The college football offseason is reaching its lull with the spring practice period now over and the summer months around the corner.
The period increased interest this year thanks to the new transfer portal windows, the continuing impact of NIL on the sport and coaching turnover at high-level programs across the country. It was mostly quiet for Wisconsin, which should be viewed as a good thing. The Badgers did not lose any impact starters to the portal and were able to add important depth entering the season.
Related: Post-spring Big Ten football 2024 power rankings
The program is coming off a 7-6 2023 campaign that saw growing pains on both sides of the ball in the first year under head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Expectations will be high amongst Badger fans and those connected to the program, while the national landscape will overlook the Badgers as a true contender.
The team itself may be greatly improved. But its schedule is growing increasingly difficult in the new era of the Big Ten.
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, we’ve already ranked all 18 programs in the Big Ten, ranked the 18 starting quarterbacks, ranked all 18 head coaches, predicted each Big Ten team’s 2024 record, looked at the early College Football Playoff tiers, made bold predictions for the season and checked in on the Las Vegas win totals for each team in the conference.
Now, we continue to monitor preseason rankings and Wisconsin’s place within them. Here’s that from The Athletic’s Ari Wasserman, which has one notable omission:
Oct 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running backs coach Tony Alford, head coach Ryan Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye signal from the sideline during the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium.
2023 Record: 11-2
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 2
Apr 13, 2024; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart on the field during the G-Day Game at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 13-1
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 1
Nov 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning (center) leads quarterback Bo Nix (10) and Ty Thompson (13) onto the field for the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 12-2
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 3
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian greets wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) while warming up for the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semifinals game against the Washington Huskies at the Caesars Superdome on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Credit: Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK
2023 Record: 12-2
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 4
Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman celebrates at the 90th annual Sun Bowl game against Oregon State on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, at El Paso, Texas. Credit: GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES-USA TODAY NETWORK
2023 Record: 10-3
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 9
Nov 6, 2021; Oxford, Mississippi, USA;Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin talks with a referee after a call during the second half against the Liberty Flames at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 11-2
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 8
Jan 13, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; The University of Alabama introduced new head football coach Kalen DeBoer with a press conference at Bryant-Denny Stadium. DeBoer speaks during the press conference. Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY NETWORK
2023 Record: 12-2
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 6
Nov 24, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz during the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Missouri won 48-14. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 11-2
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 11
Jan 1, 2024; Pasadena, CA, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum (2) scores a touchdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half in the 2024 Rose Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 15-0
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 5
Nov 24, 2023; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (9) looks to pass against the Boston College Eagles during the first half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 7-6
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 21
Dec 30, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the sidelines against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-3
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 7
Sep 23, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell on the sideline in the first half against the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 13-1
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 12
Dec 28, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables looks on in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-3
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 14
Jan 1, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) talk on the podium after the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Reliaquest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-3
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 10
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel during preseason football practice held on UT’s campus on Monday, August 7, 2023. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
2023 Record: 9-4
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 15
Dec 28, 2023; Orlando, FL, USA; Kansas State Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman celebrates after beating the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the Pop-Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 9-4
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 18
Jul 21, 2022; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke head coach Mike Elko talks to the media during the second day of ACC Media Days at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, NC. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 7-6
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 13
Sep 30, 2023; Syracuse, New York, USA; Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reacts in the fourth quarter against Syracuse at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 9-4
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 16
Dec 28, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Arizona Wildcats running back DJ Williams (8) celebrates a touchdown with tight end Tanner McLachlan (84) in the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-3
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 19
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-4
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 26
Dec 28, 2023; Orlando, FL, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren looks on from the sidelines during the Pop-Tarts bowl against Kansas State Wildcats in the fourth quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 9-4
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 28
Dec 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Jeff Brohm during warm ups against the Florida State Seminoles at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-4
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 24
Sep 17, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold on the sideline during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 9-4
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 35
Sep 16, 2023; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy takes the field before an NCAA football game between Oklahoma State and South Alabama at Boone Pickens Stadium. South Alabama won 33-7. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Terry-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-4
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 20
Apr 23, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham looks on during the second half of the Utah Spring Football Game at Rice–Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 8-5
2024 SP+ Ranking: No. 17
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