favoring wu. I don't really have a feel for this game. Don't know how motivated the Cowboys will be, and if Rangle can perform well enough to win. Both teams missing starting qb's just makes it tough to predict. I'll be watching no matter what. Usually it's which team wants to be there the most that wins. That may not matter a lot tonight. We are the best bowl game today which ain't sayin' much. Same guy wrote another article below the first, and then a third article by Scott Wright...and even he predicts a Wisconsin victory. In fact, both tramel and jenny predict a wu victory...which is a good sign.
Wisconsin is without their starting qb and the qb playing tonight hasn't played a full game this year. Looks like some mop up time and that's about it. Not much being said about that. New head coach as well. I know, the backup qb will win the Heisman tonight. It's really tough to say where either team has an advantage, but I look for WU to pound the ball with their tailbacks tonight. Maybe Mason can adjust to that.
What to watch in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Jeff Potrykus
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel USA TODAY NETWORK – WISCONSIN
Does Wisconsin or Oklahoma State have better depth to compensate for personnel losses?
UW enters the bowl game without several key performers, including linebacker Nick Herbig and nose tackle Keeanu Benton on defense and quarterback Graham Mertz and center Joe Tippmann on offense. Oklahoma State has lost several key players, including quarterback Spencer Sanders, tailback Dominic Richardson and linebacker Mason Cobb. That means reserves are going to have to fill in and make plays. Which team will get better quarterback play? Which team will field a better defense?
Wisconsin tailbacks Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi could run free
Although UW will take the field with a revamped offensive line featuring Tanor Bortolini at center and Michael Furtney and Trey Wedig at guards, the Badgers face a defense that hasn’t been stout against the run. The Cowboys are 96th nationally against the run, allowing an average of 171.3 yards per game. Considering that UW will have two inexperienced quarterbacks – Chase Wolf and Myles Burkett – offensive coordinator Bobby Engram could choose to ride tailbacks Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi. Both should be healthy and rested. Wolf has been working with the No. 1 offense during bowl prep and appears set to make his first college start.
Wisconsin's defense could get after Oklahoma State freshman quarterback Garret Rangel
Freshman Garret Rangel is expected to start at quarterback for Oklahoma State. He has played in three games and got extensive work against Kansas and West Virginia. Rangel completed 27 of 40 passes for 304 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions in a 37-16 loss at Kansas. He was sacked twice. He completed just 18 of 42 passes for 178 yards in a 24-19 loss to West Virginia. He was sacked four times in that game. Rangel has a good arm, but his lack of experience could prove costly if UW’s defense can vary its looks and pressure packages.
Which team is better motivated?
This is the first meeting between the teams so there is no rivalry. Both teams struggled through disappointing regular seasons. Bowl games often are determined by which team is focused, prepared and motivated to win. UW’s coaches and players traditionally have treated minor bowl games as seriously as they treat important Big Ten games.
Wisconsin must replace 2 on defense
Jeff Potrykus
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
MADISON, Wis. – Despite opening the 2022 season with eight new starters on defense, Wisconsin finished the regular season No. 6 in the Big Ten in total defense (305.3 ypg) and No. 7 in points allowed (20.5 per game).
Now as the Badgers (6-6) prepare to face Oklahoma State (7-5) in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Tuesday in Phoenix, they must replace two of the more disruptive and experienced performers on that unit.
With outside linebacker Nick Herbig and nose tackle Keeanu Benton preparing for their 2023 NFL draft, the Badgers will be without players who combined for 15.5 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss during the regular season.
Without that duo on the field, inside linebacker Maema Njongmeta leads UW in sacks (3.5) and tackles for loss (10.5).
What must players like Njongmeta and others do to compensate for the loss of Herbig and Benton? 'I wouldn’t say do more,' Njongmeta said. 'You have to play hard, make plays.'
The redshirt junior has started 10 of 12 games this season and leads UW in total tackles with 88. He has recorded a total of 7.5 tackles for loss and 34 total tackles in the last four games.
Gio Paez (11 tackles in nine games) is expected to fill in for Benton, and Kaden Johnson (19 tackles in 12 games) is expected to replace Herbig.
The loss of two significant playmakers could be mitigated because Oklahoma State must replace several key members of its offense, including quarterback Spencer Sanders and running back Dominic Richardson.
Sanders started four seasons and passed for more than 9,000 yards and 67 touchdowns and rushed for more than 1,900 yards and 18 touchdowns. His likely replacement, Garret Rangel, has completed 45 of 84 passes for 482 yards, with three interceptions and two touchdowns.
Richardson started nine games and leads the Cowboys in rushing with 543 yards and eight touchdowns. He is also fifth on the team in catches (22) for 220 yards.
'It’s obviously going to be different,' safety John Torchio said when asked about Oklahoma State’s personnel losses, 'but I’ve learned if you’re playing at a Power Five school, you’re good enough to make plays and do well at this level. You prepare like any other game. They’re still going to run the same concepts.'
UW head coach Luke Fickell doesn’t expect many schematic changes for the bowl game with coach Mike Gundy in his 18th season at Oklahoma State.
'That is the uniqueness of bowl games in general when people have three, four weeks you often get some different stuff,' he said. 'You’ve got a different quarterback.
'The good thing is that you know Coach Gundy has been there. I don’t know that you’re going to see a whole lot different. I assume they are going to be who they are no matter who the quarterback is.
'We’ve got to focus on what we do. In a bowl game in particular, the key is to be able to make adjustments. Guys have three weeks to prepare. They are going to do something different.
'And if you’re doing what you do, after that ball is kicked off, the adjustments become what wins football games.'
Young Oklahoma State players get bowl starts
Scott Wright
The Oklahoman | USA TODAY Network
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After a difficult November on the field and a painful December in the transfer portal, the 2022 version of the Oklahoma State football team is set to conclude its season in search of its eighth win of the year.
Oklahoma State faces Wisconsin in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at 10:15 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPN) at Chase Field in Phoenix. With a victory, the Cowboys will finish with eight wins for the third time in four years. A seven-win season would be the third in the past 13 years.
With both teams facing significant roster changes, and in the case of Wisconsin, a coaching transition, the game is more a peek at what’s ahead than a capper for the season behind them.
With six heavily used players in the transfer portal – five of them officially starters – Oklahoma State will dip into the depth chart at places like quarterback, running back and defensive back. And with the benefit of the 15 bowl practices, OSU head coach Mike Gundy might have found other youngsters he wants to give extra snaps.
Last year, then-sophomore Jabbar Muhammad made his first career start at cornerback and it catapulted him into a strong junior season. But now he’s in the portal, and redshirt freshman Cam Smith is likely to start in his spot.
At quarterback, Garret Rangel will get his third start of his true freshman season, which could give him a boost going into an offseason that is sure to involve a competition for next year’s starting job.
And with Dominic Richardson on his way to Baylor, OSU’s running backs are a youthful group. The depth chart lists all three of Jaden Nixon, Ollie Gordon and Deondre Jackson, in that order, as potential starters.
When you include their receptions, Nixon and Gordon had similar seasons. On 64 touches, Nixon had 365 yards and three touchdowns, not counting his 98-yard kickoff return touchdown at Baylor. Gordon had 61 total touches for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Of course, Gordon has the top individual rushing performance of the season for OSU, going for 136 yards on 17 carries in the regular-season finale against West Virginia.
Wisconsin is without their starting qb and the qb playing tonight hasn't played a full game this year. Looks like some mop up time and that's about it. Not much being said about that. New head coach as well. I know, the backup qb will win the Heisman tonight. It's really tough to say where either team has an advantage, but I look for WU to pound the ball with their tailbacks tonight. Maybe Mason can adjust to that.
What to watch in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Jeff Potrykus
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel USA TODAY NETWORK – WISCONSIN
Does Wisconsin or Oklahoma State have better depth to compensate for personnel losses?
UW enters the bowl game without several key performers, including linebacker Nick Herbig and nose tackle Keeanu Benton on defense and quarterback Graham Mertz and center Joe Tippmann on offense. Oklahoma State has lost several key players, including quarterback Spencer Sanders, tailback Dominic Richardson and linebacker Mason Cobb. That means reserves are going to have to fill in and make plays. Which team will get better quarterback play? Which team will field a better defense?
Wisconsin tailbacks Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi could run free
Although UW will take the field with a revamped offensive line featuring Tanor Bortolini at center and Michael Furtney and Trey Wedig at guards, the Badgers face a defense that hasn’t been stout against the run. The Cowboys are 96th nationally against the run, allowing an average of 171.3 yards per game. Considering that UW will have two inexperienced quarterbacks – Chase Wolf and Myles Burkett – offensive coordinator Bobby Engram could choose to ride tailbacks Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi. Both should be healthy and rested. Wolf has been working with the No. 1 offense during bowl prep and appears set to make his first college start.
Wisconsin's defense could get after Oklahoma State freshman quarterback Garret Rangel
Freshman Garret Rangel is expected to start at quarterback for Oklahoma State. He has played in three games and got extensive work against Kansas and West Virginia. Rangel completed 27 of 40 passes for 304 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions in a 37-16 loss at Kansas. He was sacked twice. He completed just 18 of 42 passes for 178 yards in a 24-19 loss to West Virginia. He was sacked four times in that game. Rangel has a good arm, but his lack of experience could prove costly if UW’s defense can vary its looks and pressure packages.
Which team is better motivated?
This is the first meeting between the teams so there is no rivalry. Both teams struggled through disappointing regular seasons. Bowl games often are determined by which team is focused, prepared and motivated to win. UW’s coaches and players traditionally have treated minor bowl games as seriously as they treat important Big Ten games.
Wisconsin must replace 2 on defense
Jeff Potrykus
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
MADISON, Wis. – Despite opening the 2022 season with eight new starters on defense, Wisconsin finished the regular season No. 6 in the Big Ten in total defense (305.3 ypg) and No. 7 in points allowed (20.5 per game).
Now as the Badgers (6-6) prepare to face Oklahoma State (7-5) in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Tuesday in Phoenix, they must replace two of the more disruptive and experienced performers on that unit.
With outside linebacker Nick Herbig and nose tackle Keeanu Benton preparing for their 2023 NFL draft, the Badgers will be without players who combined for 15.5 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss during the regular season.
Without that duo on the field, inside linebacker Maema Njongmeta leads UW in sacks (3.5) and tackles for loss (10.5).
What must players like Njongmeta and others do to compensate for the loss of Herbig and Benton? 'I wouldn’t say do more,' Njongmeta said. 'You have to play hard, make plays.'
The redshirt junior has started 10 of 12 games this season and leads UW in total tackles with 88. He has recorded a total of 7.5 tackles for loss and 34 total tackles in the last four games.
Gio Paez (11 tackles in nine games) is expected to fill in for Benton, and Kaden Johnson (19 tackles in 12 games) is expected to replace Herbig.
The loss of two significant playmakers could be mitigated because Oklahoma State must replace several key members of its offense, including quarterback Spencer Sanders and running back Dominic Richardson.
Sanders started four seasons and passed for more than 9,000 yards and 67 touchdowns and rushed for more than 1,900 yards and 18 touchdowns. His likely replacement, Garret Rangel, has completed 45 of 84 passes for 482 yards, with three interceptions and two touchdowns.
Richardson started nine games and leads the Cowboys in rushing with 543 yards and eight touchdowns. He is also fifth on the team in catches (22) for 220 yards.
'It’s obviously going to be different,' safety John Torchio said when asked about Oklahoma State’s personnel losses, 'but I’ve learned if you’re playing at a Power Five school, you’re good enough to make plays and do well at this level. You prepare like any other game. They’re still going to run the same concepts.'
UW head coach Luke Fickell doesn’t expect many schematic changes for the bowl game with coach Mike Gundy in his 18th season at Oklahoma State.
'That is the uniqueness of bowl games in general when people have three, four weeks you often get some different stuff,' he said. 'You’ve got a different quarterback.
'The good thing is that you know Coach Gundy has been there. I don’t know that you’re going to see a whole lot different. I assume they are going to be who they are no matter who the quarterback is.
'We’ve got to focus on what we do. In a bowl game in particular, the key is to be able to make adjustments. Guys have three weeks to prepare. They are going to do something different.
'And if you’re doing what you do, after that ball is kicked off, the adjustments become what wins football games.'
Young Oklahoma State players get bowl starts
Scott Wright
The Oklahoman | USA TODAY Network
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After a difficult November on the field and a painful December in the transfer portal, the 2022 version of the Oklahoma State football team is set to conclude its season in search of its eighth win of the year.
Oklahoma State faces Wisconsin in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at 10:15 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPN) at Chase Field in Phoenix. With a victory, the Cowboys will finish with eight wins for the third time in four years. A seven-win season would be the third in the past 13 years.
With both teams facing significant roster changes, and in the case of Wisconsin, a coaching transition, the game is more a peek at what’s ahead than a capper for the season behind them.
With six heavily used players in the transfer portal – five of them officially starters – Oklahoma State will dip into the depth chart at places like quarterback, running back and defensive back. And with the benefit of the 15 bowl practices, OSU head coach Mike Gundy might have found other youngsters he wants to give extra snaps.
Last year, then-sophomore Jabbar Muhammad made his first career start at cornerback and it catapulted him into a strong junior season. But now he’s in the portal, and redshirt freshman Cam Smith is likely to start in his spot.
At quarterback, Garret Rangel will get his third start of his true freshman season, which could give him a boost going into an offseason that is sure to involve a competition for next year’s starting job.
And with Dominic Richardson on his way to Baylor, OSU’s running backs are a youthful group. The depth chart lists all three of Jaden Nixon, Ollie Gordon and Deondre Jackson, in that order, as potential starters.
When you include their receptions, Nixon and Gordon had similar seasons. On 64 touches, Nixon had 365 yards and three touchdowns, not counting his 98-yard kickoff return touchdown at Baylor. Gordon had 61 total touches for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Of course, Gordon has the top individual rushing performance of the season for OSU, going for 136 yards on 17 carries in the regular-season finale against West Virginia.
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