Wisconsin vs. Miami (OH) 2025: Key Players and Predictions

The third year of Luke Fickell’s tenure is upon us, with a 2025 Week 1 matchup of Wisconsin vs. Miami (OH) at Camp Randall Stadium. This is a very important year for coach Fickell and his staff as they stare down a brutal 2025 schedule.

Improvement is the name of the game for this Badger’s team, as no one expects them to be competitive in the Big Ten this year. Most national pundits don’t even think the Badgers make a bowl game this year, with most betting the under on the team’s 5.5-win line. We’ll dive into this Week 1 matchup, the keys to the game, and what to keep an eye on in this preview.

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Miami (OH) RedHawks: History and Excerpts

This is only the second time that these two teams have met in their respective histories. The only matchup came in a lopsided defeat for the RedHawks, losing 58-0. Being shut out like that can be embarrassing for any program, and Miami (OH) is looking to make the opportunity count in this matchup.

Speaking to the media, Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell talked about how the new era of college football has changed the sport. And, while he has plenty of “old” players, he’s looking forward to how they produce and gel in Week 1 against the RedHawks.

“We got 30-some guys, 32, 34 guys that are technically in their last year of college football,” began Fickell. [That] would make you a very old team, but yet very few of them have played together for a significant time. And so with that being said, there’s a lot of unknowns and how guys just kind of handle the situation, how they mesh together. Yes, it provides a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. But I couldn’t have more confidence in just the way things have gone over the last 30-some practices.”

Wisconsin vs. Miami (OH) 2025: Must-Know Keys & Predictions

Miami (OH) RedHawks Preview

The RedHawks are coming off a successful 2024 season, where they went 9-5 and played in the MAC championship. Miami (OH) has had a lot of success the past few seasons in the MAC, and one could argue that they are the prized possession in the conference. They won the conference championship in 2023 and made it to the championship last year, before getting blown out 38-3 to a very good Ohio team.

As is common in today’s college football, the RedHawks are dealing with a brand new roster in 2025. All 11 starters from last year’s team are gone, with only three defensive starters coming back. However, they do have the luxury of having head coach Chuck Martin returning for his 12th year with the program. He knows how to win and will have his team prepared for Week 1.

At quarterback, the RedHawks will lean on the transfer, Dequan Finn. Finn, a dual-threat QB, is in his sixth year of college ball and brings a lot of experience to the RedHawks. Injuries shortened his one season with Baylor, but Finn had a very successful career at Toledo, winning the MAC MVP back in 2023.

Other players to look out for on the RedHawks offense include Notre Dame transfer wide receiver Deion Colzie, as well as running back Jordan Brunson, who saw some action last year for the RedHawks.

On the defensive side of the ball, safeties Silas Walters and Eli Blakey have the most experience and production at Miami (OH). The RedHawks lost a ton of all-conference players, so the defense is an extreme question mark this year.

Adam Trick has the most experience on the defensive line for the RedHawks, securing 4.5 sacks in 2024.

Badgers’ Key Players for Week 1

Now that the stage has been set for who the Badgers are facing, let’s move on to key players and what Badger fans should be looking for in Week 1.

On Thursday, we get our first look at new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, who comes to Madison after one year at Kansas. Grimes has had success everywhere he’s been and brings a run-first scheme to Madison. The Badgers are going back to their roots with the Grimes hire, after not being successful with the Phil Longo Air Raid scheme.

To some surprise, Redshirt Freshman Dilin Jones gets the nod at RB1 for the Badgers. He earned high praise and excelled in camp. Fans should expect a three-back rotation, though, especially in Week 1. That would mean Jones should be sharing the workload with sophomore Darrion Dupree and redshirt junior Cade Yacamelli.

Grimes runs more of a pro-style NFL offense, with heavy 12-personnel, and play-action passing. The Badgers’ ability to win the line of scrimmage, not only for this game but going forward, will be a huge key to their success. The ability to run the football will set up Grimes’s play-action passing game, where Maryland transfer Billy Edwards Jr. can shine.

Edwards comes to the Badgers after a successful 2024 campaign at Maryland. He brings 26 career starts to Madison, and the ability to stay healthy this year is crucial. The Badgers struggled with inconsistent quarterback play the past few years, due to injuries to Tanner Mordecai and Tyler Van Dyke.

The receiver room is fairly deep this year, and to some fans’ surprise, Ohio State transfer Jayden Ballard was not listed as a starter on the initial depth chart. Look for him to still rotate in a lot, as Trech Kekahuna and Vinny Anthony pace the position group.

Dekel Crowdus transfer from Hawaii, and true freshman Eugene Hilton have turned heads during camp as well. Look for them to not only get on the field, but have an impact in Week 1.

The entire offensive line should also be a focus for Wisconsin in Week 1. Improved line play is critical this year for the Badgers with a Grimes-led offense. If the Badgers struggle to block and protect like they did last year, Wisconsin fans might be in for another long year.

Another key this offseason was improved defensive line play. The Badgers struggled to stop the run and rush the passer last year. Most of that was due to being undersized and undermanned. However, Wisconsin vastly improved the line this offseason, and I expect vast improvements in that department.

Transfer from Louisville, Mason Reiger, has had everyone talking this fall. If he can stay healthy, look for him to tee off against an inexperienced offensive line of Miami (OH).

On the backend, look for Ricardo Hallman and the matchup between him and Deion Colzie, whom I highlighted earlier. Those two players should play a big role for their respective teams in this Week 1 college football clash.

How Wisconsin Wins in Week 1

The RedHawks should be able to keep it close for a quarter or two before the Badgers’ talent and size take over. Once that happens, Wisconsin should cruise to a win. With a -17.5 line in favor of Wisconsin, that seems fair given where the programs are at.

It is only Week 1, but the Badgers have a brutal schedule this year, and getting bowl-eligible will be a battle. Week 1 is a step towards that. However, this Badgers team should be a lot better than people think.

They are bigger, faster, and more athletic than they have been under Fickell in the past. Everyone who has stepped into the practice facility has walked out impressed by this Badgers’ team. That doesn’t mean Wisconsin is going to win by 50 on Thursday and run the table. However, Week 1 will be a stepping stone for this team, and will play a major role in their 2025 aspirations.