
Luke Mullin offers his quick reaction to the Huskers’ 34-3 loss to Michigan on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Wisconsin players stood in a crowded interview room in the bowels of Kinnick Stadium on Saturday afternoon wearing hoodies and grim looks. These weren’t the kind of questions they were used to answering.
On-field issues were tough enough to talk about. A dominant defensive effort wasn’t enough in a 24-10 loss to Iowa that all but knocked the Badgers (5-5) out of the Big Ten West race. It left them scrambling to extend their bowl streak to 21 with two games left against Nebraska and Minnesota.
But that wasn’t nearly all for a program that has long stiff-armed drama. Star running back Braelon Allen addressed rumors about a potential transfer to Michigan. Teammates backed 40-year-old head coach Jim Leonhard, who has yet to officially have his interim tag removed. Mostly, replies were short and cliché.
“We’ve been through worse before, man,” outside linebacker Nick Herbig said. “We’ve been at rock bottom. This one stings but we’re going to have to wipe it off and move on.”
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The biggest blow came Monday morning as details emerged from the shocking shooting at the University of Virginia by a former player Sunday night. One of the three players killed was one-time Wisconsin receiver Devin Chandler, who spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons in Madison before transferring. UW officials canceled a scheduled media availability with Leonhard and players, instead sending the Badgers home to process what had happened.
Such is the headspace of Wisconsin as it begins preparations for Saturday’s 11 a.m. game against Nebraska. The Huskers — in the midst of a monthslong coaching search, quarterback injuries and another empty November — won’t be the only ones at Memorial Stadium feeling their way through uncertain times.
News of Chandler’s death prompted a wave of social-media reaction from his old teammates. “Rest easy, Dev,” Allen wrote. “Make it make sense,” said Herbig.
“I can’t breathe, my boy,” wrote reserve defensive lineman Curtis Neal. “… I should never have to make a RIP post about you. I’m hurt.”
The tragedy struck following a weekend in which a vintage Wisconsin defensive showing — six sacks among 11 TFLs and just 146 total yards allowed against Iowa — went for naught. Special teams gave up a punt block for the first time in five years. Quarterback Graham Mertz completed 16 of 35 passes for 176 with one touchdown and two interceptions while losing a fumble. Allen carried 17 times for 40 yards as he continues to work through a shoulder injury that he said afterward is prompting him to avoid contact.
“Defense played their ass off the whole game and gave us the ball back consistently,” Allen said. “We have the best edge rusher in the country (in Herbig) …we’ve gotta do something with that.”
Allen, whose 1,029 rushing yards still rank 17th among FBS backs, also shot down rampant speculation he was talking with Michigan about a future transfer. It’s “the honest truth” he hasn’t been in contact with UM or any other school, he said, acknowledging that Wisconsin’s uncertain coaching future perhaps fueled the message-board chatter.
“We’ve made it pretty clear as a team that we want Coach Leonhard to be our coach,” Allen said. “… We’re going to continue to play for him to get him that job.”
Leonhard said player poaching is going on across college football. Wisconsin’s counter has been to be clear and consistent with players about the vision for what’s to come and how to get there.
In the era of the transfer portal and name-image-likeness financial considerations, it might not be enough. Rules might not be either.
“I would never accuse any teams of tampering with your players but teams are tampering with other people’s players,” Leonhard said. “It’s unfortunate to see where it’s at.”
Wisconsin hasn’t lost to Nebraska in a decade and is a 13-point favorite coming to Lincoln. Yet these Badgers aren’t the picture of stability like so many of their predecessors. As with the Huskers, their own house is in disorder. The rest of the regular season, in some ways, has become a ramp-up to a looming offseason full of change.
For now, the UW offense is searching for answers. The coaching situation is fluid. Everyone is mourning. Somewhere in the middle of all of it is a game against Nebraska that players said has to be the focus. Somehow.
“We’ll find a way to show up next week, I promise,” Leonhard said. “I’m excited for the challenge and we’ve got to move on — quick — if we’re going to have success next week.”
Photos: All of the sights from Nebraska vs. Michigan
Austin Pelc (left) and Abby Pelc, who traveled from Columbus, Neb., await the Nebraska vs. Michigan game Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
CHRIS MACHIAN, Omaha World-Herald

Fans await the Nebraska vs. Michigan game Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
CHRIS MACHIAN, Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts (left) and UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green await the Nebraska vs. Michigan game Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Derek Kohler (left) and Garrett Schultz traveled from Kansas City to watch Nebraska play Michigan on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska fan Damon Onnen awaits the Nebraska vs. Michigan game Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Logan Smothers warms up before the Michigan game Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Brendan Franke puts on his helmet in the snow before the Michigan game Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Chubba Purdy warms up before the Michigan game Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
CHRIS MACHIAN, Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska’s Logan Smothers warms up before the Michigan game Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Jarrett Synek goes out for warmups before the Michigan game Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Marcus Washington catches a 30-yard pass on Nebraska’s first drive as Michigan’s DJ Turner pursues Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Ochaun Mathis pursues Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy as he throws a first-quarter pass Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Chubba Purdy runs the ball as Michigan’s Junior Colson (left) and Eyabi Okie pursue in the first quarter Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Chubba Purdy runs the ball in the second quarter against Michigan on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Quarterback Chubba Purdy walks off the field after getting hurt on a running play Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog defends as Michigan’s Cornelius Johnson can’t pull in this first-half pass Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Caleb Tannor tackles Michigan’s Colston Loveland on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog defends as Michigan’s Cornelius Johnson can’t pull in this first-half pass Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog pushes Michigan’s Blake Corum out of bounds Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Timmy Bleekrode kicks a field goal in the second quarter against Michigan on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska head coach Mickey Joseph (right) talks with quarterback Chubba Purdy after Purdy was injured on a running play Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Turner Corcoran (left) helps up quarterback Logan Smothers Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska offensive coordinator Mark Whipple is helped to the bench after taking a hit Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Trey Palmer can’t pull in this first- half pass as Michigan’s Rod Moore defends Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Logan Smothers throws a third-quarter pass to Anthony Grant against Michigan on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Logan Smothers receives a snap in the third quarter against Michigan on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Stephon Wynn Jr. looks down to an injured Garrett Nelson on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy scrambles in for a third-quarter touchdown against Nebraska on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Michigan’s Blake Corum runs the ball in the third quarter against Nebraska on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Stephon Wynn Jr. looks down on Garrett Nelson after he Nelson was hurt in the third quarter against Michigan on Saturday.
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Nebraska’s Anthony Grant runs the ball against Michigan on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Nebraska’s Ty Robinson tackles Michigan’s Blake Corum on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy runs in for a third-quarter touchdown against Nebraska on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy hands off the ball to Blake Corum on Saturday against Nebraska at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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The ball pops loose from Nebraska’s Anthony Grant in the third quarter against Michigan on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. Grant was ruled to be down before losing possession of the ball.
CHRIS MACHIAN, Omaha World-Herald

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