The Wisconsin Badgers had a disappointing 2023 college football season with Luke Fickell in his first year at the helm. Wisconsin looks to improve significantly in 2024 in a much tougher BIG10 conference than last season. The Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins and Washington Huskies all move into the conference this season from the PAC-12.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will undoubtedly be the best team in the conference, and maybe the country, this season, but the Oregon Ducks, Michigan Wolverines, and Penn State Nittany Lions can’t be ignored. Wisconsin will no longer be in the East-West Conference. The Wisconsin Badgers may or may not benefit from that.
They finished last season 7-6 and went to a bowl game before losing to the LSU Tigers. Wisconsin could have a chance to make the college football playoffs this season, depending on how things go.
Athlon sportswriter Steve Lassan ranks the Wisconsin Badgers 8th in his preseason poll in the BIG10 Conference
Lassan has released his preseason predictions for the BIG10 heading into the 2024 season. His BIG10 conference rankings have the Wisconsin Badgers ranked 8th heading into the 2024 season. Athlon Sports Writer Steve Lassan he said:
“For the Badgers to take a step forward in Year 2 of coach Luke Fickell, priority 1 is to resolve the quarterback battle between Tyler Van Dyke and Braedyn Locke. The transition to the Air Raid offense was not smooth last season, but coordinator Phil Longo should be optimistic about ’24 with an experienced offensive line, a good group of talented players at running back and receiver, and another year of development in the system. Wisconsin is thin on the defensive line, but the transfers should bolster the linebacker unit, while All-Big Ten performers Ricardo Hallman and safety Hunter Wohler return to the defensive line.”
Tyler Van Dyke transferred from the Miami Hurricanes. We’ll see if Van Dyke is better this season than last. Tanner Mordecai was the quarterback for the Wisconsin Badgers last season, and that didn’t go as planned after his transfer from SMU.
Losing Braelon Allen in the defensive backfield will be a gigantic loss for this offense. Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker will be the running back duo for Wisconsin this season. Will Pauling could be the best wide receiver in this offense, and the defense will have to be better than it was last season. They don’t have the talent of the other top teams in the conference, but that’s where the Badgers will be.
