Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Mason Posa (8) has stepped into a major role as a true freshman Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Wisconsin Badgers defense shows new life against Oregon despite key injuries

Originally posted on Wisconsin Badgers on SI
By Lorin Cox | Last updated Oct 25, 2025 8:05 PM ET

The Wisconsin Badgers came into Oregon to face a Ducks offense that ranks Top 5 in the country in a number of major categories.

No one told this Badgers defense, and they came out playing some great football to start the game against the No. 6 team in the country.

Wisconsin held Oregon scoreless in the first quarter of a game that they were more than 30 point underdogs.

Gideon Ituka: 6 carries, 27 yards

Mason Posa: 5.0 tackles, 1 PBU

Sebastian Cheeks and Mason Reiger each with a sack.#Badgers lead Oregon 0-0 after one. pic.twitter.com/EAFKmky4Qg
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) October 25, 2025

Somehow, the Badgers had more yards of offense than the Ducks in the first 15 minutes, thanks in large part to a pair of impressive sacks from Mason Reiger and Sebastian Cheeks.

Wisconsin continued its elite run defense, holding Oregon's leading rusher to just seven yards on his first five carries.

The most impressive part was the Badgers doing it without some of their key starters on both sides of the ball.

For the record this means that Wisconsin's top two RBs (Jones and Dupree) are out. So are the top two centers (Renfro and Kodanko), the team's leading tackler (Alliegro), the No. 1 punt returner (Henry), its top safety (Zachman) and No. 1 QB Billy Edwards. https://t.co/9HiMEKIybg
— Mark Stewart Ⓜ️ (@MarkStewartMJS) October 25, 2025

Safety Preston Zachman missed yet another game with injury, and linebacker Christian Alliegro sat out after breaking his arm last week against Ohio State.

True freshman Mason Posa stepped into the starting lineup, and he was the breakout star of the game for Wisconsin.

He had five tackles in the first quarter alone, plus a big pass breakup.

Everyone thought the Ducks would steamroll the Badgers right out of the gate. This Wisconsin defense isn't quitting on Luke Fickell and defensive coordinator Mike Tressell.

It might not matter much for this season, but the future of the Badgers defense looks bright with freshmen linebackers like Posa and Cooper Catalano stepping in and looking sharp despite so much stacked against them.

This article first appeared on Wisconsin Badgers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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