The Wisconsin Badgers have the chance to string together Luke Fickell’s best season since fully joining the program ahead of the 2023 season.
Right now, the Badgers hold a 6-3 record with an away day to College Park, Maryland, on the horizon.
If Fickell wants to tie his 2023 mark of seven wins, these three things must go his way:
Balance the rushing attack
Yes, fans want to see more after Ryan Hopkins’ promising debut last week against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. That being said, Hopkins is still only a freshman with vast room for improvement in every category imaginable.
The Badgers’ rushing attack ranks 100th in the nation at just 124.5 yards per game. Maryland allows 168 yards on the ground an outing.
Abu Sama III has yet to have a massive impact on this season, so a big
performance could be in the cards this weekend.
Keep Malik Washington quiet
Last season as a true freshman, Washington jumped out of the gate and quickly asserted himself as one of the best young passers in the nation.
In year No. 2, Washington has accounted for five performances of over 250 yards through the air. With Wisconsin showcasing an ice-cold offense that could see more downs than ups, Washington has to be kept in check to prevent what would be a major upset.
Ryan Hopkins keeping his cool
Hopkins managed his first start in front of a friendly Camp Randall crowd against a team whose season had been over prior to kickoff.
This weekend will present a road game against a similar-stature opponent. No one is expecting Hopkins to light the world up, fans and pundits just want to see a continued steadiness in his game, something a two-win Maryland should be able to provide.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football’s three keys to victory in Week 11 at Maryland
