The Wisconsin Badgers' football team got back in the win column Saturday night, defeating Western Illinois 36-9 in its home opener.
The Badgers improved to 1-1 on the season, but the victory still left plenty to discuss heading into Big Ten play. Here are five takeaways from Wisconsin’s win.
Abu Sama III provided the spark
Wisconsin wasted no time finding an explosive play. Abu Sama III opened the game with a 72-yard touchdown run, giving the Badgers exactly the kind of big play they were missing against Notre Dame.
Special teams made a big impact
Carson Van Dinter blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown, helping Wisconsin jump out to a 17-0 lead. After some struggles in the opener, the Badgers’ special teams unit made several important plays.
Colton Joseph is still a work in progress
Joseph showed flashes of what Wisconsin’s offense can become,
but accuracy remains an issue. There were several opportunities for easier completions that the Badgers couldn’t capitalize on.
Questions surrounding the defense
Holding Western Illinois to nine points is obviously a positive, but the Leathernecks found success running the football at times. Wisconsin will need to be considerably sharper defensively against Big Ten competition.
The Badgers got the win they needed
Ultimately, Wisconsin accomplished its biggest goal: getting back on track. But the 36-9 final score doesn’t mean every concern from Week 1 has disappeared. The Badgers showed progress, while also making it clear there is still plenty to clean up before their next challenge.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Five takeaways from Wisconsin football’s win over Western Illinois
