The Wisconsin Badgers just put together the kind of week that turns heads-and potentially reshapes rankings. Unranked heading into a brutal stretch, they didn’t just survive it.
They thrived, knocking off two top-10 teams in the span of a few days. That’s not just a good week-that’s a statement.
And now, the big question isn’t if they’ll crack the AP Top 25, but where they’ll land.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t your typical "hot team on a run" story. Wisconsin didn’t sneak past a couple of overrated squads.
They beat Illinois and Michigan State-both programs with serious March aspirations. And they didn’t just edge out the Spartans; they blew them out.
That kind of performance demands national attention, and the pollsters are starting to take notice.
Field of 68: Badgers at No. 23
The crew over at Field of 68 slotted Wisconsin in at No. 23 in their updated rankings. That’s a reasonable landing spot, especially for a team that was completely off the radar just days ago.
It’s a nod of respect without getting too carried away. After all, voters tend to be cautious with teams making sudden jumps, even after signature wins.
But if you're looking at momentum, Wisconsin’s got it. And a No. 23 ranking feels like the floor rather than the ceiling.
Fox Sports' Casey Jacobsen: Wisconsin at No. 21
Casey Jacobsen at Fox Sports bumped the Badgers up a couple more spots to No. 21.
That’s a bit more aggressive, but still within the realm of what feels realistic. It reflects the idea that beating two top-10 teams in a week should earn you more than just a token appearance at the bottom of the poll.
And it’s worth noting: Wisconsin beat teams that will be in the top-20 themselves. That context matters.
Jacobsen’s ranking feels like a fair adjustment for a team that just proved it can hang with-and beat-elite competition.
Andy Katz: Wisconsin at No. 15
Then there’s Andy Katz, who didn’t just crack the top-20 barrier-he kicked the door down and placed Wisconsin all the way up at No. 15 in his Power 37 rankings. That’s bold, but it’s not without logic.
Katz has Michigan State at No. 16, and when one team dominates another the way Wisconsin did, it’s only right to rank them accordingly. Katz is clearly weighing how the Badgers won, not just who they beat.
And when you factor in the quality of wins and the manner in which they were earned, his ranking doesn’t feel out of bounds.
So where does that leave us?
The AP Top 25 voters are going to have a tough decision. Wisconsin’s resume just got a major boost, but the rankings don’t always move as fast as the on-court results.
Still, it’s hard to ignore what the Badgers just did. Two top-10 wins in a week is the kind of performance that forces voters to reevaluate.
Whether they land at 23, 21, or somehow sneak into the top-20, one thing is clear: Wisconsin is no longer flying under the radar. They’ve announced themselves as a team to watch, and if this week was any indication, they might just be getting started.