Wisconsin was dealt a reality check on Saturday as the No. 4-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide visited town and rolled to a 42-10 victory.
Camp Randall Stadium had emptied out when the game clock hit 0:00. As has been the case far too often over the last three years, the opposing team appeared to enjoy ‘Jump Around’ more than anybody else in attendance — definitely more than the home team.
Related: Badgers fans, former players question program’s direction after blowout loss to No. 4 Alabama
The loss dealt a sobering blow to any momentum the Badgers built in the first two weeks. In reality, the performance just continued Wisconsin’s string of sub-par play that dates back to Luke Fickell’s first game in 2023.
A loss to Alabama was the most likely outcome. But fans and several former players expected the team to be further along than it currently is. There is an overwhelming thought that even in the loss, the Badgers lack a clear go-to identity.
Wisconsin is on a bye this week before traveling to No. 11 USC to begin conference play. Big strides must be made on both sides of the football or else Saturday’s final result will be repeated.
ESPN FPI agrees with that sentiment. Its long-term view of the Badgers has dropped significantly over the last few weeks, even in the team’s indecisive two-touchdown victories against lesser competition. Here is where the metric now ranks the Badgers compared to the rest of the Big Ten, with an emphasis on each team’s current trend line:
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 3 overall (26.2)
Record: 2-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: BYE
Trend: Rising (Up 1 spot)
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 9 (17.7)
Record: 2-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: BYE
Trend: Falling (Down 2)
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 11 (17.1)
Record: 3-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 49-14 win over Oregon State
Trend: Rising (Up 2)
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 12 (16.8)
Record: 2-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: BYE
Trend: Falling (Down 4)*
*Note: Some idle teams fell in FPI due to other teams rising significantly. Their individual ratings were largely unchanged during the idle week
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 19 (12.1)
Record: 3-0 (1-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 42-13 win over UCLA
Trend: Rising (Up 7)
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 21 (10.7)
Record: 2-1 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 28-18 win over Arkansas State
Trend: Falling (Down 4)
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 25 (9.1)
Record: 3-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 34-3 win over Northern Iowa
Trend: Rising (Up 3)
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 28 (8.5)
Record: 2-1 (0-1 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 27-13 win over Virginia
Trend: Rising (Up 6)
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 30 (7.7)
Record: 2-1 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 24-19 loss to Washington State
Trend: Falling (Down 8)
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 32 (6.4)
Record: 2-1 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 38-21 win over Troy
Trend: Rising (Up 5)
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 43 (4.3)
Record: 2-1 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 27-0 win over Nevada
Trend: Rising (Up 13)
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 46 (3.8)
Record: 3-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 30-9 win over Central Michigan
Trend: Rising (Up 6)
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 47 (3.7)
Record: 2-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: BYE
Trend: Rising (Up 4)
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 62 (1.0)
Record: 3-0 (1-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 40-0 win over Prairie View A&M
Trend: Rising (Up 4)
Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 65 (0.3)
Record: 2-1 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 42-10 loss to No. 4 Alabama
Trend: Falling (Down 2)*
*Note: Wisconsin entered the season ranked No. 39 in FPI. It dropped significantly after less-than-convincing wins in Week 1 and Week 2. The Alabama result only continued that trend.
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 80 (-2.7)
Record: 1-1 (0-1 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 42-13 loss to Indiana
Trend: Falling (Down 20)
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 83 (-3.4)
Record: 2-1 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 31-7 win over Eastern Illinois
Trend: Falling (Down 13)
ESPN FPI Rating: No. 89 (-5.6)
Record: 1-1 (0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 66-7 loss to No. 18 Notre Dame
Trend: Falling (Down 41)
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Publish date : 2024-09-15 00:30:00
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