RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesMADISON – The Wisconsin football program no longer gets the benefit of the doubt in the Big Ten.
Despite bolstering its roster through the transfer portal like never before during the Luke Fickell era, the USA TODAY NETWORK is taking a wait-and-see approach on the Badgers .
Media in the network who cover the conference predict UW will finish in the bottom half of the league’s standings for the third straight season, but by picking the Badgers to finish 13 th have them pegged to finish slightly better than last season when they tied for 14 th with Rutgers.
The poll was released July 27 along with the USA TODAY NETWORK preseason all-conference team. Sophomore linebacker Mason Posa , an honorable mention all-conference selection after last season, was the Badgers’ lone mention on the team.
According to the poll, the Badgers and the rest of the conference will be chasing Ohio State followed by Oregon.
Here the predicted order of finish. First-place votes are listed in parentheses:
Ohio State (11)
Oregon (5)
Indiana
USC
Michigan
Penn State
Washington
Iowa
Illinois
Minnesota
Nebraska
UCLA
Wisconsin
Maryland
Northwestern
Rutgers
Michigan State
Purdue
The USA TODAY NETWORK wasn’t the only outlet that released a poll July 27. Cleveland.com predicts a 12 th place finish for the Badgers.
Both rankings show that Wisconsin’s schedule isn’t as stacked as last season. Four of its Big Ten opponents – home vs. Michigan State (Oct. 3) and Rutgers (Nov. 7) and at Maryland (Nov. 14) and Purdue (Nov. 21) – are predicted to finish behind UW.
Based on the rankings, the Badgers' toughest games will be against USC at home Oct. 24 and at Penn State in the Big Ten opener Sept. 26.
Posa is the lone returning Badger who received all-conference mention last season. UW’s leading tackler from 2025 was a third-team all-conference selection by the coaches and an honorable mention pick by the media.
USA TODAY Preseason All-Big Ten football team
* unanimous selection
Offense
QB: (tie) Julian Sayin, Ohio State and Dante Moore, Oregon
RB: Bo Jackson, Ohio State
RB: Antwan Raymond, Rutgers
WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State*
WR: Charlie Becker, Indiana
WR: KJ Duff, Rutgers
TE: Jamari Johnson, Oregon
OL: Carter Smith, Indiana*
OL: Austin Siereveld, Ohio State
OL: Kade Pieper, Iowa
OL: Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
OL: Trevor Lauck, Iowa
All-purpose: Wayne Knight, UCLA
Defense
DL: Tyrique Tucker, Indiana
DL: A'Mauri Washington, Oregon
DL: Anthony Smith, Minnesota
DL: John Henry Daley, Michigan
LB: Rolijah Hardy, Indiana*
LB: Isaiah Jones, Indiana
LB: Teitum Tuioti, Oregon
DB: Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon
DB: Koi Perich, Oregon
DB: Amare Ferrell, Indiana
DB: Zach Lutmer, Iowa
Specialists
K: Nico Radicic, Indiana
P: Bryce McFerson, Maryland
KR/PR: Jacory Barney Jr., Nebraska
Honorable mention (received votes)
Illinois: DB Xavier Scott
Indiana: WR Nick Marsh, OL Drew Evans, OL Joe Brunner, DL Mario Landino, DB Jamari Sharpe
Iowa: TE DJ Vonnahme
Maryland: LB Daniel Wingate, K Sean O'Haire
Michigan: RB Jordan Marshall, OL Andrew Sprague, DB Jyaire Hill, DB Zeke Berry
Michigan State: LB Jordan Hall, P Rhys Dakin, KR Kenneth Williams
Minnesota: RB Darius Taylor, OL Greg Johnson, DB John Nestor
Nebraska: OL Justin Evans, LB Owen Chambliss
Northwestern: LB Mac Uihlein, DB Robert Fitzgerald
Ohio State: OL Luke Montgomery, DL Kenyatta Jackson Jr., LB Payton Pierce, DB Jermaine Mathews, DB Jaylen McClain
Oregon: RB Dierre Hill Jr., OL Dave Iuli, DL Bear Alexander, DL Matayo Uiagalelei
Penn State: LB Caleb Bacon, DB Marcus Neal
Purdue: LB Charles Correa
USC: DB Jontez Williams
Washington: LB Jacob Manu
Wisconsin: LB Mason Posa
Offensive Player of the Year
Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith
Defensive Player of the Year
Indiana LB Rolijah Hardy
Newcomer of the Year
Indiana QB Josh Hoover
More: With help of Abu Sama, Darrion Dupree, Wisconsin hopes for run-game revival
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: USA Today releases B1G poll. Slight improvement expected for Wisconsin
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