3 Badgers Who Will Decide Wisconsin’s Season

The Wisconsin Badgers are sitting at 5-3 with four games left on the schedule.

A bowl game is back on the table.

There’s still a chance to put together a pretty good season.

But getting there is going to take more than just playing better as a team.

Wisconsin needs some of its best players to step up.

According to a Sports Illustrated report, three Badgers in particular could be the difference-makers during this stretch run.

Here’s a look at each one.

WR JAYLON DOMINGEAUX

Jaylon Domingeaux is probably the player most worth watching over these last four games.

He caught six passes for 86 yards against Iowa.

On a day when Wisconsin didn’t get much going offensively, he was one of the few guys who gave them something.

The opportunity should be there for him going forward.

Six catches isn’t a huge number.

But it was enough to make you wonder if the Badgers have found something here.

Nobody is expecting him to suddenly put up huge numbers every Saturday.

Just give Wisconsin a few plays in the passing game when it needs them.

After what we’ve seen from this offense at times, that would be a welcome development.

The Badgers will likely go back to him against Rutgers.

OLB SEBASTIAN CHEEKS

Sebastian Cheeks keeps showing up when you watch this defense.

It feels like he’s always around the ball.

Especially when Wisconsin cranks up the heat and gets after the quarterback.

At this point, that’s not really a surprise anymore.

Cheeks already has six sacks through eight games.

He got another one against Iowa.

That’s what the Badgers want to keep seeing from him.

Don’t overthink it.

Let him go after the quarterback.

There are four games left.

It’s worth watching how high that sack number can get.

Wisconsin is going to need some big defensive plays somewhere along the way.

Cheeks would be one of the first guesses to make a few of them.

LB COOPER CATALANO

Sixteen tackles is a busy afternoon.

That’s what Cooper Catalano had against Iowa.

It matched what observers thought they were seeing while watching the game.

He was around the ball a lot.

That’s really what Catalano needs to do the rest of the way.

It doesn’t matter if he finishes with another 16 tackles or gets anywhere close to it.

When the play comes his way, get there and finish it.

Catalano has been one of the most consistent presences on the defense.

His ability to clean up plays and pile up tackles gives Wisconsin a reliable anchor in the middle.

THE STRETCH RUN AHEAD

Wisconsin’s remaining schedule includes four games that will determine whether this season is remembered as a rebound or a letdown.

The Badgers are 5-3 overall.

A bowl game is back on the table.

But nothing is guaranteed.

The offense needs more than just flashes.

The defense needs to keep producing.

And these three players—Domingeaux, Cheeks and Catalano—could be the ones who tip the balance.