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Wisconsin is down at No. 14 in 247Sports' latest Big Ten power rankings for the 2025 football season.
That slot doesn't come as much of a surprise. The Badgers are just 12-13 in two years under head coach Luke Fickell, plus are outside ESPN SP+'s top 40 entering 2025. That recent track record and a gauntlet schedule combine to create tempered expectations entering a pivotal season for the third-year head coach's tenure.
The common perception is that the team will be improved this season, thanks to the notable offseason additions of OC Jeff Grimes, veteran quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and a new-look defensive front. However, even a better Wisconsin team could produce the same 5-7 final result. That is due to a schedule that includes games against Alabama, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota. There's a realistic chance that eight of those nine opponents are ranked at the time they face the Badgers.
For more specifics on why Wisconsin sits dangerously close to the Big Ten's bottom tier, here is 247Sports' Carter Bahns' explanation:
As noted, Wisconsin should be much improved compared to the team that closed 2024 with five consecutive losses, including to rivals Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota by a combined margin of 110-42. However, that forecast won't carry much weight if the team can't take a step forward in the standings for the first time since 2021.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football early 2025 Big Ten power ranking, per 247Sports
Continue reading...
That slot doesn't come as much of a surprise. The Badgers are just 12-13 in two years under head coach Luke Fickell, plus are outside ESPN SP+'s top 40 entering 2025. That recent track record and a gauntlet schedule combine to create tempered expectations entering a pivotal season for the third-year head coach's tenure.
The common perception is that the team will be improved this season, thanks to the notable offseason additions of OC Jeff Grimes, veteran quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and a new-look defensive front. However, even a better Wisconsin team could produce the same 5-7 final result. That is due to a schedule that includes games against Alabama, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota. There's a realistic chance that eight of those nine opponents are ranked at the time they face the Badgers.
For more specifics on why Wisconsin sits dangerously close to the Big Ten's bottom tier, here is 247Sports' Carter Bahns' explanation:
As noted, Wisconsin should be much improved compared to the team that closed 2024 with five consecutive losses, including to rivals Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota by a combined margin of 110-42. However, that forecast won't carry much weight if the team can't take a step forward in the standings for the first time since 2021.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football early 2025 Big Ten power ranking, per 247Sports
Continue reading...
