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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/usffan on 2025-07-11 21:33:12+00:00.

The cumulative link to the preseason rankings can be found here.

Wisconsin (high = 32, low = 78) becomes the 6th B1G team in the countdown at #43. The Badgers missed out on a bowl game for the first time in for the first time in 23 years in Luke Fickell’s second year in charge after compiling a 5-7 record against teams ranked #4 (Alabama), #13 (USC), #3 (Penn State) and Oregon (#1) at the time those games were played. Truthfully, Wisconsin never recovered from losing Tyler Van Dyke early in the Bama game, and their inability to adapt ultimately cost OC Phil Longo his job (though don’t shed any tears, he landed on his feet as head coach of Sam Houston). Fickell presumably has a relatively short leash to avoid becoming the first coach to post consecutive losing seasons in Madison since Barry Alvarez was just getting started building up (Buttercup) the program from the ashes of those late 1980s seasons.

Roster outlook

Wisconsin ranks 25th in the country in returning production, with top 40 rankings on both sides of the ball. That seems a bit surprising since QB TVD transferred to SMU, his replacement Braedyn Locke transferred to Arizona and primary RB Tawee Walker transferred to Cincinnati (Fickell’s old team). They do get back leading receiver Vinny Anthony and former backup Cade Yacamelli appears to be the preseason leading candidate to become RB1. Sack leader Chritian Alliegro is back at LB on the defensive side of the ball. Fickell built the 3rd best portal class in the B1G, including former Maryland starting QB Billy Edwards, Jr. and Ohio State WR Jayden Ballard. They also picked up Louisville edge Mason Reiger on defense. Paired with the #9 recruiting class in the conference, Wisconsin has a top 25 overall incoming class with which to tackle the 2025 schedule.

Schedule and outlook

And let’s face it, on paper that schedule looks BRUTAL. They open at home against Miami (OH), a MAC team that loves to play B1G teams tough. After a buy game against Middle Tennessee, the Badgers go to Tuscaloosa for the back half of that home/home with Alabama. The B1G schedule this year has games @ Minnesota, Michigan, Oregon and Indiana, plus home games against Ohio State, Iowa, Illinois, Washington and Maryland. Using these rankings, they’ll likely only be favored in one of those conference games, and would need to likely win at least 4 to reach .500. I think there are going to be some sad Badger fans quietly munching on Paul’s Pel’menis on many a Saturday night this fall.