There is a lot of hype around the Wisconsin football program right now. Luke Fickell and his staff have brought in top-level talent and many are wondering how far the Badgers can go this year. One outlet thinks the Badgers could compete for it all. Wisconsin football is on the list for a team that could be playoff crasgers next season.
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Wisconsin Football: Playoff Crashers?
Only two first-year coaches have ever made the College Football Playoff. Lincoln Riley did it with Oklahoma in 2017 and Sonny Dykes did it this year with TCU. Otherwise, it is very rare. It makes sense. Usually, a first-year head coach needs a year or two to build up the program with his players. Wisconsin, however, has landed some huge recruits through the transfer portal on both sides of the ball. Pair that with Fickell’s coaching prowess and Phil Longo’s system and there is a lot of optimism that Wisconsin football could be playoff crashers.
Big Ten Will Be Tough
If the Badgers are going to make the College Football Playoff, it will be tough. Ohio State is a perennial contender and Wisconsin does have to play them this year (the good news is that it is in Madison). Purdue should be better this year with QB Hudson Card joining the team. Illinois looks to build on last year’s success and Minnesota is never a tough out. That is not to mention the Michigan Wolverines who return JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, and Donovan Edwards from last year’s College Football Playoff team. It will be a tough road but Wisconsin does have the talent to do it.
The Big Ten should be fun next year. Wisconsin being a real national threat puts another team in the conference that can make some noise. If Fickell is able to take this team to the playoff in his first year, that would be a huge win.
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