Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo spoke with reporters Friday afternoon after the Badgers’ third spring practice session.
A theme of the discussion was improvement, some of it due to the natural continuity from last season to this spring. The 2023 season saw a sprint from Longo’s hiring, to a busy transfer portal season, to spring practice with a new system needing to be implemented. The team struggled to adjust to all of the change, leading to a disappointing 7-6 record.
Related: Ranking Wisconsin football’s incoming transfers by expected impact in 2024 season
The outlook is improved entering 2024, partially thanks to the year of experience in the system. The Badgers are set to face a gauntlet of a schedule. But Luke Fickell and his coaching staff had another offseason to cater the roster to their specific systems and improve the overall talent. Wisconsin is replacing starters at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, center and both guard spots. That change could prove beneficial — productive turnover — after 2023 was an offensive struggle from start to finish.
Five months remain before the Badgers are scheduled to kick off their season at home against Western Michigan. The story of that time will be what Longo’s offense looks like in Year 2, and how much tangible improvement is seen.
The context of the needed improvement: 2023 was Wisconsin’s worst season-ending SP+ offensive rank since the metric began in 2005. There is context, including a hand injury to starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai. But the comparison between Wisconsin’s offense of new and that of old is interesting as we enter a pivotal 2024 campaign.
Here is where every Wisconsin offense since 2005 finished in SP+ and total offense, including last year’s finish:
2005
Oct. 22, 2005; Madison, Wisconsin; John Stocco #7 hands off to Brian Calhoun #2 of the Wisconsin Badgers as Brandon Villarreal #55 of the Purdue Boilermakers defends the play during the second quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Photo By Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2005 Jeff Hanisch
Final SP+ Rating: 35.3 (No. 22 in the nation)
Total Offense: 396.5 yards per game (No. 45)
2006
John Stocco #7 of the Wisconsin Badgers looks to pass against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Capitol One Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2007 in Orlando, Florida. Doug Benc/Getty Images
Final SP+ Rating: 28.9 (No. 37)
Total Offense: 373.2 yards per game (No. 28)
2007
Nov. 10, 2007; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tyler Donovan (12) scrambles with the football as Michigan Wolverines linebacker Chris Graham (37) defends at Camp Randall Stadium. The Badgers defeated the Wolverines 37-21. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2007 Jeff Hanisch
Final SP+ Rating: 35.9 (No. 26)
Total Offense: 408.8 yards per game (No. 50)
2008
Oct. 11, 2008; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Allen Evridge (4) hands the football off to running back P.J. Hill (39) during the first quarter of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 31.3 (No. 35)
Total Offense: 399.2 yards per game (No. 47)
2009
Oct. 10, 2009; Columbus, Ohio; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Scott Tolzien (16) hands the ball off to running back John Clay (32)against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 35.5 (No. 18)
Total Offense: 416.9 yards per game (No. 25)
2010
Nov. 27, 2010; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Scott Tolzien (16) throws a pass during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Northwestern 70-23. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 42.1 (No. 8)
Total Offense: 445.2 yards per game (No. 5)
2011
Nov. 26, 2011; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson (16) runs with the ball as his team plays the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Penn State 45-7. Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 45.9 (No. 4)
Total Offense: 469.9 yards per game (No. 6)
2012
Oct. 27, 2012; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers back-up quarterback Danny O’Brien (6) talks to his team in a huddle after he replaced quarterback Joel Stave after Stave was injured during the third quarter at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Michigan State defeated Wisconsin in overtime 16-13. Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 31.5 (No. 49)
Total Offense: 393.3 yards per game (No. 60)
2013
Oct. 19, 2013; Champaign, Illinois; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Joel Stave (2) passes the ball in the third quarter of the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin won, 56-32, over Illinois. Trevor Ruszkowksi-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 39.5 (No. 16)
Total Offense: 480.8 yards per game (No. 29)
2014
Aug. 30, 2014; Houston, Texas; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tanner McEvoy (5) attempts a pass during the third quarter against the LSU Tigers at NRG Stadium. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 38.7 (No. 19)
Total Offense: 468.9 yards per game (No. 29)
2015
Nov. 21, 2015; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Joel Stave (2) rushes with the football as Northwestern Wildcats safety Godwin Igwebuike (16) defends during the third quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Northwestern won 13-7. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 27.0 (No. 76)
Total Offense: 378.6 yards per game (No. 81)
2016
Oct. 29, 2016; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) rushes with the football during the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 23-17. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 30.5 (No. 59)
Total Offense: 382.1 yards per game (No. 67)
2017
Dec. 30, 2017; Miami Gardens, Florida; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Paul Chryst and Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Alex Hornibrook (12) celebrate after defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the 2017 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 37.4 (No. 18)
Total Offense: 415.3 yards per game (No. 28)
2018
Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball while being chased by Isaiah Wharton #11 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 3, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Final SP+ Rating: N/A
Total Offense: 431.1 yards per game (No. 62)
2019
Jan. 1, 2020; Pasadena, California; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Jack Coan (17) passes against the Oregon Ducks in the second quarter during the 106th Rose Bowl game at Rose Bowl Stadium. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 37.7 (No. 12)
Total Offense: 433.9 yards per game (No. 23)
2020
Dec. 5, 2020; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) throws a pass during the second quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 31.9 (No. 43)
Total Offense: 345.6 yards per game (No. 90)
2021
Nov. 6, 2021; Piscataway, New Jersey; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) throws the ball as Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive lineman Julius Turner (50) defends during the first half at SHI Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 20.1 (No. 59)
Total Offense: 371.2 yards per game (No. 85)
2022
Nov. 12, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) takes the snap against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 24.7 (No. 79)
Total Offense: 363.6 yards per game (No. 77)
2023
Nov. 11, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) throws a pass during the second quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Final SP+ Rating: 22.2 (No. 86)
Total Offense: 381.2 yards per game (No. (93)
SP+'s ranking of Wisconsin's offenses since 2005:
Oct. 1, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Paul Chryst looks on during the third quarter against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
SP+’s ranking of Wisconsin’s offense, with no data for 2018:
- 2011, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2017, 2007, 2009, 2005, 2020, 2012, 2008, 2016, 2006, 2015, 2022, 2023, 2021
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