Phil Longo was fired as Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator a day after the Badgers fell 16-13 to No. 1 Oregon for his or her third straight loss.
“This morning I knowledgeable Phil Longo that he’ll now not function our offensive coordinator,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell mentioned Sunday in a press release launched by the college. “After persevering with to guage this system, I’ve decided that we aren’t the place we must be and I imagine this determination is in one of the best curiosity of the staff. I admire Phil’s dedication to serving to us construct our program over the previous two seasons and want him all one of the best shifting ahead. This staff nonetheless has so much forward of us and I’m dedicated to doing all the things I can to finish this season efficiently.”
Longo got here to Wisconsin after a profitable stint as North Carolina’s offensive coordinator, working with present NFL quarterbacks Sam Howell and Drake Maye, the No. 3 general choose within the 2024 NFL draft. Longo’s arrival at Wisconsin first of the 2023 season attracted a whole lot of consideration as a result of his background in Air Raid-style offenses was uncommon for a program identified primarily for throwing the ball.
Wisconsin’s offenses have been unable to match the success Longo achieved in his earlier stops.
Last 12 months, Wisconsin went 7-6 and put up 23.5 factors per recreation for its lowest scoring common since 2004. The Badgers additionally ran the ball on 50.8 p.c of their snaps on the 12 months final, the primary time they tried extra passes than runs since not less than 1946.
Wisconsin has run the ball 55.2% of the time this season, however hasn’t had rather more success. The Badgers (5-5) have scored 23.9 factors per recreation and have scored simply 36 factors throughout their present three video games.
The Badgers are ranked 91st amongst all Football Bowl Subdivision groups in yards per recreation (363.1) and are 97th in factors per recreation.
The offense let Wisconsin down once more on Saturday, when the Badgers had an opportunity to provide the primary signature win of Fickell’s tenure. Oregon outscored Wisconsin 10-0 within the fourth quarter because the Badgers had no first downs and one turnover on their ultimate 4 collection.
Injuries performed a task in Longo’s lack of success.
Last 12 months, beginning quarterback Tanner Mordecai missed three and a half video games with a damaged hand. This 12 months, quarterback Tyler Van Dyke tore his anterior cruciate ligament on the opening collection of a Sept. 14 loss to Alabama, knocking him out for the remainder of the season.
Braedyn Locke, who took over at quarterback after every of these accidents, has accomplished simply 53.1 p.c of his passes in his profession. Locke has thrown 9 interceptions and 9 landing passes this season.
Wisconsin should win one in all its subsequent two video games to turn out to be bowl eligible for the twenty third season, extending the third-longest energetic streak amongst Power Four groups. Wisconsin can be in search of its twenty third consecutive profitable season; Boise State is the one Football Bowl Subdivision program with a longest energetic 12 months streak ending above .500.
The Badgers will go to Nebraska on Saturday earlier than closing out the common season on Nov. 29 by internet hosting Minnesota.
Associated Press reporting.
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