Wisconsin improved to 2-0 on the young season with a 27-13 win over South Dakota on Saturday afternoon.
The performance saw some steps forward after the team’s pedestrian Week 1 performance. Those steps include explosive plays from Phil Longo’s offense, zero offensive turnovers and strong defensive stops in the red zone. But while there were steps forward, the Badgers still have outstanding questions entering a big-time Week 3 matchup with No. 4 Alabama.
Related: Takeaways from Wisconsin’s uninspiring Week 2 win over South Dakota
Badgers fans were, in a word, not confident after the Week 2 win. While Wisconsin is 2-0 for the first time since 2020, the wins have come in less-than-convincing fashion.
That lack of on-field dominance is seen in ESPN FPI’s latest update. Wisconsin dropped 16 spots down to No. 63 in the nation. FPI now ranks the Badgers in the vicinity of the Big Ten’s bottom tier of UCLA, Michigan State and Northwestern.
But how much has the team’s performance specifically affected its rest-of-season outlook? Here are ESPN FPI’s latest game-by-game predictions for the rest of the Badgers schedule:
Aug. 31, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer leads his players onto the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium for his first game as head coach. The Crimson Tide played Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Sept. 14
Matchup Predictor: 7.8% Wisconsin wins (down from 9.4%)
Alabama FPI Rank: No. 3 (26.2)
Alabama 2024 Record: 2-0
Get more (Alabama) news, analysis and opinions on Roll Tide Wire
Sept. 10, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers logo on a flag prior to the game against the Washington State Cougars at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Wisconsin’s first bye week arrives early, but before a critical Week 5 trip to USC. This will be an interesting time to reevaluate where the team stands after the Alabama game.
Oct. 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Arizona Wildcats during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Sept. 28
Matchup Predictor: 12.4% Wisconsin wins (down from 21.3%)
USC FPI Rank: No. 8 (16.5)
USC 2024 Record: 2-0
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
Purdue Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters leads Purdue onto the field Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, ahead of the NCAA football game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue won 49-0. Alex Martin/Journal and Courier-USA TODAY NETWORK
Date: Oct. 5
Matchup Predictor: 51.8% Wisconsin wins (down from 55.5%)
Purdue FPI Rank: No. 48 (3.8)
Purdue 2024 Record: 1-0
Aug. 29, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano looks on during the second half against the Howard Bison at SHI Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Oct. 12
Matchup Predictor: 36.9% Wisconsin wins (down from 49.6%)
Rutgers FPI Rank: No. 51 (3.6)
Rutgers 2024 Record: 2-0
Aug. 31, 2024; Evanston, Illinois; Northwestern Wildcats head coach David Braun takes the field with his team against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Oct. 19
Matchup Predictor: 52.1% Wisconsin wins (down from 56.1%)
Northwestern FPI Rank: No. 70 (-1.1)
Northwestern 2024 Record: 1-1
Penn State head coach James Franklin walks the sideline in the first half of an NCAA football game against West Virginia, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Dan Rainville-USA TODAY NETWORK
Date: Oct. 26
Matchup Predictor: 15.4% Wisconsin wins (up from 13.4%)
Penn State FPI Rank: No. 7 (17.8)
Penn State 2024 Record: 2-0
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
Oct. 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Nov. 2
Matchup Predictor: 32.7% Wisconsin wins (down from 33.4%)
Iowa FPI Rank: No. 37 (5.8)
Iowa 2024 Record: 1-1
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
Dec. 30, 2011; Los Angeles, California; General view of the Wisconsin Badgers helmet for the 2012 Rose Bowl at media day at the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown. Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Wisconsin’s second bye week leads into the most important part of the schedule. It is right before the Badgers host top-ranked Oregon and finish with critical games against rivals Nebraska and Minnesota.
For the sake of the team competing late in the year, this is a well-timed bye week.
Jan. 1, 2024; Glendale, Arizona; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning speaks with the official on the sideline during the second quarter against the Liberty Flames in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Nov. 16
Matchup Predictor: 31.0% Wisconsin wins (down from 31.9%)
Oregon FPI Rank: No. 13 (13.5)
Oregon 2024 Record: 2-0
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
Aug. 31, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule reacts during the second quarter against the UTEP Miners at Memorial Stadium. Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Nov. 23
Matchup Predictor: 27.4% Wisconsin wins (down from 34.9%)
Nebraska FPI Rank: No. 28 (8.3)
Nebraska 2024 Record: 2-0
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
Aug. 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck looks on during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Huntington Bank Stadium. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Nov. 29 (Friday)
Matchup Predictor: 51.5% Wisconsin wins (down from 62.8%)
Minnesota FPI Rank: No. 56 (2.8)
Minnesota 2024 Record: 1-1
Oct. 28, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Projected W-L: 5.2 — 6.8
Percentage chance Wisconsin …
Wins six or more games: 40.8
Wins Big Ten: 0.1
Makes College Football Playoff: 0.9
Wins National Title: 0.0
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Publish date : 2024-09-08 03:00:00
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