The Wisconsin Badgers are sitting right on the edge of the AP Top 25 again, and the timing couldn’t be better.
After blasting Michigan State 31-3 in Week 5, Wisconsin looked like a team that had done enough to finally crack back into the rankings. The Badgers had already stunned Penn State on the road the week before, and after that kind of stretch, a leap into the poll felt reasonable.
Instead, Wisconsin slipped the wrong way, landing as the third team out even though No. 24 Kentucky dropped out of the Top 25.
Pitt moved up and took a spot instead, while Wake Forest also jumped ahead of Wisconsin among the teams receiving votes.
This week, though, the door swung back open. Pitt was one of three ranked teams to fall out after a loss, joining Oregon, which was previously No. 13, and Florida, which had been No.
- That created room for three new teams, but Wisconsin still wasn’t one of them.
Kentucky re-entered at No. 15 after upsetting LSU, Wake Forest climbed to No. 21, and Northwestern rounded out the poll at No. 25 after beating Ball State by 31 points.
So now Wisconsin is back where it started: first team out.
And the Badgers have a major chance to make the committee, so to speak, take notice in Week 7. They travel to face UCLA on Saturday evening at the Rose Bowl, with the Bruins riding in at 5-0 and up to No. 12 after their upset of Oregon. UCLA jumped nine spots in the latest poll.
For Wisconsin, this is one of the biggest chances of the Luke Fickell era. A win would push the Badgers to 5-1 and 3-0 in conference play, with a real shot at being ranked for the first time since the start of the 2024 season.
The Big Ten already has six teams in the AP Top 25: Ohio State at No. 4, Indiana at No.
5, UCLA at No. 12, Iowa at No.
17, USC at No. 19, and Northwestern at No. 25.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Comes Out Of The Bye With One Big Offensive Question
The bye week gave Wisconsin a little time to get healthy before turning the page to UCLA, and the latest update brings at least one encouraging sign for an offense that could use some stability. Tailback Abu Sama is expected to be available, which would help a backfield looking to carry more of the load as the Badgers come out of the break.
The bigger question sits in the middle of the line, where center Austin Kawecki is dealing with an injury to his snapping hand and his status is still uncertain. Luke Fickell was careful in his update and stopped short of putting either player on the record as definitively good to go, leaving Wisconsin with some waiting to do before it knows exactly how settled the offense will be when UCLA arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Could Catch A Huge Break Before UCLA Game
UCLAs quarterback situation suddenly became one of the biggest storylines on the Badgers radar after Nico Iamaleava left the Bruins Week 6 game against Oregon with a leg injury and never came back for the second half. Head coach Bob Chesney said Iamaleava was not close to returning, and the next step was more evaluation, which leaves a major question hanging over UCLA as it turns its attention toward Wisconsin.
In Iamaleavas place, senior transfer Ty Dieffenbach stepped in and helped UCLA finish off the win, giving the Bruins a viable backup option if the injury lingers. For Wisconsin, the timing matters, since any uncertainty at quarterback could shape how UCLA approaches the game and how the Badgers prepare for what may be a very different-looking offense. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Has A Chance To Make USC A Massive Camp Randall Stage
Camp Randall is getting one of its biggest September-style spotlight games in October, with the Big Ten setting Wisconsins Week 8 meeting with USC for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC. The matchup brings added attention to a Badgers team that has opened 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play, while USC arrives ranked No. 19 after a recent win and looking to prove it belongs in the league race.
For Wisconsin, the opportunity goes beyond just another conference game. A night setting in Madison against a name brand like USC gives the Badgers a national stage and a chance to build on the momentum they have already collected. With both teams carrying early-season momentum and key players set to shape the outcome, this one has the feel of a game that could say plenty about where Wisconsin fits in the Big Ten picture. [Read more 🡒]