MADISON – The pollsters have spoken and when it comes to the Wisconsin football team, the vote is split.

The Badgers, who defeated then-No. 15 USC, 24-7, Oct. 24 at Camp Randall Stadium, made the top 25 of the Associated Press poll. The voters for the USA Today US LBM coaches poll, however, left the team on the cusp of the top 25.

Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) holds the No. 25 spot in the AP rankings, giving the program its first spot in a top 25 since the second week of the 2023 season when the No. 19 Badgers lost to Washington State at home.

UW missed the coaches poll by two spots. They’re No. 27 with 114 points, 18 from tying USC for No. 25.

The top 25 ranking comes just in time for the Badgers to face Iowa on Oct. 31 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City (11 a.m. kickoff). The Hawkeyes (5-2, 3-2) are ranked No. 24 in the coaches poll but are outside the top 25 in the AP ranking following a 13-10 loss at Minnesota Oct. 24.

This will be the first meeting when both rivals are ranked since 2020 when the 25 th -ranked Badgers lost to No. 19 Iowa, 28-7, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.

Wisconsin's win over USC coupled with a 24-20 victory at Penn State when the Nittany Lions were ranked No. 14 in the coaches poll, makes the Badgers one of seven teams this season who have more than one ranked win.

To get into the top 25 UW made a major climb. Last week the team didn’t get one vote in the ranking following a 17-7 loss at UCLA.

In the coaches poll, the Badgers sit at No. 27 with 114 points. Last week they were tied for 37 th with seven points.