It all comes down to this, only Wisconsin does not realize this yet... Saturday's Big Ten opener at home vs. Maryland may largely decide how this year goes for the Badgers. They enter play at 2-1 on the season. While wins over Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee were largely expected, so too was the blowout loss on the road to Alabama last week. It is up to the players to decide how this season goes.
Much has been, and will be, made about Wisconsin's frustrating head coach Luke Fickell. Through the first two and a quarter seasons of him at the helm, Fickell has yet to look the part of a Power Four coach, much less one a traditional power like Wisconsin expects to have helping their guide their way through a challenging Big Ten schedule.