Nearly eight months later, it's still somewhat jarring to think about.
The Wisconsin Badgers, known for years for their ground-and-pound offensive attack, made a significant shift away from that this offseason. New head coach Luke Fickell swung big and hired former North Carolina offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who brought his version of the Air Raid to Madison.
Say goodbye to Wisconsin's fullback usage and a slow, grinding style.
“I think that’s just the climate of college football,” Minnesota defensive back Tyler Nubin said at Big Ten Media Days last week. “I feel like that’s more of a trend now, going to the air attack. But, you know, it’s going to be different (playing Wisconsin).
"It's just another challenge."
Longo, a veteran offensive coordinator influenced by late Air Raid pioneer Mike Leach, has had prolific offenses everywhere he's been, from Sam Houston State to Ole Miss and North Carolina. Under Longo from 2019-22, the Tar Heels ranked third in the Power Five in passing yards, fourth in passing touchdowns, fifth in total offense and ninth in scoring. They also had notable success on the ground in that span, rushing for 10,074 yards (fourth in the Power Five) and 102 touchdowns (second in the Atlantic Coast Conference).
North Carolina's offense in 2020, which averaged 537.2 yards per game and 41.7 points per game, featured a dynamic pair of running backs in Michael Carter and Javonte Williams. Carter ran for 1,245 yards and nine touchdowns; Williams rushed for 1,140 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Wisconsin's one-two combination of junior Braelon Allen and senior Chez Mellusi can be just as productive (if not better). Allen rushed for 2,510 yards and 23 touchdowns over the last two seasons despite facing more eight- or nine-man boxes than any running back in the country. Mellusi has been effective when healthy, amassing 1,288 yards with seven scores since transferring from Clemson two years ago.
“I’ve gotten to know Luke a lot,” Maryland head coach Mike Locksley said. “I have known him since he was an assistant at Ohio State. I recruited against him. He’s going to do whatever he needs to do to put his players in the best possible position to be successful.
"To bring in the coordinator — Phil Longo — that he brought in from North Carolina … Anywhere he has been, he has put up numbers. I faced him there when he was at Ole Miss. I had a chance to watch him at North Carolina and saw what he did there.
"It’s good for our league to add Phil Longo and what he does on offense to the Big Ten. And I am sure, knowing the way Luke runs things and having studied him over the years, they’ll do the things that fit their personnel.”
Purdue head coach and former Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters noted how the change could help Wisconsin become more of a destination for offensive players.
That already started to show this offseason, as the Badgers added three quarterbacks and four wide receivers through the transfer portal, with former SMU signal caller Tanner Mordecai being the big-ticket commitment. He threw for more than 7,000 yards with 72 touchdowns in 24 games for the Mustangs.
Longo at North Carolina coached 2023 Heisman hopeful Drake Maye and current NFL quarterback Sam Howell. Four North Carolina wide receivers have been taken in the last three NFL drafts.
“It’ll be interesting to see Wisconsin play that brand of ball,” Walters, whose Illinois defense dominated Wisconsin in a 34-10 win this past season, said. “But that’s the trend in college football right now. We’re running the same thing. It’s an exciting brand of ball. It’s a competitive one. It’s a fun one to play in.”
And it will be much different for Walters — and others — to prepare for the Wisconsin offense this fall.
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