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Gideon Ituka injury update: Wisconsin RB reveals health status after being taken off field on backboard

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh10 hours agogriffin_mcveigh
Gideon Ituka
Wisconsin redshirt freshman running back Gideon Ituka may be in line to steal some carries this season. (Evan Flood - On3).

Wisconsin went through a scary moment on Saturday, watching running back Gideon Ituka leave the game on a backboard. Taking place in the latter half of the third quarter, Ituka got stuffed by the Indiana defensive line on a play before staying down. Two different hits took place, being above the neck.

Not too long after the game went final, Ituka revealed his own health status. Everything seems to be positive on his end, hopping on the team plane to get back to Madison. Exactly what you want to hear after that kind of situation.

“Just wanna let everyone know I’m doing well,” Ituka said via X. “On the team plane headed home with my guys. Thanks for all the love and support. Gideon Ituka #OnWisconsin.”

This came after head coach Luke Fickell spoke to the media in a press conference. He also gave a positive report on where Ituka stood — at least early stages. Having feeling in the extremities is always a positive sign.

“We did get a little bit of news back that we feel like, it’s good,” Fickell said postgame. “Obviously, he’s still being evaluated in a lot of ways. But they feel good about where he is, having feeling, things like that.”

At the time of injury, Wisconsin was down 10 points. A punt then came, giving Indiana the ball back. Yes, a difficult spot for any team to be in, watching someone get stretchered off the field. But Fickell appears to wish his team had done a better job responding from the moment. Certainly a tough situation, whichever way you look at it.

“It’s one of those things that’s difficult,” Fickell said. “It’s a part of the game, unfortunately. Every team has got to be able to go through it. I’m not using that — not one of those things that cost us… When you’re playing a great team, you’ve got to find other ways.”

Ituka finished the day as Wisconsin’s leading rusher with 32 yards on nine carries. Nobody else, even after Ituka left the game, could get anything going. In total, the Badgers rushed for 70 yards at 2.3 yards per carry.

Wisconsin is now 3-7 overall and 1-6 in Big Ten play. Fickell is set to return for the 2026 season, as confirmed by athletic director Chris McIntosh. Everyone is hoping Ituka can make a quick comeback as well, showing positive progress early on.