The college football season at Camp Randall Stadium kicks off under the lights Thursday night as Wisconsin welcomes Miami (Ohio) in a nonconference opener. Both teams arrive with very different stories from last year. Wisconsin stumbled to a 5-7 finish, dropping its last five games and ending a run of 22 straight winning seasons. Miami, meanwhile, won nine games and reached the MAC championship for the second year in a row, finishing with a dominant bowl victory.
Fresh start in Madison: Miami (OH) visits Wisconsin
This matchup offers Wisconsin a chance to prove it is back on track while giving Miami an opportunity to show it can stand tall against a Big Ten opponent.
Miami from the MAC
The RedHawks return to the field after a strong 2024 season that included a trip to the MAC title game. While they fell to Ohio in that contest, they bounced back with a convincing Arizona Bowl win over Colorado State. Miami’s biggest storyline this year is at quarterback, where seventh-year senior Dequan Finn takes the reins. Finn, who previously starred at Toledo and briefly played at Baylor, brings a mix of experience, arm strength, and running ability.
Around him, Miami has a core of players who know how to win close games. The defense has been steady for coach Chuck Martin, and while the roster has some question marks, the program has proven it can reload. This game is a big chance for Miami to measure itself against a power conference team in one of the loudest environments in college football.
Badgers coming off rare poor season
For Wisconsin, this opener is about turning the page. The Badgers scored only 22.6 points per game last season and never found consistency. To fix that, head coach Luke Fickell brought in Jeff Grimes from Kansas to run the offense. At quarterback, transfer Billy Edwards Jr. takes over after throwing for nearly 2,900 yards at Maryland in 2024.
MORE: Showdown at Arrowhead: Nebraska and Cincinnati kick off in style
The backfield will look different as well. Redshirt freshman Dilin Jones is expected to be the lead runner, supported by Darrion Dupree and Cade Yacamelli. Wisconsin’s defense has usually been its strength, but the offense needs to catch up if the Badgers want to climb back into Big Ten contention.
Injuries are a small concern with tight end Tucker Ashcraft questionable, but overall, this team believes it is ready to make a statement.
Excitement in the fresh Madison air
Camp Randall will be buzzing as two very different programs cross paths. Miami brings experience, a battle-tested quarterback, and confidence from last season’s success. Wisconsin looks to reset its identity under Fickell and show the home crowd it can rise again.
The last time these teams met in 2015, Wisconsin won big, but a decade later, the circumstances are different. For the Badgers, it is about reclaiming their edge. For Miami, it is about proving they belong on a bigger stage. This opener has all the makings of an intriguing start to the season.
More NCAA Football News:
- Showdown at Arrowhead: Nebraska and Cincinnati kick off in style
- Battle for respect: Rutgers and Ohio open with conference pride at stake
- Battle in the bay: Life without Jeanty begins for Boise State in 2025
- Iowa State Cyclones and Kansas State Wildcats take rivalry across the Atlantic
- Bret Bilemna is confident Illinois has the formula for a big 2025 season
- Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners win a massive recruiting battle over a five-star recruit
- Kalen DeBoer chooses starting signal caller for Week 1 against Florida State