Every football program believes they get better in the offseason, but ESPN’s college football reporters aren’t convinced about what Luke Fickell accomplished.
They ranked every team’s offseason moves since the end of the 2024 season, and the Wisconsin Badgers ranked 16th out of the 18 Big Ten teams.
What went wrong: Wisconsin made the necessary pivot on offense to Grimes and a more traditional scheme, but did the team bring in enough through the portal? Edwards could stabilize the quarterback situation, but the Badgers lost Walker, their leading rusher, to Cincinnati and Pauling, their top receiver, to Notre Dame. Wisconsin seemingly upgraded the tight end spot with Ball State’s Tanner Koziol, but he transferred out in the spring and the team scrambled to add Missouri State’s Lance Mason. The Badgers’ limited portal approach on offense outside of wide receiver and quarterback could be costly. Wisconsin addressed its depth needs on defense, but not adding a transfer running back seemed odd.
What went right: The Badgers correctly reset their offensive approach and Edwards has the talent to thrive in the right situation. Wisconsin also needed new bodies on defense after a season where it generated only 17 sacks and four interceptions. The team not only brought back linebacker Christian Alliegro, defensive backs Preston Zachman and Ricardo Hallman, and others, but added transfers like Reiger, cornerback Geimere Latimer II, outside linebacker Corey Parker and defensive linemen Perkins and Parker Petersen. The staff’s ability to develop defensive transfers mostly from Group of 5 or FCS programs could make a massive difference this fall.
– ESPN
The only two Big Ten teams that ranked below Wisconsin were Maryland and Purdue.
ESPN’s offseason rankings for all Big Ten teams. pic.twitter.com/3lrj27TlKW
— The Big Ten Huddle 🎙️ (@TheBigTenHuddle) May 15, 2025
The ranking was based on teams’ ability to retain key players and coaches, along with their transfer portal and high school recruiting additions.
The Badgers’ replacements for the talent they lost don’t come in with a lot of proven production at the Power Four level, and Fickell will be counting on them to elevate their game in 2025.
Expectations will be low for Wisconsin this season, but that can help them fly the under radar and reduce some of the pressure on them.
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