heaves that frankly had no real chance of being caught by the receiver.
Wisconsin also delivered one of the more interesting units this season as running back Cade Yacamelli was noticeably absent. The running back has been a spark plug for the team all year and for the athlete to not be used in the midst of a losing game is rather odd. Another player who was absent was backup quarterback Mabrey Mettauer, who might not be fully ready but also arguably offers more than Locke did for the offense against Minnesota.
On defense, Wisconsin actually played a solid game and managed to force multiple big stops at times. However, the Badgers did struggle in coverage and allowed not only big touchdown receptions but also deflating receptions as well.
Football is often a momentum-based game, and when the Wisconsin Badgers cannot generate momentum on either side of play, then they are playing losing football.
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