The Badgers, who finished 2024 with five straight losses and their first bowl absence in over two decades, found redemption in a dominant display. Safety Preston Zachman emerged as the hero of the night, intercepting Miami (Ohio) quarterback Dequan Finn twice and nearly turning one pick into a touchdown, setting up a short scoring drive. The RedHawks, unable to gain traction, finished with a mere 117 total yards and were stonewalled on all nine third-down attempts. Wisconsin’s defense, which ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten against the run last season, allowed just 34 rushing yards—an emphatic reversal that electrified the home crowd.
Yet, the night was not without drama. The highly anticipated debut of quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. was cut short by a lower-body injury in the second quarter. Edwards, who transferred from Maryland after a 2,881-yard, 15-touchdown campaign, limped to the sideline and was later seen on the bench in sweats, his fate for the coming weeks uncertain. Head coach Luke Fickell offered no update postgame, though Edwards’ presence on the sideline gave fans hope for a swift return.
Backup Danny O’Neil, a transfer from San Diego State, seized his moment under pressure. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 120 yards, threading a critical 3-yard touchdown to Vinny Anthony II and later plunging in for a 1-yard rushing score. O’Neil’s leadership steadied the offense after Edwards’ exit, culminating in a methodical second-half surge that left the RedHawks gasping for answers.
“It’s a little bit of a rollercoaster,” O’Neil admitted postgame, acknowledging the emotional swing of seeing his teammate and leader sidelined. But the Badgers’ resolve never wavered—a testament to the new mentality Zachman described: “Up front, we’re just a lot more physical. You can feel the confidence level in the defense. I think we’ll continue to grow in that area.”
Miami (Ohio), coming off a nine-win season and an Arizona Bowl title but returning no offensive starters, struggled to find rhythm. Dequan Finn, a former MAC MVP, was held to just 83 passing yards and two interceptions. The RedHawks’ frustration was summed up by head coach Chuck Martin: “We’ve got to watch the tape and own it, but also look at how we get better.”
This victory extends Wisconsin’s unbeaten record against Miami (Ohio) to 2-0, their previous meeting a 58-0 rout in 2015. The Badgers now look ahead to a Week 2 clash with Middle Tennessee, while the RedHawks aim to regroup before facing Rutgers.
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