Madison, Wis. — The Wisconsin Badgers football program is known for stability; however, in 2022, almost nothing went according to plan.
After beginning the year with aspirations of reclaiming the Big Ten West, Wisconsin stumbled out the gate and never really found its stride. The only thing consistent about this team was its inconsistencies.
Long-time head coach Paul Chryst got canned after a 2-3 start, and defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard took over in the interim, leading UW to a 4-3 record over the final seven games to maintain bowl eligibility for the 21st straight season.
The Badgers offense, led by first-year OC Bobby Engram, finished No. 7 in the Big Ten in scoring (26.5 PPG) and No. 8 in total offense (362.8 YPG). UW’s defense, which played its best ball at the end of the season, was also middle of the pack in the Big Ten — finishing No. 6 in total defense (305.3 YPG) and No. 7 in scoring defense (20.5).
Ultimately, Wisconsin football finished the regular season with a 6-6 record — earning an appearance in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, where they’ll match up with Oklahoma State.
But, without further ado, these are the regular season award winners for your 2022 Wisconsin Badgers.
MVP: Braelon Allen
Although Braelon Allen didn’t have the All-American type of season some were expecting, he put together a rock-solid sophomore season and was one of very few bright spots on the Badgers’ offense.
He finished the season with 1,126 yards rushing (5.4 YPC), 610 of which came after contact, and 10 touchdowns. He also chipped in a career-best 11 catches for 104 yards receiving en route to second-team All-Big Ten honors.
The Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin native, also finished with the highest PFF grade among Badgers offensive players (79.4) — earning him the MVP.