Just four days remain until the Wisconsin Badgers play their final home game of the season against the Illinois Fighting Illini, who are now ranked No. 21, this Saturday on the Big Ten Network at 7:30.
The Illini (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) recently entered the College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday night following back-to-back wins against the Rutgers Scarlett Knights (5-5, 2-5 Big Ten) and Maryland Terrapins (4-6, 1-6 Big Ten) to begin November on the right foot.
The Badgers prevailed in a thriller, 25-21 are meeting the Illini for the first time in Champaign since 2023. This encounter follows several disheartening defeats for An Illini squad that finished 5-7, only to experience a remarkable comeback under coach Bret Bielema over the past two years.
In contrast to Illinois, the Badgers (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) are heading in the exact opposite direction under coach Luke Fickell. While a bowl game is no longer a possibility in Madison, they could potentially disrupt other teams' chances and defeat their former coach if Wisconsin manages a significant upset.
This requires halting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer, a task that's simpler in theory than in practice. With his career nearing its conclusion in the coming weeks, Fickell told reporters Monday it remains to be seen how much he'll recognize Altmyer's rapid improvement.
Fickell acknowledged Illinois's strength but characterized their season as a "rollercoaster" marked by numerous ups and downs.
"It's not like they lost something specifically that has hurt him," Fickell said of Altmyer's Illini. "I just think they've had to ride a little bit of a roller coaster. And I think that they're very sound football team. I think a quarterback in particular gives them an opportunity, a chance to to be successful in every game."
Illinois' best wins are against the Duke Blue Devils (5-5, 4-2 ACC) and USC Trojans (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten), who are currently ranked No. 15. Both of those wins are due in large part to Altmyer. In each, Altmyer went 22-for-31 for 296 yards and three touchdowns (Duke) and 20-for-26 for 328 yards, an interception and three total touchdowns (USC).
When Altmyer is efficient, the offense hums, which is glaringly evident to Fickell.
"I mean, he can throw it, he can run it. I think he's the catalyst to what it is that they've done and what they do," Fickell said. "And, you know, they challenge you defensively, because they'll jump in and out of the bear front, they'll get on you in man. And so it's not like they're going to change based on whatever, you know, hey, well, we won last week. And really, really big."
Regardless of how one looks at it, the Badgers will need to bolster their defense significantly to make the contest at all competitive. If not, the anticipated outcome is likely to transpire.
Nonetheless, though, Bielema's reunion is shaping up to be one to remember at Camp Randall Stadium.