4 thoughts ahead of Wisconsin Badgers clash against Eastern Michigan

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The Wisconsin Badgers are days away from kicking off Week 3 against the Eastern Michigan Eagles at home at Camp Randall Stadium.

Wisconsin won big against Western Illinois in Week 2 with the 36-9 victory, but the win still left some fans unsatisfied with the team. The Badgers were forced to settle for three field goals in the first half and then were forced to punt twice in the second half against a far weaker opponent. There are still some improvements that Wisconsin needs to show against the Eagles, and failing to do so could make the game against Penn State in Week 4 that much harder.

Thought #1: Can the Wisconsin Badgers find more success through the air?

When an expensive quarterback like Colton Joseph is added through the transfer portal, there are plenty of big expectations that come with the move. One expectation has been that the offense would finally be able to throw the football around without any issues whatsoever, but connecting deep consistently has been a problem for Joseph and Wisconsin. Joseph is currently averaging 7.5 yards per completion this season, which is a 1.5-yard drop from 2025.

Joseph has never quite been the most prolific passer as a quarterback due to his dual-threat capabilities, but the Wisconsin Badgers may need more than an average of 195 passing yards per game to take down some of the toughest teams in the Big Ten Conference.

Thought #2: Abu Sama III could run right through the Eastern Michigan defense

Running back Abu Sama III set the tone against Western Illinois with a huge 72-yard touchdown on the first play of the game for Wisconsin. Sama is electric with the football in his hands, but the Wisconsin Badgers spread the wealth against the Leathernecks, with seven different players carrying the football. That should change against Eastern Michigan for Sama, as the Eagles have allowed a 100-yard rusher in each of the last two games.

With the lack of success Eastern Michigan has had stopping the run and tackling this season, Wisconsin should be able to fully unleash a physical back like Sama against the Eagles. The running back is averaging 6.8 yards per carry this season.

Thought #3: Wisconsin needs to generate pressure against a struggling opponent

Eastern Michigan did a poor job protecting quarterback Noah Kim last week against Michigan State, allowing the Spartans’ defense to produce four sacks. Kim is an experienced, mobile quarterback, but the Eagles have shifted into an offense that relies heavily on passing production. Last season was difficult at times for Kim to adjust to the starting role, but one thing the quarterback had on his side was solid offensive line play.

Kim is currently on track to be sacked 24 times this season, 13 times more than the quarterback was during the 2025 season. The line struggled against speed rushes, power moves, and virtually anything the Spartans threw at them during the loss. The Wisconsin Badgers need to take notes and attack the Eagles’ tackles as much as possible to prevent Kim from connecting downfield.

The Badgers were unable to record a sack against Western Illinois, which is a bit concerning given the supposed talent gap between the two teams.

Thought #4: Improvements need to be present during Week 3

Teams are often able to get through the first few weeks of play with the excuse of needing time to gel as a unit, but Week 3 tends to be the cut-off for most programs. Many teams have already begun conference play, while many others are about to head into some of the more difficult games of the season. It is put up or shut up time in Madison, and the Badgers need to look as cohesive as possible against a team that is currently struggling like Eastern Michigan.

The Wisconsin Badgers have struggled to generate pressure on defense, consistently air out the football, and close out rushing lanes. If Wisconsin can show signs of improvement in those areas against Eastern Michigan, the game next weekend against No. 14 Penn State may not be quite as scary.

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