CBS Sports just dropped their latest top-138 rankings as the spring camps have ended for college football. The Badgers are still nowhere near a respectable ranking. The Badgers land at No. 61 on the list, and while it could be worse, it is nowhere near where the team should be or even could be. This is head coach Luke Fickell's chance to prove everyone wrong, or he will be forced to move along.
At No. 61, it's not a surprise and probably where most Wisconsin Badger fans would place them right now anyway. The Badgers only won four games last year. It's not like there is any "deserving" of more. In fact, maybe Wisconsin should be ranked lower. Yet, there is some momentum going as Fickell brought in a ton of transfers, new coaches, and has some energy and excitement coming out of spring. Even to the tune of a top-15 recruiting class.
Wisconsin is ranked No. 61 going into 2026 by CBS Sports
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Wisconsin isn't the lowest Big Ten team either in the rankings. If you scour the list, you will find Rutgers and Michigan State a few spots behind the Badgers. Scroll for a little bit, and you'll find Purdue at No. 99. The teams that are surprisingly ahead of Wisconsin in the rankings are UCLA and Maryland.
You could make an argument that Maryland beat Wisconsin, so that's why, but the Terrapins lost every game after. 8 straight losses to end the season. That's rough, and UCLA only won three games and fired its coach. However, maybe it's better to be a little lower and really do the "prove them wrong" strategy. "Chip on the shoulder and whatnot"
The other notable part of this ranking is seeing Notre Dame at No. 4. That's Wisconsin's very first opponent at Lambeau Field. The Badgers have both an immediate opportunity or a ready excuse to use on that game. If Fickell and company can pull off the upset, there's no more sneaking up on anyone. If they don't, that No. 61 ranking will remain.
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