Wisconsin football re-enters top 30 in USA TODAY’s 1-138 re-rank

The Wisconsin Badgers recently solidified their bowl eligibility following their 31-10 win over the now 2-7 Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

For head coach Luke Fickell, this is the former Cincinnati Bearcats head coach’s second bowl campaign with the Big Ten school, with games against Maryland, Purdue, and Minnesota remaining.

While the Badgers are basically out of conference title talk, there is still a strong chance they can put together the best record of Fickell’s time in charge.

Wisconsin back to being ranked as stellar school

Bucky Badger hypes up University of Wisconsin fans during Badger Bash North on Sept. 5, 2026, in Green Bay, Wis. Wisconsin football will play against the University of Notre Dame on Sept. 6 at Lambeau Field.

So far this season, the Badgers have yo-yoed themselves in and out of the AP Top 25 and other rankings, including Paul Myerberg’s weekly NCAA re-rank.

Following the Badgers’ bowl-clinching win, Fickell’s squad was catapulted up to 28th, an eight-spot jump from last week, leaving them one spot ahead of Louisville and one spot behind Missouri.

With the program being as it is, there is no guarantee the Badgers will win out; however, Myerberg ranks the Terrapins No. 103, Purdue No. 82, and Minnesota No. 34, so all things considered, the next three weeks will serve as a great launching pad for new quarterback Ryan Hopkins to lead the Badgers to their first nine-win season since 2021 under Paul Chryst.