The Wisconsin Badgers landed at No. 9 among Big Ten teams in ESPN’s latest FPI rankings for the 2025 season on Tuesday.
The metric, which evaluates a college football team’s potential, placed the Badgers behind the Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Oregon Ducks, Michigan Wolverines, USC Trojans, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Washington Huskies and Indiana Hoosiers. The outlet also considers UW the No. 38 overall team in the country and projects its win-loss mark at 5.6-6.5.
Notably, the Badgers were placed ahead of the No. 39-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, No. 43-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers, No. 44-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini and No. 61-ranked Maryland Terrapins on the hierarchy. While Iowa and Minnesota handed the Badgers losses a season ago, Luke Fickell’s program will line up against all four programs during the 2025 slate.
If one were to simply abide by ESPN’s metrics, Wisconsin would finish with a 6-6 mark following the 2025 season with losses to Alabama, the No. 3 overall team in the FPI ranking, Michigan (No. 17), Ohio State (No. 4), Oregon (No. 6), Washington (No. 27) and Indiana (No. 31). Miami (Ohio), Wisconsin’s first opponent, holds the No. 79 distinction, while Middle Tennessee, Wisconsin’s second foe, is down at No. 134.
While numbers and projections are one discussion, what occurs on the field is certainly the more prudent component for the Badgers this coming season. Wisconsin went 3-6 in Big Ten play a season ago with its only wins against Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern, three of the lowest-rated teams in the conference.
In addition to last season’s finish, Wisconsin will welcome a new offensive coordinator, system and quarterback in the third full season under Fickell. Jeff Grimes, former Kansas offensive coordinator, will be calling plays for former Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., leading what projects to be a traditional ground-and-pound approach.
A gauntlet of games against Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State and Ohio State doesn’t help Wisconsin’s chances of finishing with a winning record. UW’s standing in ESPN’s FPI will receive clarity beginning with Week 4 against the Maryland Terrapins on Sept. 20.
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