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National analysts are waking up to Wisconsin football as a potential CFP sleeper

The narrative has certainly changed...
ByMark Knight
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Oct 24, 2026; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell runs onto the field with his team for warmups before the game against the USC Trojans at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Wahl-Imagn Images
Oct 24, 2026; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell runs onto the field with his team for warmups before the game against the USC Trojans at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Wahl-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Wisconsin woke up a lot of people to what is happening in Madison. Luke Fickell and the Badgers are on a much different path this season than they have been in his entire tenure at Wisconsin. And now the narrative has changed from "Is Luke Fickell on the hot seat?" to "Could the Badgers be a sleeper for the College Football Playoff?" This may feel like whiplash to a lot of Badger fans, but it's happening; the view of Wisconsin football is changing and changing fast.

The most recent conversation was with David Pollack and Takeo Spikes: "Physically stuffed USC in a locker," Pollack said. "Look at the line of scrimmage getting owned by Wisconsin...Wisconsin is in the mix."

You can watch the clip below:

This narrative is pretty fresh; after beating USC, it seems as if people are now starting to go, "Wait, this Wisconsin team may be good." It also helps that the Badgers' defense really turned some heads. The USC offense was getting credit for being the best in the Big Ten up until the Wisconsin game, and then the Badgers absolutely crushed them.

The pundits are more excited about Wisconsin than they've been in years and that's a good thing

Related: Wisconsin football pulled off an impressive TV feat despite the World Series

Most of their yards came in garbage time and one singular touchdown drive that was helped out by a controversial sideline interference call. However, those two national analysts are the only ones talking about Wisconsin.

Jake Butt, a former Michigan Wolverine, is very high on Wisconsin now, too, and what gets him thinking Wisconsin could make the College Football Playoff is the rest of the schedule: "They will be in every game because of this defense," Butt said. "All you can ask for is a chance late in the game to win a game."

The discourse on Big Ten Today was about how Wisconsin could make the College Football Playoff. See the clip below:

The rest of the schedule is very favorable after Iowa, and it's hard not to lick your lips and get eager to see Wisconsin finish the season with something crazy like nine or ten wins. Wisconsin sees Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, and Minnesota after Iowa. That's a very manageable Big Ten slate, and there is real momentum around it.

Most people will remind Wisconsin football not to get ahead of themselves, to take it one game at a time; Iowa is all they should worry about. That's exactly right, but fans are allowed to get ahead of themselves; in fact, that's the nature of being a fan. So, we can dream, get excited about the changing narrative, but recognize there is still a ton of work for the Badgers to do.

Right now, they aren't even bowl-eligible, so before we really run to 10 wins, let's beat Iowa on Saturday, get back the Heartland Trophy, and then find a way to win the rest. It's crazy to think about, but the road is in front of them; go and get it.

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