Game 1: Western Kentucky at UW - 8:00 - ESPN

[MickeyDavis]

WHERE: Camp Randall Stadium
TIME: 8 p.m. Friday
TV: ESPN
RADIO: AM-920
TICKETS: Available.
LINE: Wisconsin by 34 1/2.
SERIES: UW leads, 1-0.
COACHES: Wisconsin’s Paul Chryst (34-7, fourth season; 53-26 overall); vs. Western Kentucky’s Mike Sanford (6-7, second season overall).

Four things to watch

READY FOR PRIMETIME? Jim Leonhard, entering his second season as defensive coordinator and third as secondary coach, has decided to use three redshirt freshmen in his base defense. They are cornerbacks Caesar Williams and Faion Hicks and safety Scott Nelson. The backup cornerbacks, who should see time against Western Kentucky’s pass-first offense, are sophomore Madison Cone, redshirt freshman Deron Harrell and freshman Donte Burton. Redshirt sophomore Dontye Carriere-Williams, who started five games last season, would have been in that group but announced Wednesday he is transferring. Considering the Hilltoppers gained 84.6% of their yards through the air last season, UW’s secondary should be tested. “I need to find out how some of these guys are going to respond in game situations,” Leonhard said.

HOLD THAT LINE: Whenever UW deploys three down linemen, senior nose tackle Olive Sagapolu will be sandwiched by two neophytes. Redshirt freshmen Kevin Lyles and Matt Henningsen are the projected starting ends in a three-man front. Lyles moved over from the offensive line after UW lost end Garrett Rand (Achilles) in June. Henningsen, a walk-on from Menomonee Falls High School, opened camp behind redshirt freshman Aaron Vopal but quickly moved up to the No. 1 unit. The play of the line, beginning Friday, will be a critical component for a revamped defense. “I thought Matt Henningsen had a heck of a camp,” UW coach Paul Chryst said. “I thought Kayden Lyles had a heck of a camp. So you can see their growth. And now the next challenge, the next opportunity is doing it against an opponent.”

IN GOOD HANDS: With Quintez Cephus suspended indefinitely after being charged with two counts of sexual assault and Danny Davis suspended for the first two games, UW enters the opener with little experienced depth at wide receiver. A.J. Taylor and Kendric Pryor are clearly the top two threats but they’ll need support. Freshmen Aron Cruickshank and Taj Mustapha could get work but walk-ons Adam Krumholz and Jack Dunn, both state products, likely will see their most extensive action at UW. “Hard for A.J. and K.P. to play the whole game,” Chryst said. “Jack and Krum have been in the offense and certainly can bring the knowledge of knowing what to do and how to do it and the ability to make plays when it comes their way.”

GETTING HIS KICKS: Senior kicker Rafael Gaglianone, who missed all but three games in 2016 because of a back injury, set off alarm bells among fans when he missed significant time in camp because of back/leg issues. He has been cleared to kick but his status will be worth monitoring because back problems can reoccur without warning. "I’ve dealt with injuries before,” Gaglianone said. “There have been times, like the 2016 season, it just comes out of nowhere and it just happens and you can’t control. But with this one it is something we definitely can control. It is about managing how we go forward. It feels good and I feel confident I’ll be here the whole season.”

History lesson
UW has won its last 39 home games against nonconference foes, tied for the fifth-longest streak among FBS teams in the modern era (since 1946).LSU won 49 consecutive games, with the streak ending on Sept. 30 of last season. Miami won 48, with the streak ending on Sept. 30, 1994. Tennessee won 44, with the streak ending on Oct. 27, 1973. Kansas State won 43, with the streak ending on Sept. 13, 2003. Ole Miss also won 39, with the streak ending on Oct. 19, 1968.

UW’s last nonconference home loss came in Week 3 of the 2003 season, a 23-5 decision to unranked UNLV.

The streak began one week later with a 38-27 victory over North Carolina.

Did you know?

The returning starters on the offensive line – left tackle Jon Dietzen, left guard Michael Deiter, center Tyler Biadasz, right guard Beau Benzschawel and right tackle David Edwards – have a combined 132 starts and 141 games played at UW.

Jeff Potrykus' prediction

Wisconsin’s defensive coaches will finally start getting some answers about a unit that returns only four starters. Are there enough playmakers on an inexperienced line that is missing Isaiahh Loudermilk? Will the outside linebackers provide pressure? Can a secondary with three new starters and only one senior among the top eight players hold up against a pass-happy offense?
UW’s defense will be a work in progress for a good chunk of the season but the Badgers roll in the opener, 42-7.

Broadcasts
Television – ESPN with Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Kelly Stouffer (analysis) and Olivia Dekker (sideline).
Radio – WOKY-AM (920) in Milwaukee and a state network with Matt Lepay (play-by-play) and Mike Lucas (analysis).

[Mags FTW]

8:00...that student section is going to be plastered.

[Lippo]

Horni is gonna miss Fumi

[MickeyDavis]

Taylor is good

[Mags FTW]

Might have to put a spy on the QB.

I like how fast the D looks, but it’s overpursuing a bit.

[MikeIsGood]

The O-line has not been looking themselves yet.

[Mags FTW]

Two guys WIDE open.

[BUCKnation]

Horni missing very easy throws on that drive

[bizarro]

IT’s early. And, this is the same Hornibrook we know.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Not impressed so far but feel good after looking at other top 25 scores.

[dogswithbeesintheirmouths]

Hornibrook made the one nice pass on a slant over the middle, other than that he hasn't really made any plays.

[Mags FTW]

Tell Horni he’s playing Miami.

[dogswithbeesintheirmouths]

It's such bad analysis to say that nobody is open on that 3rd down play. They were in man to man so of course every receiver had a man on him, but two of them had leverage on their defender.

[Mags FTW]

More jet sweeps/sweep fakes plz.

[Lippo]

Two guys WIDE open.

Horni gonna Horni, cant throw at all out of rythm. Is very accurate if can set his feet and has time, but no improv ability ....

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I like the WKU guy acting like a play where he got burned and still couldn't catch up even on an under throw.

[MikeIsGood]

But...

Taylor is good

[Lippo]

Odds a true freshman takes Hornis job next year?

[RiotPunch]

Just the kind of wake up call we needed. Chryst can preach humility and not listening to the outside, but lots of press and hype around this team and I'm sure some guys started to believe it.

Also, Taylor is fantastic.

[Mags FTW]

I know I’m partly annoyed because we haven’t been playing well, but wtf is it with announcing teams these days?

These guys just talk, talk, talk, like they’re on AM radio. STFU and let the game breathe a bit.