Badger of Honor
Fansided

Wisconsin Football has new season goals after loss to Northwestern

By Tanner Nestle

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 13: Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers throws a pass during warmups prior to playing the Michigan Wolverines on October 13, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 13: Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers throws a pass during warmups prior to playing the Michigan Wolverines on October 13, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin Football
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 27: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after rushing for a 51 yard touchdown in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 27, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Split Penn State and Purdue

These are the two toughest games left on the schedule. You’d clearly like to win both but taking two wins on the road against two of the most dynamic offenses in the conference isn’t something any team can count on, let alone one struggling as mightily as the Badgers.

To make things simple in the Big Ten West, the Badgers need to win out to make it to Indianapolis. If that’s a realistic goal in your eyes, then ignore this. The fact of the matter is Wisconsin is too much of an up-and-down team to count on taking both of these road games.

Of course, they can absolutely win them. Any given Saturday, right?  The odds just aren’t in Bucky’s favor.

Finishing the regular season with wins against Rutgers, Minnesota, and one of these two teams would give Wisconsin an 8-4 record with a chance to earn a quality win in a bowl game. Dropping both leaves the Badgers at 7-5, a much uglier record, and a much lower quality bowl.

The difference between 9-4 and potentially 7-6 is huge, even though it’s only two games difference. There are teams that spend years trying to break through the threshold of 8 or 9 wins. If Wisconsin is able to manage a 9-win season with everything that has gone wrong this year, I’ll consider it a win.