Badgers Hit Rock Bottom: Wisconsin Plummets in ESPN’s FPI After Maryland Loss
After a brutal 27-10 loss against the Maryland Terrapins last week, the Wisconsin Badgers are given a much-needed reset with a bye week. At 2-2, there’s a lot to take away from the last four weeks of football, but one thing is for certain: the Badgers are hitting a new low in the Luke Fickell era.
Maryland was widely regarded as Wisconsin’s easiest Big Ten opponent heading into the college football season. With back-to-back losses to the Terrapins and Alabama Crimson Tide, a team that was once in the top 40 of ESPN’s College Football Power Index (FPI) has seen a steady decline with limited odds at achieving anything notable for the rest of the season.
Badgers Have Dropped Significantly in the FPI
The No. 40 ranking prior to Week 1 was a surprise for many, and Wisconsin has since seen a major drop after losing to Maryland on Saturday. The Badgers have fallen 10 spots from last week to No. 55, which ranks one spot under Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes, and one spot above Boise State.
For reference, Wisconsin is tied for second-to-last in the Big Ten with Purdue. The historic program that once boasted all-time great talent on both sides of the ball is averaging just 20.8 points per game.
While backup quarterback Danny O’Neil has seen most of the snaps with Billy Edwards Jr. still injured, the run game is the worst it has been in years. The Badgers average just 3.1 yards per rush attempt, 117.8 rushing yards per game and have totaled just four touchdowns on the ground through four games, a far cry from where a renowned program once was.
Last year, in a season that most believed to be rock bottom, Wisconsin finished No. 47 in ESPN’s FPI. If the Badgers stay at No. 55 or drop even further, they’d be sinking below the seabed.
Wisconsin Given Little Chance At Any Major Achievements
Before the season opener, Wisconsin was given a 53.2% chance to reach six wins and a 0.3% chance of winning the Big Ten. In terms of the College Football Playoff, the program was given a 3.1% chance at making it, with a 0.1% chance of making the National Championship and a 0.0% chance of winning it all.
At this point, all of those numbers have dropped to 0.0% aside from reaching six wins. The Badgers have a 7.5% chance of qualifying for a bowl game, which points to them failing to reach one for the second year in a row. Last season, Wisconsin broke its 22-game bowl streak, and hasn’t missed two bowl games in a row since the 1992 and 1993 seasons.
The burning question moving ahead is if Wisconsin struggled mightily against Maryland, how could they ever compete with lesser-regarded Big Ten opponents such as Iowa, Washington and Minnesota? The team already has to face AP Top 25 opponents such as Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana.
If they don’t qualify for a bowl game, we could see major shakeups come sooner than later for the Badgers. If they finish well below the mark, we can practically guarantee it.
