CBS Sports ranks Wisconsin as a bottom 4 Big Ten team ahead of 2026 season

CBS Sports ranks Wisconsin as a bottom 4 Big Ten team ahead of 2026 season

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

CBS Sports ranks Wisconsin as a bottom 4 Big Ten team ahead of 2026 season
Wisconsin linebacker Mason Posa (8) tackles Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) during the first quarter of their game Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Wisconsin Badgers saw a major roster overhaul this offseason, bringing in over 30 players from the transfer portal with their increased resources.

That has changed the outlook of the program, which has suffered three difficult years under head coach Luke Fickell, but not everybody is buying the kool-aid.

CBS Sports revealed its rankings of all 138 FBS teams recently, and Ohio State landed at No. 1, which wasn’t too much of a surprise. Following them were Texas (No. 2), Oregon (No. 3), Notre Dame (No. 4), and Georgia (No. 5).

Where were the Badgers, though? All the way down at No. 61, which ranked as the No. 15 Big Ten team, ahead of only Rutgers (No. 64), Michigan State (No. 66), and Purdue (No. 100).

Last season, the Badgers finished as the No. 14 team in the Big Ten standings, tied with Rutgers, thanks to their 2-7 conference record. But many believe Wisconsin will have a better record in 2026 with its new-look roster, with most sportsbooks favoring them to win seven games this year.

CBS Sports doesn’t believe so, though, and instead has Maryland (No. 51), UCLA (No. 49), and Northwestern (No. 48) all ahead of the Badgers, to name a few.

Here are the full rankings of all the Big Ten teams:

1. Ohio State (No. 1 overall)

2. Oregon (No. 3 overall)

3. Indiana (No. 6 overall)

4. USC (No. 14 overall)

5. Michigan (No. 16 overall)

6. Penn State (No. 18 overall)

7. Washington (No. 19 overall)

8. Iowa (No. 23 overall)

9. Illinois (No. 28 overall)

10. Nebraska (No. 35 overall)

11. Minnesota (No. 40 overall)

12. Northwestern (No. 48 overall)

13. UCLA (No. 49 overall)

14. Maryland (No. 51 overall)

15. Wisconsin (No. 61 overall)

16. Rutgers (No. 64 overall)

17. Michigan State (No. 66 overall)

18. Purdue (No. 100 overall)

What are your thoughts on the rankings? Is Wisconsin too low? Just right? Let us know in the comments below.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos