Overhauled Huskers face No. 19 Badgers

MADISON, WIS.» Wisconsin’s top-ranked defense faces the challenge of preparing for the unknown as it gets ready to face a Nebraska team that just overhauled its offensive coaching staff.

Saturday’s matchup at Camp Randall Stadium will be Nebraska’s first game since Cornhuskers coach Scott Frost fired four offensive assistants, including coordinator Matt Lubick. Frost made the changes and took a pay cut as part of an agreement allowing him to return for a fifth season next year under a restructured contract.

“A bit of a tough transition for the team and for the offense,” Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez acknowledged. “I think there’s no hiding that.”

No. 19 Wisconsin (7-3, 5-2 Big Ten, No. 15 College Football Playoff ) has six straight victories and can reach the Big Ten championship by beating Nebraska and then winning at Minnesota on Nov. 27. Nebraska (3-7, 1-6) has dropped four in a row and already is assured of a fifth consecutive losing season, which helps explain why Frost needed to take such drastic steps to keep his job.

Tight ends coach Sean Beckton is the only remaining offensive assistant who started the season on Frost’s staff. For the final two games of the season, senior offensive analyst Ron Brown will coach the running backs, offensive quality control staffer Steve Cooper will coach quarterbacks, offensive analyst Mike Cassano will coach receivers and senior offensive analyst Frank Verducci will coach the offensive line.

That means Wisconsin had to get ready for Saturday’s game not knowing how much the Cornhuskers plan to depart from what they were doing offensively before the staff changes.

“We’re going to watch film of past games,” Wisconsin defensive end Matt Henningsen said. “We don’t think they’ll change too much. Even though their coaching staff has changed, we think their offense is going to be close to what they’ve shown, based on all available knowledge obviously. We’ll be ready for whatever they throw at us.”

Wisconsin is allowing the fewest yards per game (211.4), yards per play (3.72) and yards per carry (1.9) of any Football Bowl Subdivision team.