Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Braedyn Locke (18) throws against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin turns to backup QB Braedyn Locke for trip to Illinois

If Wisconsin hopes to remain in the Big Ten West race, it will have to do so without its starting quarterback as it heads to Champaign, Ill., to face Illinois on Saturday.

The Badgers (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) are coming off a 15-6 loss to Iowa, losing signal-caller Tanner Mordecai in the process. Mordecai sustained a broken right (throwing) hand late in the first half and underwent surgery on Sunday. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said that Mordecai would be out indefinitely.

Redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke, a transfer from Mississippi State, replaced Mordecai against the Hawkeyes and completed 15 of 30 passes for 122 yards. Locke directed two second-half field goal drives but lost one fumble and threw an interception.

“We feel really good about his ability to execute, do a lot of the things that we have done,” Fickell said of Locke. “But everybody has their strengths, and we’ll have to play a little bit more in some of those ways towards what we feel like he can do best.”

Braelon Allen is averaging a team-high 93.2 rushing yards per game. Wisconsin lost its other top running back, Chez Mellusi, to a season-ending injury on Sept. 22 in a win over Purdue.

Meanwhile, Illinois (3-4, 1-3) picked up its first conference victory last weekend, defeating Maryland 27-24 thanks to a 43-yard field goal from Caleb Griffin on the final play of the game.

Luke Altmyer threw for 206 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He is completing 63.3 percent of his passes this season. Reggie Love III leads the team in rushing yards with 257.

Wisconsin has won 11 of the past 13 games against Illinois, including a 24-0 victory at Champaign in 2021.

The rivalry still resonates with coaching ramifications. Illinois coach Bret Bielema coached Wisconsin for seven seasons, posting a 68-24 mark from 2006-12.

Last season, Illinois routed Wisconsin 34-10 in Madison, Wis., and Badgers coach Paul Chryst was fired the next day. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard finished the season as interim coach but was passed over for Fickell. In the offseason, Bielema hired Leonhard as a senior football analyst.

“This is another rematch game, but obviously a totally different makeup kind of what we saw from a year ago,” Bielema said. “There is some carryover on the defensive side of the ball but offensively, obviously new personnel … personnel used in different ways, so this is kind of a totally new opponent in that regard.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;  Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) runs to the locker room during the second quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin QB Tanner Mordecai hurt, Braedyn Locke to start Saturday

Braedyn Locke is preparing to start for Wisconsin at Illinois this Saturday with quarterback Tanner Mordecai unavailable due to a right hand injury.

Mordecai was hurt late in the first quarter of Saturday’s loss to Iowa. He ran to the sideline with 1:42 remaining in the first quarter to tell the coaching staff he couldn’t throw after slamming his hand on a defender’s helmet.

Badgers coach Luke Fickell said after the 15-6 defeat that Mordecai was unable to grip the football.

ESPN reported Monday that Mordecai had surgery to repair a broken hand and faces a recovery time of at least four weeks.

Locke, a redshirt freshman, draws his first career start on the road against the Fighting Illini. He had 122 passing yards and threw an interception upon entering the game for the injured Mordecai.

Locke transferred to Wisconsin (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) from Mississippi State but did not play in a game last season.

Mordecai played at Oklahoma (2018-20) and SMU (2021-22) before arriving in Madison. He has thrown for 8,919 yards with 79 touchdowns and 26 interceptions in his collegiate career, including 1,128 yards with three TDs and three picks in six starts this season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Will Pauling (6) is tackled short of a first down by Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Jay Higgins (34) during the second quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Leshon Williams helps Iowa slip past Wisconsin

Leshon Williams scored on an 82-yard run and Iowa’s dominant defense kept Wisconsin out of the end zone as the Hawkeyes pulled out a 15-6 victory Saturday in the Big Ten at Madison, Wis.

Iowa (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) moved into the driver’s seat in the Big Ten West with no ranked teams remaining on the schedule. Wisconsin (4-2, 2-1) hosts No. 3 Ohio State on Oct. 28. Each of the other teams in the West Division has at least two conference losses.

Williams finished with a career-high 174 yards on 25 carries.

Drew Stevens, who entered 1-for-4 from 40-49 yard this season, drilled a 48-yarder from the left hash with 13:08 remaining to put the Hawkeyes up 10-6.

On the ensuing series, Wisconsin reserve quarterback Braedyn Locke fumbled in the end zone, resulting in a safety to put Iowa in front 12-6.

With just over three minutes remaining, Iowa recovered a Locke fumble at the Wisconsin 39-yard line. Stevens hit a 40-yard field goal to make it 15-6 with 1:55 left.

Wisconsin, which trailed 7-0 at the half, opened the third quarter with a 13-play, 60-yard drive culminating in Nathanial Vakos’ 36-yard field goal.

After the Hawkeyes’ sixth straight three-and-out, the Badgers pulled within 7-6 on Vakos’ 52-yard field goal with 3:58 left in the third quarter.

Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai suffered an apparent injury to his throwing hand late in the second quarter and did not return. He was replaced by Locke, a redshirt freshman who had completed his only previous attempt this season. Mordecai completed 12 of 20 passes for 106 yards. Locke was 15-for-30 passing for 122 yards and one interception.

Tight end Erick All, Iowa’s leading receiver, was injured on the Hawkeyes second series and also did not return.

Williams put the Hawkeyes in front 7-0 with an 82-yard touchdown run with 11:49 left in the second quarter. Williams went up the middle, ran through a pair of tackles, and then outran the secondary to the right corner.

Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill, who transferred after two seasons at Wisconsin, completed 6 of 14 passes for 37 yards in his second start in place of injured Cade McNamara.

Hawkeyes punter Tory Taylor also had a huge role, averaging 50.6 yards on 10 punts to help keep Wisconsin bottled up.

–Field Level Media

Oct 7, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;  Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) rushes for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

First place in Big Ten West on line as Iowa faces Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Badgers will be looking to remain atop the Big Ten West when they face the Iowa Hawkeyes in Madison, Wis., on Saturday in a matchup of the only two teams in the division with winning conference records.

Wisconsin (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) is coming off a 24-13 conference victory against visiting Rutgers. Defensive-minded Iowa (5-1, 2-1) posted a 20-14 home victory last week against Purdue, a team the Badgers beat 38-17 on Sept. 22. All of the other teams in the West Division have at least two conference losses.

Cornerback Ricardo Hallman keyed Wisconsin’s win over Rutgers with a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown that put the Badgers up 17-0. Wisconsin held Rutgers to 64 yards on the ground and 275 yards of total offense.

Badgers junior running back Braelon Allen, who rushed for over 1,200 yards in each of his first two seasons, ran for 101 yards versus the Scarlet Knights. Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai has completed 64.2 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and three interceptions while averaging 204.2 yards per game.

The Badgers put up 31.4 points per game while allowing 18.4. Wisconsin averages 413.4 total yards of offense and is giving up 355.0. Iowa allows 16.3 points and 324.5 yards per game.

“I think if you just ask me over time of everything that I’ve watched and studied and learned about Iowa, it starts with they’re physical and tough,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said on Monday about the Hawkeyes’ defense.

Iowa has struggled on offense, managing just 291 yards against Purdue, including 110 through the air. The Hawkeyes rank last in the nation with an average of 249.2 yards per game.

Deacon Hill, who transferred to Iowa after two seasons as a reserve at Wisconsin, has taken over at quarterback for injured Cade McNamara. Hill has completed 21 of 56 passes for 274 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Hill, who was 6-for-21 against Purdue, hasn’t had much time to look ahead to returning to Madison, where he played in just one game.

“We’ll see (this week) when we start looking at some film, but I haven’t really thought about it much,” Hill said.

Iowa averages just 119.3 yards per game on the ground, but Kaleb Johnson returned from injury to produce 134 yards on 17 attempts against Purdue, including a 67-yard touchdown run.

Iowa topped Wisconsin 24-10 last season at home, but the Badgers have won eight of the past 11 matchups, including three straight in Madison.

–Field Level Media

Sep 22, 2023; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) runs the ball during the first half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin takes new-look backfield into meeting with Rutgers

Wisconsin will look to maintain momentum after a week off when it faces Rutgers in a Big Ten Conference matchup in Madison, Wis., on Saturday.

The Badgers (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) had a bye last week after opening their conference schedule with a 38-17 victory at Purdue. Rutgers (4-1, 1-1) is coming off a 52-3 nonconference rout of Wagner, bouncing back from a 31-7 loss at Michigan.

Wisconsin’s victory at Purdue was costly, however, as running back Chez Mellusi was lost for the season with a leg injury.

With Mellusi out, the bulk of the ground game falls on Braelon Allen, who has a team-high 371 rushing yards at 7.1 yards per carry with six touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore Jackson Acker, who has 31 yards on eight carries, moves into the No. 2 spot.

“Both those guys’ roles are going to be increased,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. “I don’t think it changes who we are and what we do. And I even told Braelon the same thing: It doesn’t change. I think it puts a little bit more on Braelon’s plate, not just carrying the football, but the leader that Chez was.”

Quarterback Tanner Mordecai, a redshirt senior transfer from SMU, completed 17 of 27 passes for 174 yards vs. Purdue. Mordecai has completed 85 of 128 passes (66.4 percent) with two touchdowns and three interceptions on the season, averaging 219 yards per game. He also has rushed for two scores in each of the last two games.

Wisconsin averages 427.5 yards per game, while giving up 375. The Badgers average 33.3 points per game, allowing 19.8.

“It’s a big game,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “I’m very, very careful of looking at that and saying this is an iconic brand, or this is a big win, or whatever you want to call it. We have one goal: That’s to be 1-0 at the end of this Wisconsin season. And it’s hard. We got a lot of work to do.”

Rutgers piled up 436 yards in the win over Wagner, while allowing just 106 — including 23 yards passing. It was the third time this season the Scarlet Knights had held opponents to seven points or fewer.

Gavin Wimsatt has completed 57 of 106 passes (53.8 percent), with five touchdowns and just one pick, averaging 146.6 yards per game. Christian Dremel has 14 catches for 195 yards and three touchdowns.

Kyle Monangai leads the ground game with 471 yards and six touchdowns. Wimsatt is second with 187 yards and four rushing scores.

Wisconsin is 4-0 against Rutgers since the series kicked off in 2014. The Badgers won the last matchup 52-3 in 2021 when Allen ran for 129 yards and a TD.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;  Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) rushes for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin shoots to stretch streak to 17 over Purdue

First-year Purdue coach Ryan Walters dove into a self-scouting assignment ahead of the Boilermakers’ opening Big Ten assignment, a Friday night home game against Wisconsin in West Lafayette, Ind.

First-year Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell believes the Badgers (2-1) are ready to peak, pointing to a furious rally from down 14-7 on their home field in the third quarter to Georgia Southern. The Badgers punched in four second-half touchdowns and won 35-21.

“Rome wasn’t built in three weeks, but we’re hoping that Madison was built a little bit different right now in the first three weeks,” Fickell said.

Fickell has a few things to fall back on, even as he’s still getting familiar with Madison. For starters, Wisconsin has 16 consecutive wins over Purdue. The last time the Boilermakers knocked off Wisconsin in West Lafayette, Ind., an undersized freshman quarterback named Drew Brees was a backup (1997).

Based on what Walters saw in his self-assessment, the 2023 Boilermakers (1-2) have two glaring issues they hope to erase in this primetime matchup: turnovers and pass defense.

“No need to push the panic button now, but definitely need to continue to grow and improve, which I think this team will do as the year goes on,” Walters said.

Purdue quarterback Hudson Card committed four turnovers (three fumbles) last week in a 15-point loss at Ross-Ade Stadium to Syracuse. Walters said he’s not considering a change at that position. Card, who passed for 323 yards in the loss to the Orange, knows killing the giveaways is a must for Purdue to contend against the Badgers and their Big Ten brethren.

“I feel like he’s been poised under pressure. He doesn’t really get rattled. He has great arm talent and is athletic enough to get you out of some situations and make plays,” Walters said. “I think he’s becoming comfortable with his receiving corps and they’re comfortable with him, so I think that we would all be feeling a lot different right now if we didn’t have the turnovers we had when we had them.”

Wisconsin wants to get running back Braelon Allen going as he acclimates to a more diverse role with increased receiving responsibilities in the new Badgers’ scheme. Allen rushed for 94 yards and two scores last week, when he was a game-time decision vs. Georgia Southern. Chez Mellusi started and rushed for 61 yards and a TD on 15 carries.

Considering that UW quarterback Tanner Mordecai can move and Purdue was ripped for four rushing touchdowns by Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader (195 rushing yards, 184 passing last week), Wisconsin might look more like a throwback Badgers’ power offense this week.

“It’s contagious when everyone does their job,” Mordecai said.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Jason Maitre (23) returns an interception against Georgia Southern Eagles during the second quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin awakens in second half, tops Georgia Southern

Tanner Mordecai and Braelon Allen each ran for two scores and Wisconsin overcame another slow start with the aid of five interceptions to pull away in the second half for a 35-14 nonconference victory over visiting Georgia Southern on Saturday.

The Badgers failed to capitalize on three interceptions en route to a 7-7 halftime tie, but finally turned their fourth pick into a score. James Thompson tipped Davis Brin’s pass at the line, and CJ Goetz intercepted at the Georgia Southern 40. Mordecai scored on an 18-yard scramble to put Wisconsin up 21-14 with 7:40 left in the third quarter.

On the Eagles’ next possession, Hunter Wohler picked off Brin’s deep pass in the end zone. Wisconsin responded with a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by Allen’s 2-yard run.

Brin lost a fumble midway through the fourth quarter that stalled a drive at the Wisconsin 14. The Badgers then went 86 yards, going in front 35-14 on Chez Mellusi’s 1-yard run.

Wisconsin (2-1) bounced back from a 31-22 upset loss at Washington State, where it trailed 24-9 at the half. Allen, held to 20 yards on seven carries vs. Washington State, rushed 12 times for 94 yards, including 78 in the second half.

Mordecai completed 19 of 30 passes for 236 yards and ran for 36 yards.

Brin completed 33 of 52 passes for 383 yards and one touchdown for the Eagles (2-1).

After forcing Wisconsin to punt on its first possession of the third quarter, Brin needed just three passes to cover 75 yards, culminating in a 25-yarder to Jay McAfee that put Georgia Southern up 14-7.

Wisconsin answered with a five-play, 58-yard scoring drive capped by Allen’s 4-yard run.

Wisconsin went in front 7-0 when Mordecai scored on a 1-yard run to finish a 70-yard touchdown drive 42 seconds into the second quarter.

The Eagles responded when Brin hit Derwin Burgess Jr. for a 68-yard completion, setting up OJ Arnold’s 4-yard touchdown run.

The Eagles settled for a 7-7 halftime tie when Michael Lantz’s 48-yard field goal attempt on the final play fell short.

Georgia Southern outgained Wisconsin 283-146 in the first half as the Badgers went three-and-out on four of their eight possessions.

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;  Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) rushes with the football during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bulls at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Washington State aims for back-to-back wins vs. No. 19 Wisconsin

Wisconsin will be looking to build on its Week 1 victory under new coach Luke Fickell, and also avenge last season’s surprising loss, when the 19th-ranked Badgers travel to Pullman, Wash., to face Washington State in a nonconference game on Saturday.

Wisconsin (1-0) opened the Fickell era with a 38-17 victory over Buffalo, pulling away from a 14-10 halftime lead. Washington State (1-0) rolled to a 50-24 victory over Colorado State, which scored 21 of its points in the fourth quarter.

Last year, the Cougars went into Madison, Wis., and upset the Badgers 17-14 in the second game of the season, part of the 2-3 start that led to the midseason firing of Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst.

“This is not the Wisconsin team that I know growing up,” said Washington State coach Jake Dickert, who grew up in Wisconsin and played college football at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he also began his coaching career as a defensive grad assistant.

“The biggest thing, new staff, they brought in new schemes and systems that they’re still getting comfortable with, but the identity of Wisconsin football is there. Big, fast, tough, play aggressive, play with tons of effort.”

Despite the prospect of a more balanced attack with the Air Raid offense under new coordinator Phil Longo, Wisconsin relied on its trademark ground game against Buffalo.

Chez Mellusi ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns, including an 89-yarder, and Braelon Allen added 141 yards and two more scores as the Badgers piled up 314 yards on the ground at 7.9 yards per carry.

Quarterback Tanner Mordecai, who threw for 72 touchdowns in his two seasons at SMU before transferring, completed 24 of 31 passes for 189 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in his Badgers debut.

“If there’s anything I knew going into Game 1, I knew we could run the football,” Fickell said after the Buffalo game. “I knew that that could be a spark and an energy for us. And I’m not saying that just because of Braelon and Chez, because I think those are the two guys that are hardest to see in fall camp because you don’t go live and let them break tackles — but the combination of those two guys and the guys up front.”

Wisconsin is expected to be without linebacker Jordan Turner in the first half. Turner was ejected for targeting in the fourth quarter of the opener against Buffalo and must sit out the half in Pullman, pending an appeal to the Big Ten.

The Cougars rolled in their opener behind quarterback Cameron Ward, who completed 37 of 49 passes for 451 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 40 yards and a score.

Wide receiver Lincoln Victor set career highs with 11 catches for 168 yards.

The Cougars ran for just 90 yards on 37 attempts against Colorado State, an average of 2.4 yards per carry.

“Their movements and what they were doing at the defensive line caused hesitation in our run game, and it was very disruptive,” Dickert said. “Our guys were reacting instead of creating the contact needed to create holes. We have to be able to run the ball more efficiently than we did last week.”

Last season, Wisconsin outgained the Cougars 401-253 in total offense and had a 38:02 to 21:58 advantage in time of possession, but the Badgers lost two fumbles, had one pass intercepted and missed two field goals.

Ward completed 17 of 28 passes for 200 yards and one score in last season’s win at Madison. Nakia Watson, who transferred to Washington State from Wisconsin, came back to haunt his old team with one touchdown on the ground and another pass reception for a score.

Saturday will mark the first road test for the Badgers under Fickell.

“You know, you can’t go on the road and turn the ball over,” Fickell said. “You can’t go on the road and not be able to run the football. You can’t go on the road and have an incredible amount of penalties.

“Those are things that are really difficult when you’re in an environment that’s not your own to overcome.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;  Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) rushes with the football during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bulls at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

No. 19 Wisconsin racks up 312 rushing yards, blasts Buffalo

Chez Mellusi rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns and Braelon Allen ran for 141 yards and two scores as No. 19 Wisconsin rolled past Buffalo 38-17 on Saturday in Madison, Wis., in the season opener for both teams.

The Badgers outscored the Bulls 24-7 after halftime, with Mellusi providing a much-needed spark. Ahead 14-10 and starting a drive at its own 11, Wisconsin found breathing room at last, as Mellusi weaved through the Bulls’ defense for an 89-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive.

Wisconsin scored on its next two possessions, including an eight-play, 97-yard touchdown drive capped by Allen’s 6-yard scoring run.

Tanner Mordecai was 24-for-31 passing for 189 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Badgers. Mellusi (13 carries) and Allen (17) paced a ground game that accounted for 312 of Wisconsin’s 501 yards of total offense.

Wisconsin took a 14-10 lead into halftime behind an efficient effort from Mordecai, who passed for 125 yards, one touchdown and one interception before intermission.

Mellusi rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown on nine first-half carries. His 1-yard scoring run with 7:16 left in the first quarter put the Badgers ahead 7-0. Wisconsin covered 73 yards in 11 plays and took 3:52 of clock during the drive following a Buffalo punt.

The Bulls answered on the next possession with a quick-strike touchdown drive. Buffalo needed just 2:09 to go 65 yards in five plays. Cole Snyder’s 7-yard scoring pass to Cole Harrity capped the drive, but the key sequence came two plays earlier, when Snyder connected with Darrell Harding Jr. for a 51-yard reception down the right sideline.

Wisconsin regained the lead on Mordecai’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Chimere Dike with one minute remaining before halftime. Buffalo drew within 14-10 on Alex McNulty’s 53-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the second quarter. He had missed from 34 yards earlier in the half.

Snyder was 26-for-41 for 194 yards and two touchdowns to Harrity, who had five receptions for 47 yards. Mike Washington (12 carries, 52 yards) and Ron Cook (12 carries, 51 yards) led the Buffalo rushing attack.

–Field Level Media

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema celebrates with a supporter as he heads to the locker room after a game against Wisconsin on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Illinois won the game, 34-10, in Bielema   s return to Madison after coaching the Badgers from 2006-2012.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

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Illinois hires former Wisconsin DC, interim coach Jim Leonhard

Wisconsin guys reunited in Champaign on Tuesday with the hiring of former Badgers defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jim Leonhard to Bret Bielema’s staff.

Leonhard was named senior football analyst for the Fighting Illini.

The three-time All-Big Ten safety played at Wisconsin before a 10-year NFL career and returned to Madison to coach for seven seasons.

Following Illinois’ 34-10 win over the Badgers in 2022, Wisconsin fired coach Paul Chryst and promoted Leonhard, who had been an assistant since 2016.

But after interviewing the former All-American to be Wisconsin’s new head coach, the Badgers hired Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell as Chryst’s permanent replacement.

Former Wisconsin players Aaron Henry and Antonio Fenelus are also a part of Bielema’s coaching staff at Illinois. Bielema was head coach at Wisconsin from 2006-2012.

–Field Level Media