Before each Ohio State game, Eleven Warriors catches up with a media member who covers the opposing team to get his or her perspective on the Buckeyes’ upcoming opponent.

2-4

Oct. 18, 2025 – 3:30 P.m. ET

Camp Randall Stadium

Madison, WI

This week, we’re joined by Colten Bartholomew, who covers Wisconsin for the Wisconsin State Journal, for an update on the Badgers as they prepare to host Ohio State at Camp Randall Stadium.

Wisconsin enters this week’s game coming off of four straight losses, most recently suffering a 37-0 loss to Iowa at home, and Bartholomew doesn’t see things getting much better for the 2-4 Badgers in the second half of the season. He doesn’t believe Luke Fickell’s firing is imminent yet, but he believes the Badgers will have a hard time winning another game this season with a second-half schedule that consists of Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota.

Our Q&A with Bartholomew also covers why Fickell has struggled so much in Madison, how Southern Illinois transfer Hunter Simmons became Wisconsin’s starting quarterback and whether the Badgers have any chance of contending with Ohio State this weekend.

Let’s start with the biggest question surrounding Wisconsin right now: After a 2-4 start to the season, is Luke Fickell’s firing imminent?

Bartholomew: It’s hard to say. Fans are ready to move on, but Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh put his eggs in the Fickell basket and his job might be tied to Fickell’s in the eyes of the university. So Fickell will get every chance possible, though it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel after the Badgers were throttled by Maryland and Iowa. Any time the fairly competitive trip to Ann Arbor might have bought Fickell was zapped last Saturday.

Fickell led Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff. Why do you think he’s struggled so much at Wisconsin?

Bartholomew: A combination of bad luck and poor decisions. Losing the starting quarterback to injuries each of the past three years has both provided a convenient excuse and exposed lack of development by other position groups. Hiring Phil Longo as offensive coordinator was a whiff and Fickell didn’t properly address holes on the offensive line created by an injury in spring practices. 

There isn’t the overall talent level at Wisconsin to overcome multiple issues at once, be they injuries, coaching mistakes or what have you. Fickell’s had a hard time adjusting to the thin margin for error that exists in Madison.

What have been the biggest issues that have caused the Badgers’ struggles so far this season?

Bartholomew: Injuries are the easiest cop-out. Three quarterbacks and four centers have started games, and expected starting cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean’s still fighting an eligibility battle with the NCAA. 

The biggest issue, though, is the offensive line’s performance. Wisconsin always survived dips in skill-position talent by being able to win the line of scrimmage, but it can’t this year and it’s been disastrous for the offense. Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes has a scheme that should work with even an average Wisconsin offensive line over the past three decades, and this group falls well below that line. 

Bad offense leads to an overworked defense that entered the season thin in the secondary. Bad combo.

Wisconsin will likely be an underdog in all of its remaining games. Do you think the Badgers win another game this year?

Bartholomew: It’s difficult to see one on the schedule at the moment. There’s nothing to suggest this team has the magic to pull off a miracle upset this week or next at Oregon, so the question becomes if the Badgers can regroup on their second bye and find a way to beat the likes of Washington or Minnesota. 

Efforts, or lacks thereof, like last week’s against the Hawkeyes point to 2-10, though.

Hunter Simmons started just three games in four years at Southern Illinois, but he’s started Wisconsin’s last two games. How did that happen, and how would you evaluate his play so far?

Bartholomew: Billy Edwards Jr. hurt his knee, backup Danny O’Neil turned the ball over too much and got beat up against Maryland, and the only other options are a walk-on redshirt freshman and a true freshman coaches probably aren’t keen on playing behind a struggling line. 

Simmons can do the basics and has an above-average arm. He’d be in good shape if Wisconsin could run the ball consistently, but that’s not happening either.

Which Wisconsin players and/or units are most capable of giving Ohio State problems?

Bartholomew: None? Maybe the outside linebackers could get off the edge a play or two, but the talent gap Saturday is as big as it’s been in this series in a long time.

How do you see Saturday’s game playing out?

Bartholomew: It really depends on how Ohio State feels like playing. The Buckeyes have one pretty good team left on the schedule in Michigan, so the biggest battle will be avoiding a sleepwalk session that allows lesser teams in the game until then.  

No secondary in the country can hang with OSU’s receiving corps, it appears, and the Badgers aren’t going to be the exception.

Score prediction: OSU 49, Badgers 7