Sep 6, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders head coach Derek Mason, left, and Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell, right, talk before a game at Camp Randall Stadium. Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images

Wisconsin fans panicking on social media after Badgers slow start vs Middle Tennessee State

Originally posted on Wisconsin Badgers on SI
By Lorin Cox | Last updated Sep 6, 2025 4:50 PM ET

The Wisconsin Badgers were supposed to come out and dominate Middle Tennessee State from the start.

The first quarter was far from it.

The Blue Raiders took the lead first with a field goal, and a pair of deep bombs from MTSU quarterback Nicholas Vattiato to wide receiver Nahzae Cox had Wisconsin fans nervous.

They shared their concern on social media, where the fan base was full-on panicking about the team falling short of expectations early.

#Badgers sleepwalking here in the first qtr. MTSU coming out swinging.
— Colten Bartholomew (@CBartWSJ) September 6, 2025

Watching my beloved Badgers nowadays pic.twitter.com/sZsK13ExdG
— Timothy Dudyrev (@DudyrevTimothy) September 6, 2025

This Badgers offense is pretty awful.
— Dan Buhler (@FBuhlersDayOff) September 6, 2025

Seven minutes - one play after the MTSU score. It’s bad enough I gotta watch #Badgers football m, worse with all the commercials. #UWfootball
— Steve Zautke - Traction Media (@SteveZautke) September 6, 2025

Aaand a 3-and-out from the #Badgers. A second down run to the right goes for negative yardage as Kerry Kodanko goes left and collides into Joe Brunner.

Pair that with a mistimed snap on the first drive, and it's been a rough start for Kodanko at center.
— Cam Wilhorn (@CamWilhorn) September 6, 2025

So what did the Badgers do all week, exactly?

This is how they scripted the start of their offense?
— Matt Grossenbach (@MattGrossenbach) September 6, 2025

At least this Badgers football team is going to make it very easy to not feel like I need to watch them every Saturday.
— Brad Adams (@adams_brad22) September 6, 2025

#Badgers the Blue Raiders lost to Austin Peay last weekend, an FCS team, and the Badgers are struggling against that. This is becoming unbearable.
— Saltyfries (@Saltyfries13) September 6, 2025

Austin Peay would steamroll the Badgers
— Bill_Woj (@Slough_Creek) September 6, 2025

A pair of punts on Wisconsin's opening drives didn't give much confidence in the Badgers offense finding success with backup quarterback Danny O'Neil and a reshuffled offensive line missing its starting center.

The competition only gets tougher after this with UW traveling to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama next week.