Big breaking news around the Big Ten that came across Thursday evening could impact Penn State football’s Oct. 26 game.
Wisconsin football released a statement that its leading rusher, Chez Mellusi, is taking a step back from the team “to continue rehabbing injuries that prevented him from playing to his expectation,” per the statement.
Wisconsin's backfield will see a big change: Senior RB Chez Mellusi is stepping away from the #Badgers. Here's more: https://t.co/OCGPZISoxU
— Colten Bartholomew (@CBartWSJ) October 3, 2024
“We want to let people know that Chez is going to be stepping away from the team for now and working to get his body healthy,” the statement reads. “He’s endured many injuries and has worked extremely hard to be able to play this year, but his body hasn’t responded the way he expected. We’re here to support Chez in any way we can and hope he’ll be back on the football field again one day.”
It’s not yet clear how long Mellusi will be away from the program or if he’ll be back in time for the game against Penn State at Camp Randall Oct. 26. Penn State would likely be a significant favorite over Wisconsin even with Mellusi— who has 232 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry through four games. Wisconsin is 2-2 with double-digit losses to Alabama at home and USC on the road. Per ESPN FPI, Penn State’s win probability is 87.5.
“We had a little bit of a tough ride right now at the running back spot,” Wiscon HC Fickell said at his Monday presser. “Meaning we’ve got a bunch of guys, and it’s probably one of the things that I am going to kind of, not say impress to, but put on the offense a little more to say, look, I don’t know that you can play four and five running backs. We’ve got to focus in on, ‘Hey, who’s going to be one, who’s going to be the next guy, and then who’s the spare?’
“What we need to find out is who can get hot and who, with more opportunities, are going to have a better chance for us.”
