College Football Preview: Oregon State (0-1) vs. No. 8 Wisconsin (1-0)

This is a preview that breaks down Oregon State at Wisconsin in Week 2 of the college football season.

Wisconsin Review, Week 1

OSU has a tough game on the road this week, taking on Big Ten powerhouse Wisconsin. Wisconsin easily took care of UNLV in their first game of the season winning 51-17. UNLV ran the Pistol Offense which Wisconsin was not prepared to defend.

The Badgers gave up 292 yards on defense but made stops when it counted early in the game. The Wisconsin offense outmatched the Running Rebels defense behind the quarterback play of North Carolina State transfer Russell Wilson.

Wilson led scoring drives on each of the eight series he played, netting seven touchdowns and one field goal. He ended the game 10-13, 255 yards passing, with two touchdowns and two rushing attempts for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Wisconsin’s running game looked sharp, rushing for 241 net yards. James White had 64 yards rushing on 11 attempts with a score, and Montee Ball had 62 yards rushing on 10 attempts with three touchdowns. 

The Badgers defense did not create a turnover against UNLV, but they did not open up their defense against UNLV either.

Oregon State Review, Week 1

Oregon State did not start off the season the way Mike Riley had hoped. The Beavers found themselves down 21-6 to Sacramento State at the end of the third quarter before storming back to tie the game 21-21 at the end of regulation.

OSU scored first in overtime on true-freshman running back Malcom Agnew’s 18-yard touchdown run. Sacramento State scored a touchdown on their first possession in overtime and converted a two-point conversion for the win. The final score was 29-28. 

The good news for OSU is they appear to have found a replacement for Jacquizz Rodgers with Malcolm Agnew on offense. The bad news is OSU’s pass defense is in trouble. Sacramento State threw for 296 yards against OSU’s defense that only returns three starters.

Sacramento State is certainly not on the elite level of Stanford, USC, Oregon, or this week’s opponent, Wisconsin, so any team looking to run the score up on OSU will have their opportunities until OSU can find a consistent pass rush and limit coverage mistakes.

Agnew ran 33 times for 223 yards with three scores. Riley may have run him too much too soon, in the similar way that Steve Spurrier ran Marcus Lattimore last season, as Agnew is now out versus Wisconsin. 

Ryan Katz was benched after 11-22 for 87 yards passing and an interception. Katz has been named the starter versus Wisconsin. However, if he has a repeat performance of last week, backup quarterback Sean Mannion may step in. 

Wisconsin injuries:

Starting left guard Travis Fredrick is out after spraining his knee against UNLV.

Starting kicker Phillip Welch is a game time decision to play against OSU.

Backup quarterback is out indefinitely after having surgery on his elbow.

Keys to the Oregon State at Wisconsin Game

Wisconsin head coach Bert Bielema and OSU head coach Mike Riley are buddies. Both run a similar style offense thus they know each other’s offense well. The game will come down to execution, motivation, and talent. This favors Wisconsin, especially with Agnew out for OSU. 

OSU has something to prove against Wisconsin after last week’s stumble through the first three quarters of play against the Hornets. Look for OSU to play tougher against the Badgers from the start of the game. How that translates on the scoreboard is another story. 

OSU has a bye next week before starting conference play against UCLA thus they have everything to play for with nothing to lose. Wisconsin plays Northern Illinois in Chicago, a recruiting trip for the Badgers that the Fighting Illini must hate. Wisconsin will not be caught in a trap game or looking past the Beavers. 

OSU’s defensive front is undersized. Wisconsin should be able to run at will against OSU’s defensive front, especially later in the game if they make a commitment to run the ball early. OSU has good linebackers which should help limit some of Wisconsin’s possible breakaway runs.

Oregon State:

Will the 9:00 a.m. PST start time have a sluggish effect on the Beavers’ team?

Senior defensive tackle Kevin Frahm (6’2”, 275 lbs) is expected to play against Wisconsin after missing last week’s game.

Malcolm Agnew is out against Wisconsin; hamstring injury.

Outcome

Don’t look for the score to be run up purposely. The head coaches are friends and Bert Bielema will not look to embarrass his friend on a national stage. Still Bielema will want to see his new quarterback and team in action against a better opponent than UNLV. Wilson may see action well into the third quarter. Ball and White should have great games for the Badgers. 

OSU found their stride late last week but against a weaker opponent. Was the slow start a sign of a lack of preparation, motivation, experience, or combination of everything? Riley will have to use this game to get his team in line for the rest of the season. Watch for different lineups and several opportunities for inexperienced OSU players to prove themselves before conference play begins against UCLA. 

Wisconsin should have a repeat performance of last week’s game against UNLV except they will be prepared for OSU’s offense. Wisconsin should have this game in hand before the first quarter is over

Wisconsin 48, Oregon State 13