The Wisconsin football season is just around the corner. Recently, the Big Ten announced the league would be playing conference only schedules. As a result, Wisconsin lost non-conference games against Appalachian State, Southern, Illinois, and the showdown at Lambeau Field against Notre Dame. In one my first articles, I looked at three intriguing games on the schedule this year. In this article, we’ll look at my three toughest road games for the Badgers this year.
3. Northwestern (Ryan Field)
Northwestern won’t have the greatest roster to compete in the Big Ten this year. However, road games in Evanston have not treated the Badgers well as of late. Since 2000, the Badgers have won on the road at Ryan Field one time, a 21-17 win in 2016. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald always has his players ready for games against Wisconsin at home and on the road. In their most recent road game at Northwestern, Northwestern defeated Wisconsin 31-17. Wisconisn has the better roster on paper and on the field. However, I expect another game dominated by defense and a low-scoring game.
2. Iowa (Kinnick Stadium)
Iowa is road game I dread every other year when the schedule comes out. Just like Northwestern, games at Kinnick Stadium are dominated by defense and always seem to come down to the last few possessions. Unlike Ryan Field, Wisconsin has enjoyed some recent success at Iowa. Wisconsin has won their last five games at Kinnick Stadium and seven of their last ten since 2000. Iowa has one of the best environments in college football, making it difficult for road teams to come out with a win. Recently, Iowa has won home games against top ranked teams such as Minnesota in 2019 and Ohio State in 2017.
Because this is the last game on the schedule, This game makes me nervous. Wisconsin could potentially have to win at Kinnick Stadium to clinch the Big Ten West and potential College Football Playoff aspirations. I’m hoping Wisconsin has the West clinched by then, but expect a game dominated by defense and coming down to the last few possessions.
1. Michigan (Michigan Stadium)
I went back and forth with Iowa and Michigan. You can make a case for Iowa being the toughest road game followed by Michigan and vice versa. Michigan Stadium seats over 107,000 and has seated as many as 115,000. Besides Ohio, State, it might be the toughest venue in the Big Ten and the country to get a road win. Since 2000, Wisconsin has lost six of their last seven games in Ann Arbor. This includes a 38-13 beat down in 2018. If the schedule doesn’t change between now and the forst game, Michigan will be Wisconsin’s first road game of the season.
Wisconsin will have a great opportunity to go into one of the most hostile crowds in the country and steal a game that will look great on their College Football Playoff resume. Expect this game to be on national TV and potentially the game of week in College Football. Because of the attention Michigan receives on the national stage, I give Michigan the edge over Iowa for the toughest road game in 2020.
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