Wisconsin Football’s Surprising New Spot in ESPN’s 2025 FPI Will Leave Fans Speechless
You know, every season breathes new hope, fresh challenges, and a few curveballs that no one quite saw coming. This year, the Wisconsin Badgers find themselves ranked ninth in the Big Ten according to ESPN’s FPI — not exactly the summit but far from the basement, sitting at 38th nationwide. It’s a ranking that hints at a team on the cusp, balancing aspiration with the grind ahead. With their projected record teetering around the .500 mark, the Badgers are gearing up for a brutal gauntlet of matchups against titans like Alabama, Michigan, and Oregon. Add to the mix a new offensive coordinator, a revamped system, and a fresh quarterback at the helm — it’s a recipe for a season packed with intrigue and plenty of ‘what-if’ moments. Longtime followers will know this isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet; it’s about grit, heart, and the stories told on the gridiron. And oh, will the tale be worth watching unfold. LEARN MORE
- ESPN’s FPI ranks Wisconsin as the No. 9 team in the Big Ten and No. 38 overall for the 2025 season.
- The FPI projects Wisconsin to finish with a 5.6-6.5 record, including losses to several highly-ranked opponents.
- Wisconsin will face a challenging schedule with games against Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, and Ohio State.
- The Badgers will have a new offensive coordinator, system, and quarterback in 2025.
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.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.
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.
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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.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.
The Wisconsin Badgers landed at No. 9 among Big Ten teams in ESPN’s latest FPI rankings for the 2025 season on Tuesday.
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