Can Wisconsin Badgers football program re-enter AP Top 25 in 2026?
The Wisconsin Badgers haven't been ranked since they entered the 2023 season at No. 19. At that point, Tanner Mordecai was leading the charge.
Wisconsin dominated Buffalo in Week 1 (38-17) before falling to Washington State, 31-22, the very next week. For reference, that game against the Cougars took place on September 9, 2023. Wisconsin is creeping in on three years without having a number attached to its name , something that is quite uncommon for Badger football.
Coming off a 2025 season that saw Wisconsin have the nation's toughest strength of schedule , the Badgers are desperate to string some wins together. Back-to-back losing seasons are a rare sight for the program, and it's put Luke Fickell in win-now mode entering his fourth year in Madison. Looking at the Badgers' schedule, a win over Notre Dame in Week 1 would do wonders.
The Fighting Irish could be the No. 1-ranked team come September 6. If not, they're basically a lock to be in the top five.
Elsewhere, Wisconsin needs to dominate its non-conference games and then impress early in Big Ten play. Wins at Penn State and UCLA would go a long way, especially with a Halloween showdown at Iowa on the horizon. Wisconsin avoids having to play the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana this season, which is a huge plus.