2026 MAC Football Week 3 Game Preview: Eastern Michigan Eagles at Wisconsin Badgers

The Eastern Michigan Eagles (1-2, 1-0 MAC), a week off a tough loss to Michigan State, continue their tour of Big Ten stadia this weekend, going west to face the Wisconsin Badgers (1-1).

Wisconsin is coming off their FCS win over Western Illinois, but are still scarred from a humiliating showing against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field, where the Badgers were ran over by a final margin of 41-13.

Eastern has struggled to finish games since their season-opening victory over Sacramento State in Week 0, lagging behind opponents late in the going to take on multiple losses in a row.

The two teams meet on the field in hopes of furthering their records.

Game Notes

• Date and Time: Saturday, Sept. 19th, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time
• Location: Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin
• TV options: The game will stream exclusively on Peacock. A valid subscription is required for viewing. YouTube TV subscribers can watch the game via NBC Sports Network.
• EMU Radio: Tom Helmer (play-by-play) and Rob Rubick (color) will provide the EMU call for WEMU-FM 89.1.
• Gambling Considerations: Wisconsin is a 24.5-point favorite, with an over/under set around 42.5-45.5 by book, per Covers.
• All-Time Series: Wisconsin leads all-time, 4-0. Last meeting was in 2021, when the Badgers won 34-7.

Wisconsin Outlook

Wisconsin whipped the Western Illinois Leathernecks last week to feel a bit better after a tough blowout loss to Notre Dame the week before.

The Badgers punched WIU in the mouth on the first play from scrimmage with a 72-yard rushing touchdown, then doubled up on the very next possession with a blocked punt returned for a score in the first quarter, never relenting in a 36-9 win.

We're still getting to know what exactly this Wisconsin team is in Luke Fickell's fourth season at the helm. Wisconsin returns three starters on offense and two on defense from their 2025 roster, meaning a near-complete reset on both sides of the ball. To combat this, the Badgers staff brought in 34 transfers this offseason (third-most in the Big Ten), with nine of them starting– including QB Colton Joseph (Old Dominion), HB Abu Sama III (Iowa State), CB Javan Robinson (Arizona State), DL Jon Jon Kamara (Kansas) and OLB Justus Boone.

Fickell teams of old tried to run up-tempo spread offense, but have since mellowed down to a more traditional offense under Jeff Grimes. Sama III has been the bellcow back so far, with 23 carries for 156 yards and a touchdown– including his 72-yard game-opening score last week. At Iowa State, Sama ran for 13 touchdowns and 1,933 yards in three seasons.

Joseph is a dual-threat quarterback who ended the 2025 campaign as the Sun Belt's Offensive Player of the Year after scoring 37 total touchdowns (24 passing, 13 rushing) and eclipsing the 2,500+ passing/1,000+ rushing mark for a QB in a single season. He has been conservative to start the 2026 season, but it would behoove EMU to keep an eye on him.

Tyrell Henry is the leading receiver at eight catches for 133 yards, with Chris Brooks Jr. right behind with five catches for 77 yards. Minnesota transfer Malachi Coleman leads the team with 19 yards per reception.

On defense, the Badgers are replacing all but two starters, so it is a work-in-progress. In their one game against FBS competition, they were put in tough spot after tough spot by the offense, giving up four touchdowns on four redzone opportunities despite forcing Notre Dame to 3-of-9 on third-down.

They've given up over 300 total yards of offense in both games, and don't have a single turnover at this point, which is something to note.

A pair of true sophomore linebackers top the charts, with Cooper Catalano has pacing the Badger defense at 22 total tackles while Mason Posa sits tied for second with 16 stops. EDGE rusher Sebastian Cheeks had 5.5 TFLs and three sacks last season (both career-highs) and will lead the defensive line; transfer DL Justus Boone boasts 46 career appearances in the SEC and should factor in both inside and outside at six-foot-five, 278 lbs.

Wisconsin's specialists have looked good so far, with Gavin Lahm 5-of-5 on field goals while Sean West averages 45.4 yards per punt on seven attempts– with two boots of 50+ yards and three inside the 20-yard line. The punt block unit has excelled under first-year coordinator Bob Ligashesky, with a block in each game. Considering EMU's early issues in protection, this will be a key item of interest to watch.

Eastern Michigan Outlook

For whatever reason, EMU has not been good coming out of the locker room after halftime in any of their three games. It has been their undoing in at least two of those games (both losses) and very nearly cost them their only win on the season.

To wit, EMU has only scored two offensive touchdowns in their three games after the first half, compared to 10 punts, a fumble and an interception on 13 other drives.

There was anticipation in preseason that EMU returning QB Noah Kim, along with several veteran passcatchers on offense, would stabilize that side of the ball. To a degree, they've had success. Kim has 571 yards passing (best in the MAC) and three touchdowns to one interception, while also logging two rushing scores. The Eagles roster three 100+ yard receivers, with Harold Mack leading the team in receptions (14) and yards (135), while transfer Benson Prosper (11 rec., 111 yards) and Nick Devereaux (12 rec., 105 yards) also contribute.

However, rushing offense has been a struggle, as the team averages a mere 92 yards per game– worst in the Mid-American Conference. The offensive line, outside of center Nicolas Gallegos, is either new to the line, inexperienced, or both, which has been noticeable in leverage situations.

That said, for all the offensive woes, the defense has stood pretty tall all considered. The Eagles made getting takeaways an emphasis in camps, and they've done a great job of that to this point, sitting fifth in the NCAA in fumbles recovered, ninth in turnovers gained and ninth in defensive touchdowns.

The team has seven tacklers who have hit at least 10 total stops and an additional three defenders sitting nearby at 9 through three games.

Zach Mowchan has taken well to starting linebacker duties after waiting his turn for five years, ranking 16th nationally and third in the MAC with 10 tackles per game (30 total), with two TFLs and three pass break-ups on the ledger as well. Jason Marshall has also shined at safety, with 20 tackles, an interception and a TFL in his first season as a full-time starter. He's been an excellent running mate with all-MAC safety Bryce Llewellyn (14 tackles, two PBUs.) Transfer defensive back Rayquan Adkins has also played nicely with 17 tackles and 1.5 TFLs.

Quincy Byas has been a welcome emergence along the defensive line, with 11 total tackles, including team leads in TFLs (2.5) and QB hits (five). Ronn Hardin leads the team in sacks (two).

Special teams, typically a highlight for EMU football, have been a disaster, ranking as one of the worse units in the NCAA at 123rd in net punting, with zero made field goals (one attempt) through three games.

Game Outlook

EMU will probably have the horses to compete initially, thanks in part to their excellent sense of discipline (36th in NCAA in penalties), but Wisconsin's size will likely wear them down over the course of the game.

EMU has slowed down in the second half of every game in 2026, relaying on turnover luck to stay in games; once is chance, twice is coincidence, but three times is a pattern. There's a chance if the offense can fix what is ailing it, but to this point, Eastern has not proved they're capable of keeping up in games like this.

Wisconsin should cover this game just fine.