After canceling two games due to a COVID-19 outbreak, Wisconsin is back just in time to hand Michigan its third loss in four games.
The Badgers missed its past two games against Nebraska and Purdue after reporting that a total of 27 people within the program, including 15 players, had tested positive for the virus.
But it seems Wisconsin now has the outbreak under control and is holding its regular weekly practices after the program has had just new cases since Nov. 2, and no positive cases in five of the last six days have yielded no positive cases.
"We feel confident that we have a handle on the situation and are excited to play this week at Michigan," Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a statement. "As we have done throughout, we will continue to monitor our testing results and base our decision on those results."
As for Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz, who tested positive for the virus on Oct. 23, head coach Paul Chryst hopes to have him back in practice this week.
Just asked Paul Chryst if QB Graham Mertz would be available vs. Michigan: "Graham, the way that his is timing out, hes starting that process of coming back. His tests are all done. I think hell be able to have some practice and well see if its enough practice time."
— Jesse Temple (@jessetemple) November 9, 2020
Mertz completed 20-of-21 passes for 248 yards and five touchdowns in the Badgers' season-opener against Illinois. If he's available, he'll be facing a Michigan secondary that's surrendered over 300 yards through the air in consecutive weeks.
