Wisconsin’s strong defensive stretch during its three-game winning streak looks like a complete mirage after the loss to Iowa.

Growing pains are expected on offense, especially on the road against a top-tier defense. But the Badgers regressed on the defensive side of the football. This is a problem with defensive coach and resident coordinator Mike Tressel.

Heading into the final three weeks, there is no bigger story than what is being done to fix the defense and whether results are improving.

This bye week and the final stretch of the season will be somewhat of a pitch based on Phil Longo’s offense. Questions remain about whether this is a long-term fit following the group’s recent struggles.

Context: The Badgers currently rank 82nd nationally in total offense (378.3 yards per game) and 91st in scoring offense (25.1 points per game). Those totals are even lower than the program’s 2021 output, the last full year of the Paul Chryst era.

Longo’s offense needs to carry Wisconsin to wins, especially in its final three games against Nebraska and Minnesota. The upcoming process could decide his future in the program.

No matter what happens in the final three games of the season, Luke Fickell isn’t going anywhere. The loss to Iowa and the slide to a 6-6 finish raises program-wide questions. Fickell will need to re-evaluate and possibly make sweeping changes during the offseason.

Coaches who take 4-5 years to build their programs are no longer in the transfer portal era. Fickell was brought in to take the Badgers to championship level. A 12-10 overall record without a single signature win is a far cry from that standard.

Curt Cignetti’s immediate success in Indiana will increase that pressure (3-9 start in 2023, 9-0 start in 2024). Fickell will need to make changes this offseason; The real question is which one it is.

Wisconsin wraps up with home games against No. 1 Oregon and Minnesota in Nebraska. If the Oregon game ends in a loss, which is reasonable to expect, the team must win the last two games.

These two games will be the difference between finishing 5-7 and missing a bowl game (which would be disastrous) or finishing 7-5 with some momentum going into the postseason. The Badgers should have no trouble beating a Nebraska team that has lost three in a row. So, a home game against an improving Minnesota team will tell us a lot about where the Wisconsin program is right now.

College football is often about how a program responds. It could be in-game adversity, tough losses or what happened Saturday at Wisconsin, one of the program’s worst losses in a decade.

The big story for the Badgers’ outlook for the rest of the season is how the team responds after the Iowa loss. Is there a tangible turnaround and improved play against top opponents, or did the loss to Iowa set off a larger regression?

Ours Big takeaways from defeat to Iowa:

Braedyn Locke went 15-for-29 passing for 137 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against Iowa. These two interceptions were Locke’s seventh and eighth interceptions, respectively, since taking over the starting position. He now has nine total turnovers in that span (six starts).

These turnover issues have cost the team in recent weeks. There was some question about whether Locke could play well enough to retain the starting job heading into 2025, but now it seems certain the Badgers will have a new starter under center.

Wisconsin will almost certainly have a new quarterback in 2025, and it’s unlikely it will be current true freshman Mabrey Mettauer. Another dive into the transfer portal or the potential return of Tyler Van Dyke seem like the most likely outcomes.

Braedyn Locke leading Wisconsin to three straight wins with top-tier play could change that narrative.

Bowl fit is important. It is critical that the 2024 Badgers extend the program’s current 22-year bowl streak.

I can summarize it this way: Reaching postseason play doesn’t necessarily mean the program will signal a turnaround, but a potential return isn’t possible without maintaining bowl eligibility.

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