USA Today releases B1G poll. Slight improvement expected for Wisconsin

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MADISON – 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 13th have them pegged to finish slightly better than last season when they tied for 14th 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:

  1. Ohio State (11)
  2. Oregon (5)
  3. Indiana
  4. USC
  5. Michigan
  6. Penn State
  7. Washington
  8. Iowa
  9. Illinois
  10. Minnesota
  11. Nebraska
  12. UCLA
  13. Wisconsin
  14. Maryland
  15. Northwestern
  16. Rutgers
  17. Michigan State
  18. Purdue

The USA TODAY NETWORK wasn’t the only outlet that released a poll July 27. Cleveland.com predicts a 12th 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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