Watch Guide: Wisconsin vs. Illinois State preview and notes

Your one-stop spot for all the updates and information surrounding Saturday's game between Wisconsin and Illinois State, including how to watch the game, game notes, and news heading into Week 1.

The 2022 college football season is officially here, and the Wisconsin Badgers will kick off their season Saturday night against the Illinois State Redbirds inside Camp Randall Stadium. 

Illinois State finished with a 4-7 overall record last season competing in the Missouri Valley Conference of FCS football, while the Badgers are hoping to recapture a Big Ten West title for the first time since 2019. 

The matchup between Wisconsin and Illinois State will mark the first time these two teams have met, as the Badgers are heavy favorites heading into gameday. 

As we will with every game this season, All Badgers has your gameday watch guide to help you be fully prepared for Saturday night. 

Game details and television information

• Wisconsin Badgers (0-0) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (0-0)
• Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CST from Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin.
• The game will be aired on FS1
• Matt Lepay will call the game on Badger Sports Network (Varsity Network App)
• Live stats

Player news

The following players will not be available on Saturday night for Wisconsin. 

• Offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini (RS Sophomore) - right leg injury
• Tight end Cam Large (RS Sophomore) - right leg injury
• Inside linebacker Spencer Lytle (RS Junior) - left leg injury
• Defensive end Isaac Townsend (RS Junior) - left leg injury
• Outside linebacker Aaron Witt (RS Sophomore) - right leg injury
• Quarterback Chase Wolf (Redshirt Senior) - knee injury
• *Safety Travian Blaylock (Senior) - right knee injury 
• *Defensive end Mike Jarvis (Freshman) - left leg injury
• *Inside linebacker Luna Larson (Freshman) - right leg injury

Illinois State has several players from the state of Wisconsin, and players that might be familiar to some fans:

• No. 18 Jeremiah Jordan (LB) played at Madison Memorial High School
• No. 30 Rashad Lampkin (RB) played at Brookfield Central High School
• No. 39 Jack Takerian (K/P) played at Franklin High School
• No. 43 Matthew Wedig (LB) played at Beloit Memorial High School
• No. 45 Cal Martine (FB) played at Appleton North High School
• No. 52 Jordan Greuel (OL) played at Greendale High School
• No. 63 Daniel Forystek (OL) played at Bay Port High School
• No. 68 Landon Woodard (OL) played at Waukesha West High School
• No. 74 Zach Mueller (OL) played at D.C. Everest High School
• No. 80 Eddie Kasper (WR) is from Burlington, Wisconsin
• No. 81 Brett Spalding (TE) played at Franklin High School
• No. 90 Greg Galloway (DL) played at Oconomowoc High School
• No. 91 Josh Dinga (DL) played at Sun Prairie High School

Game Notes

• Wisconsin is 19-5 all-time in home night games. The Badgers have won seven straight night games since 2016. 
• Wisconsin opens the season ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll and No. 20 in the preseason Coaches Poll.
• Head coach Paul Chryst will lead the Badgers for an eighth season this year. He has a 65-23 record, the seventh-most wins in the Power 5 during that timeframe. 
• Wisconsin running backs Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi combined for 2,083 rushing yards in 2021 despite each not playing a full season. 
• Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard is overseeing the UW's defense for the seventh season in Madison. In his first six years as defensive coordinator, the Badgers rank No. 1 in total yards allowed (284.8 yards per game), No. 1 in pass efficiency defense (110.5), and No. 1 in opponents’ third down conversions (30.5%).
• Wisconsin has been to a bowl game 20 seasons in a row and has won seven of their last bowl appearances. 
• The University of Wisconsin will honor the 2010, 2011, and 2012 football teams on Saturday night. Those teams won back-to-back-to-back Big Ten Championships. 

Articles to get you ready

• Three questions for Wisconsin versus Illinois State
• Wisconsin versus Illinois State by the numbers
• Wisconsin depth chart and injury report for Illinois State
• Paul Chryst press conference recap for Week 1
• What Chase Wolf's injury means for Wisconsin football
• Night game openers for Wisconsin revisited

Quotes of the week

“No matter what position you are, where you’re from, what you play, at the end of the day, we’re all Badgers. I’m proud to be a Badger and I’m forever grateful that I’m here.” - Wisconsin OLB Nick Herbig

"You watch Illinois State, and you see a really good football team. Well coached. Know a lot of those coaches and respect a lot of those coaches." Chryst would continue by saying, "I believe every time you play this game, it's kind of, the main focus is making sure you're ready for it. And our team is ready for it." - Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst

Related links:

• Impact of USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten in 2024
• Three questions ahead of Wisconsin versus Illinois State
• Impact of the Big Ten's 7-year Media Rights deal

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