Badgers Rank in Top-25 for New EA Sports Game

As EA continues with their 'Rankings Week,' the latest unveil is the overall power rankings. Previously, Camp Randall was ranked as the seventh toughest place to play by the game-makers. The Badger offense, however, did not make the cut of the top-25 of the nation's best. And finally, the gritty Badger defense was ranked 15th overall in the Thursday ranking release.

At an 87 overall, the Wisconsin Badgers rank 18th overall in the new game, tied with nine other schools including Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffs and Big Ten newcomer USC.

Seeing the Badgers at number 18 and an 87 overall is somewhat curious. Their offense was unrated and therefore at most is an 82 overall. The defense was rated an 86, also less than their overall rating here. Maybe the Badgers special teams is carrying the team here but more than likely the Badgers' offense and defense as a whole combine into a sum greater than the parts.

Considering that the 9-25 rated schools are all within one overall point of each other, it's clear to see that EA thinks there's a lot of talented programs all bunched together after the initial top eight. In all, seven of the top 25 are made up of Big Ten Programs. It seems like EA may favor the Badgers a little more than the national media.

We're less than two weeks away from the game's release and these rankings just give more fuel to be excited about. After nearly a decade, the virtual Badgers will arrive to help us to fill our football fix until August.