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When Wisconsin Badgers athletic director Chris McIntosh decided to fire coach Paul Chryst after an embarrassing home loss to Illinois in October 2022, he sent a clear message. It was that expectations for the football program are now higher.
With the hiring of Luke Fickell over Jim Leonhard, the goal is to regularly compete for the Big Ten Conference Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The 2023 season did not unfold as most Badgers fans expected. The team struggled on both sides of the ball and finished with a 7-5 regular-season record. Wisconsin's season finished with a 35-31 loss to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl. It was a game they should have won, especially given that Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels did not play.
With four new teams joining the conference and eliminating the weak Big Ten Conference West division, Wisconsin's path to a conference championship and playoff spot became much tougher. Sports Illustrated ranked the Badgers' 2024 schedule as the 12th-most difficult in the nation. It features matchups against several powerhouse programs like Oregon, Alabama and Penn State.
As with any Wisconsin team, the success of the 2024 season will largely depend on the performance of its defense and offensive line. With the move to the "Dairy Raid" offense last season, quarterback play becomes even more critical. Miami-transfer Tyler Van Dyke is expected to be named the starter to solidify this position.
Week 1: Western Michigan Broncos
The Broncos are coming off a 4-8 season in head coach Lance Taylor's first year and face a tough challenge with a night game at Camp Randall Stadium to open the season. For Western Michigan to have a chance in this game, they must stop the run and force the Badgers to win through the air. However, Western Michigan finished 82nd in rush defense last season by allowing 158 yards per game. With standout defensive end Marshawn Kneeland now playing for the Dallas Cowboys, the Badgers' running backs are likely to find plenty of open space.
Matchup history: Wisconsin leads 4-1
Last meeting: January 2017 at the Cotton Bowl, Wisconsin won 24-16
Score prediction: Wisconsin 37, Western Michigan 17
Record: 1-0
Week 2: South Dakota Coyotes
The Coyotes are coming off a successful 10-3 season in the FCS, which included a 34-24 playoff victory over Sacramento State before falling to North Dakota State in the next round. While upsets are always possible, only four FCS schools defeated FBS opponents last year. It's unlikely that will happen here. What are the Coyotes' best hopes? This is a classic trap game, with the Badgers potentially looking ahead to their matchup with Alabama the following week.
Matchup history: Wisconsin leads 2-0
Last meeting: September 2011 at Camp Randall, Wisconsin won 59-10
Score prediction: Wisconsin 49, South Dakota 24.
Record: 2-0
Week 3: Alabama Crimson Tide
Did head coach Nick Saban retire after the 2023 season because he was afraid to play at Camp Randall? Of course not, but it’s a fun thought for Badger fans. This will be the first true test of the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama as Camp Randall is historically one of the toughest places to play at. Fortunately for the Crimson Tide, this will be an afternoon kickoff, avoiding the more electric night atmosphere in Madison, Wis. Like South Dakota hoping Wisconsin is looking ahead, the Badgers need Alabama to be more focused on their upcoming game against Georgia in two weeks to have a chance. To pull off the upset, Wisconsin must win the turnover battle and contain quarterback Jalen Milroe’s rushing yards.
Matchup history: 1-1
Last meeting: September 2015 in Arlington, Texas, Alabama won 35-17
Score prediction: Alabama 34, Wisconsin 20
Record: 2-1
Week 4: at USC Trojans
Can this be called the Alex Grinch revenge game? Grinch, the often-criticized defensive coordinator for the USC Trojans last year, was fired midseason due to ongoing struggles on his side of the ball. Wisconsin hired Grinch as their safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator alongside Mike Tressell. While the Trojans had seven players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, led by No. 1 overall pick quarterback Caleb Williams, the current roster remains loaded with talent. It includes starting quarterback Miller Moss, Mississippi State transfer running back Woody Marks and dynamic wide receiver Zachariah Branch. The coaching chess match in this game will be intriguing. Grinch and USC head coach Lincoln Riley are intimately familiar with each other's schemes and play-calling strategies.
Matchup history: USC leads 6-1
Last meeting: December 2015 in San Diego (Holiday Day Bowl), Wisconsin won 23-21
Score prediction: USC 35, Wisconsin 30
Record: 2-2
Week 5: Purdue Boilermakers
Every college football team needs a "get right" game after a couple of losses, and the Purdue Boilermakers have consistently filled that role for Wisconsin. The Badgers have won 17 straight games against Purdue and should face minimal resistance in extending that streak. The Boilermakers finished 4-8 in head coach Ryan Walters' first season and will be fortunate to match that win total this year.
Quarterback Hudson Card returns for his second season in West Lafayette, Ind., aiming to build on a solid year where he threw for 2,387 yards, 15 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Defensively, there's nowhere to go but up for Purdue as they finished last in the Big Ten in 2023, allowing 30.4 points per game. The Boilermakers added defensive reinforcements through the Transfer Portal, including cornerback Nyland Green and edge rusher CJ Madden from Georgia.
Matchup history: Wisconsin leads 53-29-8
Last meeting: September 2023 in West Lafayette, Wisconsin won 38-17
Score prediction: Wisconsin 44, Purdue 20
Record: 3-2
Week 6: at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Despite ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit picking Rutgers as a dark horse for the playoffs, this should not be a challenging game for the Badgers on the road. While the Scarlet Knights did have their first winning season last year since 2014, there remains a significant talent gap between Rutgers and Wisconsin. The Badgers are well-acquainted with Minnesota transfer quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. They should be able to force multiple turnovers in this matchup, setting up short fields for the offense to capitalize on.
Matchup history: Wisconsin leads 5-0
Last meeting: October 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin won 24-13
Score prediction: Wisconsin 28, Rutgers 13
Record: 4-2
Week 7: at Northwestern Wildcats
The challenges of playing in Evanston, Ill., are well-documented as highlighted in a recent article on College Football Dawgs. Strange things often happen when the Badgers go on the road to face Northwestern at Ryan Field, particularly when they’re favored to win. Fortunately for Wisconsin, they won’t have to play at Ryan Field this time. The stadium is undergoing an $800 million rebuild. Instead, the game will be held at a temporary stadium near the shores of Lake Michigan. Northwestern head coach David Braun stepped into what seemed like an impossible situation after the firing of Pat Fitzgerald and managed to lead the Wildcats to a 7-5 regular season. He earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. However, Year 2 will present a much tougher challenge for Braun and Northwestern against Wisconsin and the rest of the Big Ten.
Matchup history: Wisconsin leads 61-39-5
Last meeting: November 2023 in Madison, Northwestern won 24-10
Score prediction: Wisconsin 24, Northwestern 20
Record: 5-2
Week 8: Penn State Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions should enter into this Homecoming game against Wisconsin with an undefeated record. They'll likely face only one potentially ranked team, USC, in their first six games. Quarterback Drew Allar was inconsistent at times during his sophomore season, particularly in big games against tough opponents like Ohio State and Michigan. The addition of Ohio State transfer wide receiver Julian Fleming should provide Allar with another reliable target. The defense will be anchored by new defensive coordinator Tom Allen and first-team All-Big Ten edge rusher Abdul Carter. Although Penn State has the talent advantage, playing at home gives Wisconsin a fighting chance to pull off the upset.
Matchup history: Penn State leads 11-9
Last meeting: September 2021 in Madison, Penn State won 16-10
Score prediction: Wisconsin 20, Penn State 16
Record: 6-2
Week 9: at Iowa Hawkeyes
The Wisconsin Badgers were relieved to see punter Tory Taylor depart after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. Can a team be thankful to see an opposing punter leave? When it comes to the Iowa Hawkeyes, the answer is yes. Much like the matchups with Northwestern, records often mean little in these hard-fought, low-scoring, close games. New offensive coordinator Tim Lester and quarterback Cade McNamara aim to improve what has been a dismal scoring offense in recent years. However, "Iowa is gonna Iowa," so fans can expect strong defense and solid special teams play once again.
Matchup history: Wisconsin leads 49-46-2
Last meeting: October 2023 in Madison, Iowa won 15-6
Score prediction: Iowa 10, Wisconsin 6
Record: 6-3
Week 10: Oregon Ducks
The last two times these teams met were Rose Bowl matchups in 2011 and 2019, with the Ducks emerging victorious in both games. Depending on how the matchups with Ohio State and Michigan unfold earlier in the season, the Ducks may potentially enter this game as the No. 1 team in the nation. Oklahoma transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel will look to fill the void left by Bo Nix, who was taken in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Nix was picked along with seven other Ducks, setting a record for the most players drafted from Oregon in one draft. This is a tough matchup for Wisconsin, and home-field advantage is unlikely to be enough to significantly narrow the gap.
Matchup history: Tied at 3-3
Last meeting: January 2020 at Rose Bowl, Oregon won 28-27
Score prediction: Oregon 42, Wisconsin 24
Record: 6-4
Week 11: at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Five-star recruit Dylan Raiola is expected to be named the starting quarterback for Nebraska and will be central to the Cornhuskers' success this season. Unfortunately for the Badgers, Raiola will likely have matured and made significant progress throughout the prior 10 games. This reduces Wisconsin's chances of capitalizing on the inexperience of a true freshman quarterback. However, while Iowa is known for winning close games, Nebraska has struggled mightily in that regard. Since 2017, the Cornhuskers are 11-32 in one-score games, a trend that is likely to continue in this matchup.
Matchup history: Wisconsin leads 13-4
Last meeting: November 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin won 24-17
Score prediction: Wisconsin 23, Nebraska 20
Record: 7-4
Week 12: Minnesota Golden Gophers
Welcome to the 134th meeting between Wisconsin and Minnesota in the "Battle for the Axe." After the Badgers dominated this rivalry from 2004 through 2017, the Golden Gophers have proven to be much tougher. Each team has won three times in the last six years. Minnesota will rely heavily on its rushing attack, led by returning backs Jordan Nubin and Darious Taylor. New Hampshire transfer quarterback Max Brosmer will be tasked with improving a Golden Gophers passing game that averaged just 143 yards per contest last season. Senior Day, a rivalry game and the Axe on the line—this promises to be a great way to end the season.
Matchup history: Wisconsin leads 63-62-8
Last meeting: November 2023 in Minneapolis, Wisconsin won 28-14
Score prediction: Wisconsin 33, Minnesota 27
Record: 8-4
Wisconsin Wrap-Up
Given the difficulty of the 2024 schedule, most Badger fans will be satisfied with an 8-4 record. They will view it as positive momentum heading into the next season. With anticipated back-to-back top 25 recruiting classes for 2024 and 2025, Fickell will begin to meet those high expectations that met his arrival in Madison. Assuming the Badgers enter their final game against the Golden Gophers at 7-4, that matchup will determine whether the season is seen as a success at 8-4 or a disappointment at 7-5, especially with a loss to their rivals.
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