By james art The University of Wisconsin football team played a tough schedule to start the season, but the real gauntlet has arrived.
It’s strange to think that the softer part of the schedule included hosting Alabama, which was ranked No. 4 but has since fallen to No. 15, and visiting Southern Cal, which was ranked No. 13 but has since dropped out. But the Badgers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) got off to a predictably slow start and may have hit the record many predicted when the schedule was released.
How to watch Wisconsin football vs. No. 3 Penn State: Stories, predictions, more
So a 6:30 p.m. game Saturday against No. 3 Penn State is the final test for Luke Fickle’s team in his second season as Wisconsin’s coach. A win over the Nittany Lions could change the narrative and prove that three-game winning streak against teams at the bottom of the Big Ten’s bigger barrel is a turning point.
ESPN’s “College GameDay” is traveling to new locations this season and visited Bloomington, Indiana for the first time on Saturday. The undefeated Hoosiers are ranked No. 13, and it’s been a nostalgia trip for former IU coach Lee Corso, who led the Hoosiers to a Holiday Bowl victory in 1979. Former Colts player Pat McAfee rejuvenated the show and fired up the crowds, and he’s not unknown to Hoosiers. And despite not being part of the World Series, former Indiana baseball star and Philadelphia Phillies player Kyle Schwarber was the featured guest.
Here’s how ESPN’s “College GameDay” picked the Badgers’ primetime game against Penn State.
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Desmond Howard: I really struggled with this one because Wisconsin’s defense has been really great over the last three games, giving up just one touchdown, but I don’t know if I can trust their offense. So I’m going to Penn State.
Nick Saban: I think Penn State has been one of the most complete teams so far this season. So I’ll stick with Penn State.
Pat McAfee: Huge “GameDay” implications on the line here in the bounce house, and if Penn State can just remind themselves to hit the rock and not what they did in the first half against USC, I think they win easily here.
Kyle Schwarber: Yeah, I think Penn State has it pretty easy right now. So I’m going to Penn State.
Lee Corso: Penn State looks ahead to the Buckeyes, making it a very close game, indeed.
Kirk Herbstreit: Drew Aller(s) Tyler Warren coming off the bye week, I think Penn State can travel in this hostile environment and win.