CBS Sports is giving Luke Fickell and Wisconsin a vote of confidence, and it comes with a pretty clear message: the Badgers have a real chance to climb back toward respectability this season.
In the second part of its two-part look at teams most likely to bounce back, CBS Sports used FanDuel’s win totals to identify programs expected to rebound after down years. Wisconsin made the cut among nine teams listed: Arkansas, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Kansas State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Florida, and Oklahoma State.
The Badgers were the second team mentioned, largely because FanDuel has them projected at 6.5 wins after last year’s four-win finish. CBS Sports puts the responsibility squarely on Fickell to turn that number into something better, noting that Wisconsin has only gone backward since he arrived.
The article points out that the Badgers started with seven wins and then slipped to four last season. As Cody Nagel wrote, "Fickell needs to get back on track, and even seven wins would only return the Badgers to where they stood in his first season.
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The schedule is the main reason for the optimism. Wisconsin avoids the heavy hitters it had to deal with a year ago, including Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon.
Instead, the slate is built around teams such as Purdue, Michigan State, and Rutgers. Nagel’s point is simple: six wins would mean taking care of the games Wisconsin is supposed to win and maybe stumbling once or twice in spots where the Badgers can afford it.
What makes the list even more interesting is that Wisconsin will face two of the other teams CBS Sports highlighted. The Badgers host Penn State on Saturday, September 26, in their Big Ten opener, then won’t see UCLA until Saturday, October 17.
Penn State is on the rebound list because of a coaching change, with Matt Campbell taking over. FanDuel has the Nittany Lions at 8.5 wins, and CBS Sports leans on the same kind of schedule argument used for Wisconsin.
UCLA, meanwhile, is coming off a three-win season and now has Bob Chesney in charge. FanDuel has the Bruins at 6.5 wins, matching Wisconsin’s number. Nagel’s case for UCLA is built around Chesney’s track record and a soft opening stretch that could leave the Bruins 3-0 before Big Ten play begins.
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For Badgers fans, the part worth watching is the company hes being mentioned alongside. The scouts comparison points to a familiar style and build, the sort of profile Wisconsin supporters know has translated at the next level before. Chambliss still has work to do and could end up behind some younger names in the draft pecking order, but the buzz around him is real enough that his stock will be tracked closely from here, especially if he keeps building on what hes already shown in Oxford. [Read more 🡒]
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For Wisconsin, the appeal is less about flash than stability. Offensive line coach Eric Mateos has pointed to Kaweckis experience and leadership as important additions, especially with other centers moving on, and that makes his transition worth watching as the Badgers try to get their rushing attack back on firmer ground in 2026. The bigger question now is how quickly he settles into the role Wisconsin clearly expects him to handle. [Read more 🡒]