NCAAF News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Newsletter

Power Rankings

Wisconsin’s 2025 Shutout Mirrors 2015 Miami Win

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Tom Williams | Last updated Aug 30, 2025 11:27 AM ET

The Wisconsin Badgers (1-0) opened the 2025 season with a 17-0 home win over Miami (OH) (0-1) on Aug. 28 at Camp Randall. While the offense left much to be desired, the defense dominated in the shutout.

Wisconsin held the RedHawks to seven first downs, 117 total yards, forced two turnovers and held them 0-for-9 on third downs. The performance was strikingly similar to almost 10 years earlier, when Wisconsin blanked Miami 58-0 at home on Sept. 12, 2015. In that game, the RedHawks managed nine first downs, 157 total yards, turned the ball over four times and converted only 3-of-15 third downs. Comparing the two victories a decade apart shows how much Wisconsin football has changed, for better or worse.

Coaching Climate

The 2015 victory marked the home debut for coach Paul Chryst, who had returned to Madison, Wis. to take the reins of the program. The Badgers were efficient that September day on offense, piling up 451 total yards with a healthy balance of 263 yards through the air and 188 yards on the ground. The 2015 team went on to finish 10-3, capped by a 23-21 win over USC in the Holiday Bowl, best remembered as the “3 Sack Jack” game for the play of linebacker Jack Cichy. Chryst’s start in Madison looked promising, and Badger fans were happy to have him back.

Despite the struggles in his first two seasons, Luke Fickell is safe for now thanks to the $40 million dollar buyout in his contract. The 2025 victory was reminiscent of the Dave Aranda defenses from 2015 that dictated the pace and left opponents frustrated. The question now is whether Fickell can return Wisconsin to its glory days by leaning on a dominant defense.

Lockdown Safeties

In the 2015 victory, safety Leo Musso was everywhere, finishing with two interceptions and showing a knack for being around the ball. Current Badger safety Preston Zachman earned praise throughout fall camp on “ The Camp” podcast for his instincts and ball-hawking ability. He carried that momentum into the opener by intercepting Miami quarterback Dequan Finn twice in the second half. Wisconsin has long been defined by strong safety play, with standouts such as Jim Leonhard, Michael Caputo and Hunter Wohler setting the standard. In 2025, Zachman and fellow safety Austin Brown aim to continue that tradition.

Primary Playmaker

In 2015, wide receiver Alex Erickson caught five passes for 73 yards in the win over Miami. He went on to continue Wisconsin’s strong walk-on tradition, leading the team with 77 receptions for 978 yards and three touchdowns. In the recent victory, WR Vinny Anthony II hauled in four passes for 57 yards and a TD. Anthony has the physical tools to become the top target for this Badger team if they can consistently get him the ball, much like QB Joel Stave did with Erickson in 2015.

Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes brought a refreshing look in the opener with creative formations, motion and a clear emphasis on spreading the ball, as eight players recorded at least one reception. While the health of QB Billy Edwards Jr. remains critical to long term success, Anthony has the skill set to emerge as the centerpiece of the passing game, just as Erickson did a decade ago.

Badger Bounceback

Will the 2025 Badgers be able to capture some of the ingredients that made the 2015 team successful? It is too early to tell, and the schedule is far more demanding this season even with the 2015 team also facing Alabama, but there are signs of encouraging similarities.

If this is the year Fickell gets Wisconsin moving in the right direction, strong safety play and reliable production at wide receiver will be critical. Just as important will be finding stability at quarterback, maintaining balance between the run and pass and keeping a defense that can dictate the tempo of games. The 2015 team thrived on those facets of the game, and if the 2025 Badgers can mirror that formula against a tougher slate, they may yet carve out their own identity while building toward sustained success.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: