Former Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo and his Sam Houston State Bearkats fell 41-24 to Western Kentucky to open the 2025 season on Saturday.
The game marked Longo’s debut as the program’s head coach and his first head coaching appearance since the 2005 season at La Salle. The longtime offensive coordinator most recently spent 2023 and most of 2024 with the Wisconsin Badgers; he was fired last November after the team’s narrow home loss to top-ranked Oregon.
Longo’s air raid offense held its own against the Hilltoppers, finishing with 24 points and 382 total yards. However, the unit’s two-of-17 conversion rate on third and fourth down, late-down struggles that Wisconsin fans grew familiar with over the last few seasons, proved costly as it attempted to keep up with a Western Kentucky offense that eclipsed 40 points and 500 total yards. Importantly, that defensive performance will need to be a one-off if Longo is to lead the Bearkats to their second straight 10-win season.
In other notable news, Sam Houston State went with veteran Hunter Watson at quarterback over Wisconsin transfer Mabrey Mettauer. The two were recently listed as co-starters on the team’s official Week 0 depth chart. Watson finished the game 19 of 30 passing for 209 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception.
Longo’s performance at Sam Houston State will be worth watching as Wisconsin works to reestablish itself as a consistent Big Ten winner, especially as it does so while shifting away from his air-raid approach.
The Badgers will open their season on Thursday against Miami (Ohio), looking to make an early statement before their gauntlet schedule begins in mid-September. Sam Houston Stats, meanwhile, returns to action on Friday against UNLV.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: How former Wisconsin OC Phil Longo fared in 2025 head coaching debut
Reporting by Ben Kenney, Badgers Wire / Badgers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
