ESPN: Badgers have 3rd easiest schedule in Big Ten in 2026

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The Wisconsin Badgers had one of the most brutal schedules in the country last year, facing seven teams that were ranked at the time of their matchups: Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, and Illinois.

In addition to that, they faced an Iowa team that was also ranked at one point in the year, and a Minnesota team that finished 7-5. Quite the gauntlet overall.

This season, however, the schedule looks much different for the Badgers. Wisconsin faces four opponents ranked in the preseason Top 25: Notre Dame, Penn State, USC, and Iowa.

However, they don’t face Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, or Michigan. Instead, they get Penn State, Michigan State, UCLA, USC, Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, and Minnesota in the Big Ten.

Add that to non-conference games against Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan, and the Badgers have the third-easiest schedule in the Big Ten overall, according to ESPN’s FPI. Wisconsin’s strength of schedule is 40th in the country, lower than only Penn State (No. 62 strength of schedule) in the Big Ten.

Now, there are still some very difficult games, and Wisconsin faces both Penn State and Iowa on the road. But the path is there for them to exceed expectations and finally get back on track in 2026.

ESPN ranks the Badgers 43rd in FPI, which is good for 11th in the Big Ten, ahead of Northwestern, Maryland, Purdue, Minnesota, UCLA, Michigan State, and Rutgers. We’ll see whether they can live up to or exceed the expectations set for them in 2026.

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