Wisconsin Predicted to Finish 12th in Big Ten Preseason Media Poll
With Big Ten Conference media days kicking off this week in Las Vegas, Cleveland.com dropped its annual Big Ten preseason media poll. Wisconsin checked in at No. 12 in the poll. This is the lowest projected for the Badgers in the Luke Fickell era thus far. In 2023, UW was predicted to win the West Division, but finished 7-6 overall. Last year, the Badgers came in seventh in the poll and followed that up with a 5-7 season, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2001.
Fickell and the Badgers are entering a critical year three. Hoping to get things going in the right direction, Wisconsin signed a whopping 18 scholarship transfers in the off-season, headlined by senior quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., a transfer from Maryland. UW will be going with a transfer quarterback for the third consecutive season and has had a new face under center each year since 2022.
Per Cleveland.com, Penn State was projected to win the Big Ten. Ohio State came in second, followed by Oregon at No. 3. Rounding out the top five were Illinois (4) and Michigan (5).
Full Big Ten Preseason Media Poll
1. Penn State
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Illinois
5. Michigan
6. Indiana
7. Iowa
8. Nebraska
9. USC
10. Washington
11. Minnesota
12. Wisconsin
13. Michigan State
14. Rutgers
15. UCLA
16. Nebraska
17. Northwestern
18. Purdue
Wisconsin has what’s widely considered the toughest schedule in the country this fall. The Badgers take on Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Sep. 13 for a major Big Ten/SEC clash. The 2025 slate also features road tests at Oregon, Michigan, and Indiana. The Badgers will welcome Ohio State, Iowa, and Illinois to Camp Randall Stadium as well.
UW opens the 2025 season against Miami (OH) on Aug. 28 at home.
