Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell brutally honest on why Illinois QB Luke Altmyer is a ‘catalyst’ originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Four days separate the Wisconsin Badgers from their home finale against the newly-ranked No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini this Saturday (7:30, Big Ten Network).
Advertisement
The Illini (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) recently entered the College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday night following back-to-back wins against the Rutgers Scarlett Knights (5-5, 2-5 Big Ten) and Maryland Terrapins (4-6, 1-6 Big Ten) to begin November on the right foot.
Both teams are facing each other for the first time since 2023 in Champaign, as the Badgers prevailed in a thriller, 25-21. It would mark several excruciating losses for an Illini team that limped to 5-7, only to see a complete resurgence under coach Bret Bielema in the last two seasons.
Unlike Illinois, however, the Badgers (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) are spiraling in the complete opposite direction under coach Luke Fickell. A bowl berth is out of the question in Madison, but it could attempt to play spoiler and knock off its former coach should Wisconsin come away with a colossal upset.
Doing so requires stopping Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer, which is easier said than done. As his career winds down over the next several weeks, Fickell told reporters Monday how much he notices how good Altmyer has become fairly quickly.
Advertisement
Fickell also admitted Illinois is a good team, but described its season as a “rollercoaster” with several highs and lows alongside it.
“It’s not like they lost something specifically that has hurt him,” Fickell said of Altmyer’s Illini. “I just think they’ve had to ride a little bit of a roller coaster. And I think that they’re very sound football team. I think a quarterback in particular gives them an opportunity, a chance to to be successful in every game.”
Illinois’ best wins are against the Duke Blue Devils (5-5, 4-2 ACC) and USC Trojans (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten), who are currently ranked No. 15. Both of those wins are due in large part to Altmyer. In each, Altmyer went 22-for-31 for 296 yards and three touchdowns (Duke) and 20-for-26 for 328 yards, an interception and three total touchdowns (USC).
When Altmyer is efficient, the offense hums, which is glaringly evident to Fickell.
Advertisement
“I mean, he can throw it, he can run it. I think he’s the catalyst to what it is that they’ve done and what they do,” Fickell said. “And, you know, they challenge you defensively, because they’ll jump in and out of the bear front, they’ll get on you in man. And so it’s not like they’re going to change based on whatever, you know, hey, well, we won last week. And really, really big.”
No matter how it’s sliced or diced, the Badgers will have to dig deep defensively to make the game even remotely interesting. Otherwise, an expected result may occur.
Nonetheless, though, Bielema’s reunion is shaping up to be one to remember at Camp Randall Stadium.
