Wisconsin enters the 2024 college football season riding a 22-year streak of bowl eligibility.
The Badgers last season missing a bowl game was their 5-7 2001 campaign under legendary head coach Barry Alvarez. The program has missed only two bowls (1995, 2001) since Alvarez’s breakout Rose Bowl season in 1993. Its current 22-year streak ranks third in college football behind only Oklahoma (25 years) and Georgia (27 years).
Related: Big Ten football 2024 Las Vegas win totals, picks: Record predictions for the entire 18-team conference
Things are in a state of flux entering the 2024 season, however. Wisconsin enters after a disappointing 7-6 2023 season in Luke Fickell’s first year as head coach. While the team will likely be much-improved, it’s set to face one of the sport’s toughest schedules with contests against Alabama, Oregon, Penn State, USC, Iowa and Nebraska. An old 10-2 or 9-3 Badger team may only go 7-5 in the new Big Ten landscape.
This is not to say Wisconsin’s two-decade-plus bowl streak is in jeopardy. But that streak gets objectively harder to maintain as the sport moves into a new era. Regardless, Wisconsin’s expectations entering the season still begin with bowl eligibility. It should remain the baseline for the program’s success.
As the 2024 college football season draws closer, here is our updated bowl projections for Wisconsin and the rest of the expanded Big Ten Conference:
Illinois Fighting Illini (projected 5-7 record)
Michigan State Spartans (projected 5-7)
Minnesota Golden Gophers (projected 4-8)
Northwestern Wildcats (projected 4-8)
UCLA Bruins (projected 4-8)
Purdue Boilermakers (projected 3-9)
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on during the Indiana football spring game at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Credit: Bobby Goddin/Herald-Times-USA TODAY NETWORK
Bowl Projection: Quick Lane Bowl vs. Ohio
Record Prediction: 6-6
New head coach Curt Cignetti faces a significant turnaround at Indiana. But a fantastic transfer portal cycle could help speed things up, especially given the caliber of Cignetti’s assistants.
Oct 28, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley (center) on the sidelines during the second half at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Projection: Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs. West Virginia
Record Prediction: 7-5
Maryland should benefit from the Big Ten’s elimination of divisions. But 2024 will be a transition year after longtime starting QB Taulia Tagovailoa finally ran out of eligibility. A bowl game is likely the ceiling for the Terrapins.
Sep 30, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule walks out of a huddle during their game against the Michigan Wolverines during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Projection: Alamo Bowl vs. Kansas State
Record Prediction: 7-5
A bowl game in year two would be a win for Matt Rhule as he builds his culture at Nebraska. Rhule has a history of breakout second seasons, but the new Big Ten landscape makes a double-digit win season a near impossibility for a building program.
This would be Nebraska’s first bowl game since 2016.
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Sep 3, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Projection: Pinstripe Bowl vs. North Carolina
Record Prediction: 7-5
A 7-5 season would be another win for a Rutgers program that is trending in the right direction under Greg Schiano. Its 2024 schedule is easy for Big Ten standards and should allow the program to reach 6+ wins with ease.
Get more (Rutgers) news, analysis and opinions on Rutgers Wire
Nov 11, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley signals to the offense during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Projection: Music City Bowl vs. Oklahoma
Record Prediction: 7-5
Growing pains should be expected for the Trojans as they enter the Big Ten, especially given their recent history on defense. 7-5 is the floor for a Lincoln Riley program. But the 2024 team is likely to be closer to 6-6 than it is to 10-2 and a 12-team playoff breakthrough.
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Projection: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Texas A&M
Record Prediction: 8-4
Big Ten expansion should move Iowa’s annual 10-win pace down to an 8-win mark. But the Hawkeyes enter 2024 with one of their oldest defenses in years and with an offense that can’t get any worse. 8-4 might be a low bar, even in a tough conference landscape.
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
Dec 1, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington Huskies mascot Harry the Husky and cheerleaders pose after the Pac-12 Championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Projection: Holiday Bowl vs. Louisville
Record Prediction: 8-4
Washington is sure to take a step back after an entire program overhaul after its national championship runner-up 2023 season. The program is in good hands with new head coach Jedd Fisch, but a repeat of 2023 is too much to ask for with an entirely new roster.
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Projection: Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. Miami
Record Prediction: 8-4
Wisconsin should be improved on both sides of the football after another offseason of roster turnover and overall preparation. A gauntlet schedule makes a 10-2 breakthrough a near impossibility. An 8-4 finish would be a clear step forward and a big win for the Luke Fickell era.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches a play during the second half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Credit: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK
Bowl Projection: Cheeze-It Citrus Bowl vs. LSU
Record Prediction: 9-3
Like Washington, Michigan will have a tough time replicating the 2023 season. The new-look Wolverines are also in good hands with new head coach Sherrone Moore, but the team returns little production and will take time to rebuild back into a national title contender.
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
Dec 30, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the sidelines against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Projection: College Football Playoff first round (No. 8 seed)
Record Prediction: 10-2
This is finally the year that Penn State breaks through and reaches the College Football Playoff. That isn’t because the team will be better, but instead because the field expanded to include where the Nittany Lions finish every season.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day walks off the field after losing 14-3 to Missouri Tigers in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Credit: Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
Bowl Projection: College Football Playoff first round (No. 5 seed)
Record Prediction: 11-2 (Big Ten title loss)
It will likely be Ohio State vs. Oregon for the Big Ten title in 2024. That means one team will get a first-round bye in the playoff, while the other will enter as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed and host a first-round game.
The Buckeyes are a legitimate national title contender, regardless of it they win the Big Ten or not.
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
Nov 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning (center) leads quarterback Bo Nix (10) and Ty Thompson (13) onto the field for the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Projection: College Football Playoff first-round bye (No. 2 overall seed)
Record Prediction: 12-1 (Big Ten title win)
Oregon has the team to contend in the Big Ten immediately upon entering. It was good enough in 2023, though lost two close games to a great Washington team. 2024 could be the year it all clicks with talented transfer Dillon Gabriel at quarterback and dynamic playmakers on both sides of the ball.
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
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Publish date : 2024-07-04 08:30:00
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