Wisconsin tries to regain supremacy in the trenches under its 4th O

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s offensive linemen understand what’s expected at a program that prides itself on controlling the trenches.

“A lot of people consider it ‘O-line U,’” right tackle Riley Mahlman said. “In the past few years, I think we’ve been a good o-line. I don’t think we’ve been necessarily great.”

That hasn’t been good enough. It helps explain why the Badgers fell to a combined 27-19 the last four seasons after going 63-19 from 2014-19.

Wisconsin spent spring practice trying to re-establish its superiority on the line of scrimmage while adapting to its fourth offensive line coach in as many years.

“You grow up playing offensive line, you look at a school like Wisconsin, you think, ‘That’s where I want to be,’” left guard Joe Brunner said. “We’ve always been dominant. We’ve produced. We’ve developed. As an offensive lineman, that’s what you want to do. That’s what you want to be.”