BadgerBlitz.com brings back its All-Out Blitz weekly series for the 2024 season, where you can find everything you need to know about Wisconsin's upcoming opponent. We look at UW's tenth opponent in the Oregon Ducks, who the Badgers will play Saturday evening in Camp Randall at 6:30 p.m. on NBC.

QUICK PROGRAM FACTS

Head Coach: Dan Lanning (32-5 career record, third season)

Oregon All Time Record: 637-469-34 (.558)

2024 Record: 10-0 (7-0 Big Ten)

Rankings: No. 1 (AP)

Series vs. Wisconsin: 3-3

In a season where the Badgers have faced a litany of great offenses and great passing attacks, Oregon might have the best of them all.

Through the first few weeks of the season, the Ducks were still figuring out their offensive line and didn’t exactly click on offense. But since they have, nobody in the country has been better.

In the eight games since Week 3, they have a +184 point differential, and have been the No. 1 team in the country for the last four weeks.

They’re led by a Heisman candidate in quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a sixth-year senior who previously played at UCF and Oklahoma.

Gabriel’s thrown 22 touchdowns to only five interceptions, all while completing 74.1 percent of his passes. He’s similar to Penn State’s Drew Allar when it comes to maturity and accuracy, but Gabriel poses a big-play threat the Badgers haven’t seen since facing Alabama’s offense.

Their offense will face a challenge with the absence of receiver Tez Johnson, who suffered an injury two weeks ago against Michigan. He leads Oregon receivers in almost every major category, including receptions (64), yards (649) and touchdowns (8).

Against Maryland, their first game without Johnson, Gabriel still had an efficient day, but the offense lacked a certain explosiveness that it’s typically known for.

Still, the Badgers must do everything in their power to slow down Gabriel and this Oregon offense. It’ll be most imperative for the Badgers to limit explosive plays, which begins with how much they’re able to pressure Gabriel.

Not only will edge rushers Darryl Peterson, John Pius and Leon Lowery have to play their best games of the season, but defensive coordinator Mike Tressel will also have to be willing to rush extra bodies.

If inside linebackers Jaheim Thomas and Tackett Curtis have recovered from their injuries that sidelined them against Iowa, they should expect to be used more aggressively.

Yet, ultimately, the Badger secondary must stay in front of their receivers and make the windows as tight as possible for Gabriel. It wouldn’t hurt if cornerback Ricardo Hallman got his first interception of the season.

Offense may be slightly more difficult for Oregon given the injuries to Johnson, as well as running back Jordan James, but Gabriel is good enough to single-handedly lead them to victory.

The Badgers will have their hands full against one of the fastest and most athletic defenses in the entire country.

Oregon may have a Heisman-level quarterback, but the biggest reason they’ve accumulated so many blowouts is due to the work of their defense. They’re giving up 293.5 yards per game this season, and have only allowed five touchdowns in their last four games.

The Ducks are incredibly deep, experienced and athletic at every level, but the most immediate concern for Wisconsin’s offense will be the Oregon front.

They’re led by junior lineman Derrick Harmon on the interior, who has an absurd 39 pressures on the season, as well the sophomore duo of outside linebackers, Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei, who have a combined 8.5 sacks on the season.

They’ll make things tough for a quarterback in Braedyn Locke who’s struggled every time he’s faced above-average competition this season. In their four losses, he’s averaged 164.7 passing yards per game with a touchdown/interception ratio of 3-4. If Locke allows Oregon to crowd the line of scrimmage, he’ll get suffocated.

It won’t even be enough for him to play a methodical game and simply rely on slot receivers Will Pauling and Trech Kekahuna. The backup is gonna have to take shots and keep the Ducks on their toes.

It’ll also be imperative for the Badgers to be multi-dimensional.

Running back Tawee Walker is coming off of his worst game as a starter, having rushed for just 52 yards on 16 carries. Walker’s main matchup will be inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher, a senior who’s been at Oregon for his entire career and leads the team in tackles.

Ultimately, it’ll be most imperative for the Badgers to maintain a balanced offense while also taking some occasional shots down field.

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