The 2025 college football season kicks off with a classic David-vs-Goliath showdown under the lights at Camp Randall Stadium, as the Wisconsin Badgers host the Miami (OH) RedHawks in a Thursday night primetime clash (9:00 PM ET). For Wisconsin, this Week 1 matchup isn’t just about starting the season—it’s about setting the tone for a program looking to reassert itself in the Big Ten hierarchy. The Badgers will aim to flex their Power 5 muscle early, using their trademark physicality and home-field advantage to overwhelm a RedHawks squad eager to prove it belongs on the same field.

Miami (OH) arrives in Madison with nothing to lose and everything to gain, a dangerous mindset for an underdog. While the RedHawks may lack Wisconsin’s size and depth, they’ll look to exploit any early-season rust with speed and scheme—knowing a single upset could define their season. For the Badgers, the challenge will be balancing aggression with discipline: avoid the slow start, establish dominance up front, and give their fans a statement performance to remember. In a game where expectations collide with opportunity, the real question isn’t *if* Wisconsin wins, but *how*—and whether Miami (OH) can land even a single haymaker to keep things interesting.