Wisconsin is expected to turn to backup quarterback Danny O’Neil when it hosts Middle Tennessee in a nonconference game Saturday in Madison, Wis.
The Badgers (1-0) opened the season with a 17-0 nonconference victory at home over Miami (Ohio) but lost starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. midway through the second quarter.
Middle Tennessee (0-1) opened with a 34-14 loss to Austin Peay, its first defeat to an FCS team since 2012.
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said Tuesday that Edwards, a transfer from Maryland, had not practiced and it was unlikely that he would play.
O’Neil, a sophomore transfer from San Diego State, completed 12 of 19 passes for 120 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for a score against the RedHawks.
“I’m sure he’ll be the first to tell you that, while he was prepared, he also probably recognized some areas where, ‘OK, I’ve got to do a better job,'” Fickell said of O’Neil.
The Badgers finished with 353 yards total offense, including 165 on the ground. Redshirt freshman Dilin Jones ran for 73 yards on 14 carries.
Wisconsin’s defense held Miami to just 117 yards total offense, including 34 yards on the ground in 22 attempts. The RedHawks also were 0-for-9 on third-down conversions.
“After Week 1, there’s a lot of things that you’ve got to go back and kind of figure out whether you played really well or you didn’t play as well,” Fickell said. “There’s situations in all of it that I think was really good for us. Handling some adversity, obviously, with Billy going down.”
Middle Tennessee fell behind 21-0 and couldn’t recover against Austin Peay, which finished with a 343-153 advantage in total offense.
The Blue Raiders rushed for just 44 yards on 22 carries and managed just four first downs on the ground.
Nicholas Vattiato completed 15 of 36 passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
The Blue Raiders were 0-for-12 in third-down situations and converted 1 of 4 on fourth down.
“This team has had to get back in the film room and look at ourselves, see who we are, and what can be evaluated from game one to game two,” Blue Raiders coach Derek Mason said Monday.
–Field Level Media
