2019 Wisconsin Badgers football team

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2019 Wisconsin Badgers football
Big Ten West Division co-champion
Rose Bowl, L 27–28 vs. Oregon
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionWest Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 13
APNo. 11
Record10–4 (7–2 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJoe Rudolph (5th season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorJim Leonhard (3rd season)
Base defense3–4
MVPJonathan Taylor
Chris Orr
CaptainZack Baun
Tyler Biadasz
Jack Coan
Garrett Groshek
Chris Orr
Jonathan Taylor
Home stadiumCamp Randall Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 2018
2020 →
2019 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 3 Ohio State xy$^   9 0     13 1  
No. 9 Penn State   7 2     11 2  
No. 18 Michigan   6 3     9 4  
Indiana   5 4     8 5  
Michigan State   4 5     7 6  
Maryland   1 8     3 9  
Rutgers   0 9     2 10  
West Division
No. 11 Wisconsin xy   7 2     10 4  
No. 10 Minnesota x   7 2     11 2  
No. 15 Iowa   6 3     10 3  
Illinois   4 5     6 7  
Purdue   3 6     4 8  
Nebraska   3 6     5 7  
Northwestern   1 8     3 9  
Championship: Ohio State 34, Wisconsin 21
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2019 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers were led by fifth-year head coach Paul Chryst and competed as members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin began the year with six dominating victories, including outscoring their three non-conference opponents 158–0, and beating then-No. 11 Michigan 35–14 in the conference opener. The Badgers rose to sixth in the AP Poll, but suffered their first loss to unranked Illinois, who were 32.5-point underdogs. The next week, Wisconsin lost soundly to Ohio State, 38–7. To close out the regular season, the team beat rival and eighth-ranked Minnesota on the road to secure their place in the Big Ten Championship Game. There, Wisconsin fell to Ohio State a second time, 34–21. They were invited to the Rose Bowl to play Pac-12 Conference champion Oregon, where they lost, 28–27, to end the year with a 10–4 record. It was their fourth Rose Bowl loss in a row, after 3 straight from 2011 to 2013.

The Badgers were led on offense by junior running back Jonathan Taylor, who, for the second consecutive year, was the recipient of the Doak Walker Award and was a unanimous All-American. Taylor finished tied atop the Big Ten Conference and third nationally with Ohio State's J. K. Dobbins with 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns. Center Tyler Biadasz was also a unanimous All-American. Quarterback Jack Coan led the passing game, finishing with 2,727 yards and 18 touchdowns on the year. Defensively, the team was led by first-team all-conference linebacker Zack Baun, who led the team with 12.5 sacks.

Offseason[edit]

2019 NFL Draft[edit]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
3 78 Michael Deiter OG Miami Dolphins
5 143 Ryan Connelly LB New York Giants
5 151 Andrew Van Ginkel LB Miami Dolphins
5 169 David Edwards OT Los Angeles Rams
Undrafted T. J. Edwards LB Philadelphia Eagles
Alec Ingold FB Oakland Raiders

Recruiting[edit]

Wisconsin signed a total of 19 recruits in the class of 2019.[1] The class was ranked as the sixth best class in the Big Ten Conference and the 27th best class nationally by the 247Sports Composite,[1] and was headlined by consensus five-star offensive lineman Logan Brown and four-star quarterback Graham Mertz, who was rated as the best pocket passer in the country by ESPN.[2] Mertz was named MVP of the high school all-star game the All-American Bowl.[3]

Preseason[edit]

Award watch lists[edit]

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Lott Trophy[4] Chris Orr LB SR
Maxwell Award[5] Jonathan Taylor RB JR
John Mackey Award[6] Jake Ferguson TE SO
Rimington Trophy[7] Tyler Biadasz OL JR
Butkus Award[8] Zack Baun OLB SR
Outland Trophy[9] Tyler Biadasz OL JR
Doak Walker Award[10] Jonathan Taylor RB JR
Walter Camp Award[11] Jonathan Taylor RB JR
Manning Award[12] Jack Coan QB JR

Preseason Big Ten poll[edit]

Although the Big Ten Conference has not held an official preseason poll since 2010, Cleveland.com has polled sports journalists representing all member schools as a de facto preseason media poll since 2011. For the 2019 poll, Wisconsin was projected to finish in third in the West Division.[13]

Media poll (West Division)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Nebraska 198 (14)
2 Iowa 194.5 (14)
3 Wisconsin 172.5 (4)
4 Northwestern 142.5 (1)
5 Purdue 110.5
6 Minnesota 100 (1)
7 Illinois 34

Schedule[edit]

Wisconsin's 2019 schedule began with two non-conference home games, first against South Florida of the American Athletic Conference, and then against Central Michigan of the Mid-American Conference. Wisconsin's third non-conference game, against Kent State, also of the Mid-American Conference, was played in October.

In Big Ten Conference play, Wisconsin played all members of the West Division, and drew Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State from the East Division.

The Badgers started the season with two shutouts over South Florida and Central Michigan. However, their signature game came against then-No. 11 Michigan in their Big Ten opener, where the Badgers scored 35 unanswered points to start the game before resting the team's starters and allowing two touchdowns from the Wolverines. The team's dominance continued over the next three games, including a shutout victory over Michigan State. In the first six games, Wisconsin only allowed three combined points from the first half (a field goal by Northwestern). Several analysts saw the Badgers as contenders for a spot in the College Football Playoff.[14][15]

However, a week before the Ohio State game, the Badgers suffered their first loss, as a 31-point favorite, at Illinois on a game-winning field goal. Several experts marked this moment as a downward turning point for the Badgers, as they were not able to recover in time tor the Ohio State game, losing in Columbus as well.[16]

The Badgers would bounce back, however, with a narrow home victory versus a ranked Iowa, and a blowout win on the road against a top-ten Minnesota. They would then rematch against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game, leading for the first three quarters but falling to a late rally from the Buckeyes.[17]

As Big Ten runner up, Wisconsin was invited to the 2020 Rose Bowl to play Pac-12 Champion Oregon. The Badgers lost the game by one point.[18]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 30, 20196:00 p.m.at South Florida*No. 19ESPNW 49–046,704
September 72:30 p.m.Central Michigan*No. 17BTNW 61–074,437
September 2111:00 a.m.No. 11 MichiganNo. 13
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
FOXW 35–1480,245
September 2811:00 a.m.NorthwesternNo. 8
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
ABCW 24–1576,825
October 511:00 a.m.Kent State*No. 8
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
ESPNUW 48–074,559
October 122:30 p.m.Michigan StatedaggerNo. 8
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
BTNW 38–080,470
October 1911:00 a.m.at IllinoisNo. 6BTNL 23–2437,363
October 2611:00 a.m.at No. 3 Ohio StateNo. 13FOXL 7–38102,998
November 93:00 p.m.No. 18 IowaNo. 13
FOXW 24–2278,018
November 1611:00 a.m.at NebraskaNo. 14BTNW 37–2188,842
November 233:00 p.m.PurdueNo. 12
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
FOXW 45–2470,747
November 302:30 p.m.at No. 8 MinnesotaNo. 12ABCW 38–1753,756
December 77:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 Ohio StateNo. 8FOXL 21–3466,649
January 1, 20204:00 p.m.vs. No. 6 Oregon*No. 8ESPNL 27–2890,462

Source:[19]

Roster[edit]

2019 Wisconsin Badgers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 Aron Cruickshank So
QB 1 Bryson Baxley  Fr
WR 3 Kendric Pryor  Jr
WR 4 A.J. Taylor Sr
QB 5 Graham Mertz Fr
WR 6 Danny Davis III Jr
RB 7 Bradrick Shaw  Sr
RB 10 Isaac Guerendo  Fr
WR 11 Stephan Bracey Fr
WR 13 Mike Gregoire  Fr
WR 14 Jordan DiBenedetto Fr
QB 15 Danny Vanden Boom  So
WR 16 Jack Dunn  Jr
QB 17 Jack Coan (C) Jr
WR 18 Cam Phillips Fr
WR 21 Cooper Nelson Fr
WR 22 Cade Green Injured  So
RB 23 Jonathan Taylor (C) Jr
WR 24 Adam Krumholz  Jr
RB 25 Nakia Watson  Fr
FB 28 Quan Easterling Fr
RB 29 Brady Schipper  Fr
TE 30 Coy Wanner Injured  So
RB 32 Julius Davis Fr
FB 34 Mason Stokke  Jr
RB 36 Hunter Johnson  So
RB 37 Garrett Groshek (C)  Jr
TE 41 Jack Eschenbach  Fr
TE 43 Hayden Rucci Fr
FB 44 John Chenal So
TE 46 Gabe Lloyd Injured  Jr
TE 47 Clay Cundiff Fr
OL 50 Logan Brown Fr
OL 59 Andrew Lyons  Fr
OL 60 Logan Bruss  So
OL 61 Tyler Biadasz (C)  Jr
OL 62 Logan O'Brien Fr
OL 65 Tyler Beach  So
OL 67 Cormac Sampson  Fr
OL 68 David Moorman  Sr
OL 69 Aaron Vopal  So
OL 70 Josh Seltzner  So
OL 71 Cole Van Lanen  Jr
OL 73 Alex Fenton  So
OL 74 Michael Furtney  Fr
OL 75 Joe Tippmann  Fr
OL 76 Kayden Lyles  So
OL 77 Blake Smithback  So
OL 78 Jason Erdmann  Sr
WR 81 Taj Mustapha  Fr
WR 82 Emmet Perry  So
TE 84 Jake Ferguson  So
TE 85 Zander Neuville  Sr
TE 86 Luke Benzschawel Injured  Jr
WR 87 Quintez Cephus  Jr
WR 89 A.J. Abbott  Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
CB 1 Faion Hicks  So
S 2 Reggie Pearson  Fr
CB 4 Donte Burton  Fr
CB 5 Rachad Wildgoose So
CB 6 Dean Engram Fr
OLB 7 Spencer Lytle Fr
CB 8 Deron Harrell  So
S 9 Scott Nelson Injured  So
ILB 10 Seth Currens  Jr
CB 11 Alexander Smith  Fr
S 12 Titus Toler Fr
S 18 Collin Wilder  Jr
S 19 John Torchio  Fr
CB 20 Semar Melvin Fr
CB 21 Caesar Williams  Jr
ILB 22 Jacob Heyroth  Fr
CB 24 James Williams Fr
S 25 Eric Burrell  Jr
CB 26 Travian Blaylock  Fr
CB 27 Cristian Volpentesta  Jr
ILB 29 Jackson Kollath Fr
S 30 Tyler Mais  So
S 31 Madison Cone Jr
ILB 32 Marty Strey  Fr
CB 36 Kobe Knaak  Jr
S 38 Dante Caputo Fr
ILB 39 Tatum Grass Fr
OLB 41 Noah Burks  Jr
OLB 42 Jaylan Franklin  Fr
ILB 45 Leo Chenal Fr
OLB 46 Hegeman Tiedt  Jr
ILB 48 Travis Wiltjer Sr
OLB 49 Christian Bell  Jr
OLB 50 Izayah Green-May  So
DE 51 Giovanni Paez Fr
DE 52 David Pfaff  Sr
ILB 54 Chris Orr (C)  Sr
ILB 55 Maema Njongmeta Fr
OLB 56 Zack Baun (C)  Sr
DE 56 Rodas Johnson Fr
DE 57 Michael Balistreri  So
ILB 57 Jack Sanborn So
ILB 58 Mike Maskalunas  Jr
OLB 59 Tyler Johnson  Sr
NT 74 Gunnar Roberge  Sr
DE 90 Isaiah Mullens  Fr
NT 91 Bryson Williams So
DE 92 Matt Henningsen  So
DE 93 Garrett Rand  Jr
DE 94 Boyd Dietzen  Fr
NT 95 Keeanu Benton Fr
DE 97 Isaiahh Loudermilk  Jr
DE 98 C.J. Goetz  Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 15 Anthony Lotti Sr
K 19 Collin Larsh  So
K 28 Blake Wilcox Fr
K 39 Zach Hintze  Sr
LS 51 Adam Bay Jr
LS 52 Josh Bernhagen Injured  Jr
LS 63 Peter Bowden Fr
P 90 Connor Allen  Sr
P 96 Conor Schlichting  So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: November 19, 2019

Rankings[edit]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP19171413-T8886131816151413101111
Coaches17–T1614149986131716151414101113
CFPNot released1314121288Not released

Game summaries[edit]

At South Florida[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 19 Badgers 7 21 14 7 49
Bulls 0 0 0 0 0

Central Michigan[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Chippewas 0 0 0 0 0
No. 17 Badgers 16 28 10 7 61

Michigan[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 11 Wolverines 0 0 8 6 14
No. 13 Badgers 14 14 7 0 35

Northwestern[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 3 0 0 12 15
No. 8 Badgers 7 0 7 10 24

This was the first game of the season where the Badgers allowed an opponent to score points in the first half.

Kent State[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Flashes 0 0 0 0 0
No. 8 Badgers 7 21 13 7 48

Michigan State[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Spartans 0 0 0 0 0
No. 8 Badgers 7 10 0 21 38

Wisconsin became the first FBS team since Oklahoma in 1967 to put up 4 shutouts in its first 6 games after their game against Michigan State.

At Illinois[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 6 Badgers 7 6 7 3 23
Fighting Illini 0 7 7 10 24

No. 6 Wisconsin was upset on the road by unranked Illinois, who took the lead for the first time in the entire game as the clock ran out, with a 39-yard field goal. The loss, along with the loss to Ohio State in the following week, all but ended Wisconsin's national championship hopes.

At Ohio State (regular season)[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 13 Badgers 0 0 7 0 7
No. 3 Buckeyes 0 10 14 14 38

Iowa[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 18 Hawkeyes 3 3 0 16 22
No. 16 Badgers 0 14 7 3 24

At Nebraska[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 14 Badgers 7 20 7 3 37
Cornhuskers 7 7 7 0 21

Purdue[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Boilermakers 3 14 7 0 24
No. 12 Badgers 14 10 14 7 45

At Minnesota[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 12 Badgers 0 10 14 14 38
No. 8 Golden Gophers 7 0 3 7 17

Vs. Ohio State (Big Ten Championship game)[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 1 Buckeyes 0 7 17 10 34
No. 8 Badgers 7 14 0 0 21

This was Wisconsin 3rd rematch in a Big Ten Championship Game. Previously the Badgers played and beat Michigan State in 2011 and Nebraska in 2012 after losing to them in their regular season matchup.

Vs. Oregon (Rose Bowl)[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 8 Badgers 10 7 7 3 27
No. 6 Ducks 7 7 7 7 28

Awards and honors[edit]