Wisconsin football’s Week 2 win over Middle Tennessee was a tale of two halves. On the one hand, the Badgers struggled in the first half, scoring zero points in the first quarter and leading by only four, 14-10, at halftime. On the other hand, the second frame was one of Wisconsin’s best offensive halves of the Luke Fickell era. The team scored 28 unanswered points, demonstrating the ceiling of offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’ play calling.
That second-half offensive output was reminiscent of the Paul Chryst-led Wisconsin teams. The Badgers leaned heavily on end-arounds, medium-length passes to tight ends, and strong blocking up front. However, the scheme was also a modernized take on the traditional pro-style offense, with quarterback Danny O’Neil throwing three touchdowns, including a 58-yarder to Jayden Ballard.
To explain how Wisconsin found success in this matchup, here are the five stats that defined the team’s victory over Middle Tennessee:
1. 75 rushing yards from Trech Kekahuna and Vinny Anthony
The Badgers failed to establish the run game in the first half, with both Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree struggling to make plays on the ground. This was one of the main reasons why Wisconsin could not create first-half separation against Middle Tennessee.
Starting in the second half, Jeff Grimes started to lean more heavily on end-arounds, specifically to receivers Trech Kekahuna and Vinny Anthony, both of whom turned those touches into explosive touchdowns. End-arounds were a staple of the Chryst-led Wisconsin teams in the 2010s, so seeing the play back in action is exciting to say the least. Expect to see a lot more of those misdirection plays as the season goes on, especially against teams like Alabama, which had issues limiting its opponent’s run game in the season-opener.
2. 85.1% completion percentage
Losing quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. in the first half of the Miami (Ohio) game was a tough blow to the Badgers. However, backup Danny O’Neil appears ready to be the next man up. O’Neil first held his own against Miami (Ohio), completing 12 of his 19 pass attempts and scoring two touchdowns, one passing and one rushing. He then played a key role in Wisconsin’s second-half success against Middle Tennessee, operating the offense efficiently and connecting on several big-play touchdowns. With 283 passing yards, O’Neil even set a Wisconsin football record for the most passing yards in a debut. The redshirt sophomore’s accuracy was a big part of why the Badgers had success offensively in the second half and will be a key factor if the team wants to have any chance next Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
3. 102 receiving yards for TE Lance Mason
Head coach Luke Fickell’s first couple seasons in Madison didn’t go as planned, with quarterback injuries galore, disappointing games against Big Ten conference rivals, and no signature wins thus far. One thing that his tenure has lacked is an impact pass-catching tight end who can help the offense in key situations. Many thought transfer Tanner Koziol would be that player for the Badgers this season. However, he transferred away from Wisconsin in spring, forcing the Badgers to find another tight end in the transfer portal. Missouri State’s Lance Mason was that answer.
Mason didn’t make any noise during his first game with the Badgers, as he went the entire game without a catch. That changed on Saturday. Mason turned seven receptions into 102 receiving yards and a touchdown. The veteran clearly has chemistry with O’Neil, who is likely to start for at least one more game for the Badgers. If Mason can continue this production, he could be in for a big season.
4. Five total sacks
Wisconsin struggled to generate consistent “havoc” plays last season, finishing with only four interceptions and 13 sacks. The 2025 Wisconsin Badgers are already one interception away from matching that total, and have started the year strong in the pass-rushing department. Defensive coordinator Mike Tressel’s offseason plan has clearly worked this far, as his unit has looked much better than last year’s did in the early-season nonconference games. While the real test will be how the unit holds up against Power Four teams, it has impressed so far.
5. 1.2 rushing yards per carry allowed
Wisconsin’s rush defense was one of the worst in both the Big Ten and in the entire sport last season. Through two weeks in 2025, the team has shown significant improvement. It has only allowed 33 rushing yards per contest thus far, plus held MTSU to just 1.2 yards per attempt. For context, the team allowed an average of 121 rushing yards per game in the first two weeks of the 2024 campaign.
Wisconsin has improved in the area due to a beefed-up defensive line and better performances from its returning linebackers. Stopping the run is crucial to succeeding in a conference like the Big Ten. The Badgers will need to be on point in the area as they head into the hardest stretch of their brutal schedule.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football Middle Tennessee game recap key stats
