Maryland football’s game against Wisconsin has been circled on fans’ calendars for some time for several reasons. Not only is Maryland making its first foray into Big Ten play, but a familiar face has also been set to welcome the Terps to his new home.
Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. entered the transfer portal after earning the Terps’ starting quarterback role for the 2024 season, being named to the same position at Wisconsin. Edwards suffered an injury in Wisconsin’s season opener, and it’s a gametime
decision whether he will start for the Badgers, per Inside Maryland Sports.
If he does, there will certainly be no love lost with Maryland head coach Michael Locksley, who mentioned that he deals with abandonment differently at the Big Ten’s media day.
“I’ll block guys on Twitter,” Locksley said. “I’m petty… This is the new football, this is the landscape we’re in. We’re not preparing any different because Billy’s on that sideline.”
The Terps’ conference opening game is set to kick off at noon ET Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. It will be broadcast on NBC and available to stream on Peacock.
Wisconsin Badgers (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
2024 record: 5-7, 3-6 Big Ten
After extended success at Cincinnati, including becoming the first Group of Five team to make the College Football Playoff, Wisconsin gave head coach Luke Fickell the opportunity to bring his talents to the big stage in 2022. Fickell won his first game in charge of the Badgers, a Guaranteed Rate Bowl contest against Oklahoma State. But after the program went 7-5 in 2023, his first full season, the wheels fell off.
Wisconsin endured a difficult 2024 season, starting 5-2 before dropping its final five games. Starting quarterback Tyler van Dyke suffered a season-ending injury against Alabama in the Badgers’ third game, and the offense never recovered — they averaged under 14 points across the end-of-season losing streak. Wisconsin missed a bowl game for the first time in 22 seasons, and whispers about Fickell’s job security began.
The early goings of the 2025 season have been déjà vu for the Badgers. Again, an early-season injury to the starting quarterback threw off the offense, which held off two FCS opponents. And again, the Badgers fell flat in its first true test of the season, a 38-10 humbling at Alabama. With five currently-ranked teams on their calendar, the Badgers might already be in must-win territory.
Players to watch
Vinny Anthony II, senior wide receiver/kick returner, No. 8 — Anthony II led the Badgers’ receiving room in 2024 with 672 yards on an incredible 17.2 yards per catch. The Paul Hornung Award watchlist candidate also makes an impact as a returner and a gunner. A 95-yard kick return touchdown against Alabama, where the speedster went completely untouched, was the latest display of his big-play potential and importance to the Badgers.
Christian Alliegro, junior linebacker, No. 0 — Alliegro has been touted as a breakout candidate for some time, earning a spot on the watchlist for the Dick Butkus Award despite having started just three games in his college career. A high school lacrosse All-American who wasn’t among the top 1,200 football recruits, Alliegro has repaid the faith of his coaches and the media with 15 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks from the will spot.
Dilin Jones, redshirt freshman running back, No. 7 — Wisconsin football has long been predicated on the running game, and the redshirt freshman Jones has established himself as the lead back, displaying an experience beyond his years. Jones leads the Badgers with 139 rushing yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry, and has caught six passes out of the backfield.
Nathaniel Vakos, senior kicker, No. 90 — Given he’s only been called on one time this season, it would be easy to overlook Vakos. But throughout his college career, the senior has impressed — he was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist in 2023 and was again named to the watch list this summer. Vakos had some struggles in 2024 — he missed four field goals between 30-39 yards and three between 40-49 yards — but he has never missed an extra point as a Badger.
Strength
Run defense. Wisconsin has allowed 221 non-sack rushing yards through three games, with their line proving incredibly stout. Adjusting for sacks, the Badgers’ opponents have averaged 1.9 yards per carry on the season. Moving the ball on the ground has been difficult for the Terps in 2025; against Wisconsin’s massive defensive front, it might be nearly impossible.
Weakness
Passing game. The question of who will throw the ball for the Badgers remains the biggest question mark hanging over the game. Wisconsin’s backup quarterback, Danny O’Neil, has looked solid – the sophomore has 520 passing yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 72% of his passes.
The Badgers run more than they throw, and O’Neil has played a key role in that, running the ball himself 26 times. But against Alabama, Wisconsin’s passing game showed flaws, with O’Neil finishing 11-of-17 for 117 yards and two interceptions. Given the play of Maryland’s secondary through three weeks, Wisconsin may not be able to match pace with the Terps if the game starts flowing.
Three things to know
1. Winless against Wisconsin. Through four all-time contests, Maryland has been unable to beat the Badgers. The Terps scored 24 points in their only home game against Wisconsin but have averaged 10 points per game across three road trips to Camp Randall Stadium.
2. Defensive dominance. Through three games, Maryland has given up 33 points, the lowest from the program since 2001. But the Terps stack up nationally as well — 11 points allowed per game is the 20th-best mark in the nation, and Maryland’s seven interceptions are the most among FBS teams.
3. Good omens away from home? Since joining the Big Ten, Maryland has played 11 conference openers. Curiously, they have a better record on the road (4-2) than at home (2-3) in those games. Furthermore, since 2020, Maryland has alternated between losing and winning its first Big Ten game of the season — the Terps lost to Michigan State in 2024.
