The Wisconsin Badgers are in College Park to face the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday morning, with kickoff set for 11:00 a.m. Central.
However, they’ll have to do so without one of the top players, as star edge rusher Sebastian Cheeks has been ruled out, despite not being on the injury report on Wednesday or Thursday. Cheeks popped up for the first time on Friday and is one of six Badgers out for the game.
Cheeks’s injury is unclear, and the Badgers will need Tyreese Fearbry and Nicolas Clayton to step
up in Cheeks’s absence. Fearbry has already been playing a good number of snaps alongside Cheeks, while Clayton has primarily been used as a pass rusher this season.
Wisconsin could also rely more on jumbo edges Micheal Garner and Justus Boone, who have seen limited snaps over the past few weeks.
Cheeks has been one of the biggest revelations of the 2026 season. He’s among the Power 4 leaders in pressures and pass-rush win rate, and his draft stock has grown significantly, with analysts giving him Day 2 consideration.
Wisconsin will also be without running back Nate Palmer, offensive lineman Barrett Nelson, and tight end Emmett Bork on Saturday. Meanwhile, Maryland will be without outside linebacker Zahir Mathis, wide receiver Josiah Teasley, running back DJ Samuels, linebacker Jordan Williams, running back Harry Dalton III, and offensive lineman Trevor Szymanski.
Additionally, defensive back Dontay Joyner and running back Liam Willson are doubtful, while quarterback Malik Washington is questionable for Maryland.
Heading into the game, the Badgers are 8.5-point road favorites, as they look to win their seventh game of the season.
