Wisconsin might not be anything close to a College Football Playoff team these days, but the Selection Committee did not do them any justice. The Badgers enter their first game off their second bye with a 2-6 overall record and an 0-5 mark in Big Ten play. They will be going up against a high-quality opponent in the 6-2 Washington Huskies, a team the Selection Committee thinks highly of.
Yes, Washington is now a ranked team in both the AP Top 25 and the College Football Playoff rankings. The Huskies come in at No. 23 in the playoff rankings, No. 24 in the AP Poll, and are the first team receiving votes in the Coaches Poll. While Washington has not beaten a ranked opponent yet, it clobbered a near-enough one in Illinois. Its two losses are against Ohio State and Michigan this year.
Here is what the College Football Playoff Selection Committee has tabbed as its top 25 teams today.
- Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0)
- Indiana Hoosiers (9-0)
- Texas A&M Aggies (8-0)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1)
- Georgia Bulldogs (7-1)
- Ole Miss Rebels (8-1)
- BYU Cougars (8-0)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-1)
- Oregon Ducks (7-1)
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-2)
- Texas Longhorns (7-2)
- Oklahoma Sooners (7-2)
- Utah Utes (7-2)
- Virginia Cavaliers (8-1)
- Louisville Cardinals (7-1)
- Vanderbilt Commodores (7-2)
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-1)
- Miami Hurricanes (6-2)
- USC Trojans (6-2)
- Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2)
- Michigan Wolverines (6-2)
- Missouri Tigers (6-2)
- Washington Huskies (6-2)
- Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2)
- Tennessee Volunteers (6-3)
As you can see, Wisconsin has played five ranked teams already in Alabama, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State and Oregon, with the latter four all in a row. The only unranked team Wisconsin has lost to was a brutally bad one at home to Maryland, so at least they have that. Furthermore, Washington is ranked No. 23, Indiana is ranked No. 2, and Illinois stands a decent chance at finishing the season at 9-3...
So there is a very strong possibility that Wisconsin loses to eight ranked teams to finish around 2-10.
Wisconsin's schedule stacks up with some of the toughest in the nation
Because the Washington game comes after the first playoff rankings, Wisconsin is guaranteed to face two more ranked teams this season. Washington comes in at No. 23 and Indiana at No. 2. If Washington beats Wisconsin on the road, which it probably will, the Huskies stand a great chance at being 9-2 heading into a big rivalry game at home vs. No. 9 Oregon, who has a Washington problem.
So Washington looks like a team that should have serious staying power inside the top 25 all season long. They are not losing to Wisconsin, nor are they losing at home to Purdue next week. At UCLA could throw a wrench in everything, but Washington is likely going to finish the regular season ranked at either 9-3, or potentially 10-2 if they beat the Ducks to possibly steal their playoff bid from them.
Indiana being ranked No. 2 is justifiable, but probably wrong. The Hoosiers should be the No. 1 team in the country. They have not lost yet and should cakewalk to Indianapolis at 12-0. They have Penn State, Wisconsin and Purdue remaining. With Wisconsin being the Hoosiers' last home game of the season, they are doing to beat the Badgers senseless to prove that they should be ranked No. 1.
For now, let's take a look at Wisconsin's two other remaining opponents in Illinois and Minnesota. The Illini have a home date vs. Maryland before playing Wisconsin in Madison and then hosting arch rival Northwestern. Maryland and Northwestern are fighting for bowl eligibility. Illinois is the better team. They do have a ranked win over USC, but three ranked losses to Indiana, Ohio State and Washington.
And as far as Minnesota is concerned, the Golden Gophers are on a bye this week before playing Oregon in Eugene. They are not expected to win at Autzen, but if they do, they will be ranked at 7-3. If they get a road win over Northwestern, they will be 8-3 coming into their huge rivalry game vs. Wisconsin. Saying Minnesota will be ranked is a big if, but if they are, they could be a bigger problem.
Of course, Oregon has the potential to hit the skids here in a bit with its brutal end to the season...