A twist of fate awaited the Wisconsin Badgers on the gridiron last week as they grappled with an unexpected 31-22 defeat against unranked Washington State. They entered the game as the 19th-ranked team in the US LBM Coaches Poll, and the loss pushed Wisconsin off the Top 25 board.
ICYMI | US LBM Coaches Poll Week 2⃣ pic.twitter.com/ikx7xQthp3
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An Unexpected Loss for the Wisconsin Badgers
The anticipation was high as the Badgers prepared to lock horns with an unranked opponent. The clash in Pullman, Washington, marked the first defeat under the guidance of their new head coach, Luke Fickell. Statistically, Wisconsin had an edge, posting a commendable 368 yards compared to the Cougars’ 332. However, the game isn’t solely decided by numbers, and the score dictated a loss for the Wisconsin Badgers. Critical turnovers spelled doom for the Badgers’ pursuit of holding a 2-0 record to open the season.
Sunday morning’s release of the US LBM Coaches Poll solidified Wisconsin’s exit from the rankings, going from 19th to outside the top 25.
The Rest of the Big Ten
The broader Big Ten narrative remained rather uneventful. Michigan, sans Coach Jim Harbaugh for the second consecutive week, displayed their dominance by trouncing UNLV with a 35-7 win, thanks largely to running back Blake Corum’s trio of touchdowns. Their consistent performance cemented them as the No. 2 team. Meanwhile, Ohio State mirrored Michigan’s result, beating Youngstown State with an identical score, keeping their No. 4 ranking intact. Penn State, ranked seventh, showcased their might with a staggering 63-7 victory over Delaware.
Iowa, after triumphing over their rival, Iowa State, debuted in this season’s poll at a respectable No. 24. As we glance further, the poll showed impressive rankings for soon-to-be Big Ten members: No. 5 USC, No. 8 Washington, No. 13 Oregon, and No. 25 UCLA. Lastly, Notre Dame maintained its No. 11 position after a 45-24 victory against N.C. State despite the rain.
As Wisconsin gears up to host Georgia Southern, they’ll aim to regroup before their conference slate opens up.
