On Aug. 30, fans in Bloomington saw the 2025 Indiana football team play at home for the first time.
On Saturday, 77 days after the opener, this iteration of Indiana football will play in front of its home fans for likely the last time.
The No. 2 Hoosiers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) welcome the Wisconsin Badgers (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) to Bloomington this weekend in the penultimate game of the regular season. While Indiana is a heavy favorite over the struggling Badgers, Wisconsin is fresh off a 13-10 win over No. 23 Washington at home last week, its first win in conference play.
“We need to understand that we're gonna get everybody’s best shot," Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said Monday.
Wisconsin has been through the wringer. It has the second hardest strength of schedule in the country, according to ESPN’s FPI model. Five of the six teams the Badgers have lost to are currently ranked in Alabama, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon. On top of their schedule, starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and backup quarterback Danny O’Neil have been injured off and on throughout the season.
Offensively, the combination of lacking a quarterback and playing some of the best defenses in the country has not served well for Wisconsin. The Badgers rank 135th out of 136 teams in FBS in points per game (12.6) and total yards per game (255.6). They are 130th in FBS in passing yards per game (140.6) and 117th in rushing yards per game (115.0).
After O’Neil was carted off the field last week against Washington, true freshman Carter Smith and Southern Illinois transfer Hunter Simmons split duties at quarterback. Smith completed three of 12 passes for eight yards and ran 15 times for 47 yards. Simmons only threw three passes against the Huskies and has completed 50.5 percent of his passes with five interceptions this season.
In their past seven games — six conference games and a matchup at Alabama — Wisconsin has not scored more than 14 points in a game. The Badgers have averaged 7.7 points per game in that stretch.
Defensively, Wisconsin is in the middle of the pack in the conference. The Badgers allow 22.3 points per game and 330.9 yards per game, both 11th in the Big Ten. It is a defense that has struggled in the secondary, only forcing five interceptions, but is strong up front with 21 sacks and 48 tackles for loss.
As many have grown to become familiar over the past 10 games, Indiana is a buzzsaw. The Hoosiers lead the country in points per game (44.5) and are sixth in total yards per game (487.0). Defensively Indiana is second nationally in opponent points per game (12.1) and tackles for loss (85.0) while ranking ninth in sacks (32.0) while forcing 20 turnovers.
Wisconsin has had Indiana’s number in the past, leading the all time series 41-20-2. Saturday is not adding up, at least on paper, to continue that trend. Indiana is a 29.5-point favorite, per MGM as of Friday afternoon.
Kickoff is set for noon Eastern at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst) and Brooke Fletcher (sideline) will have the call on the Big Ten Network broadcast. The game will also be broadcasted on the IU Radio Network with Don Fischer and Buck Suhr and WIUX Sports with Nick Rodecap and Luke Brennaman.
