Why the AP Poll's continued exclusion of Wisconsin is great for the Badgers vs UCLA

Wicsonsin finds itself on the outside looking in again. The AP Top 25 Poll came out today, and Wisconsin is receiving 92 votes but is not inside the top 25. While the Badgers are the top vote-getter outside of the top 25, Luke Fickell's squad is still not cracking the list. They haven't been in the top 25 since 2023, and will need to wait at least another week to see the word "Wisconsin" in the rankings.

However, I want to posit that it's actually a really good thing for Wisconsin ahead of the UCLA Bruins matchup in Pasadena. Let's look at 3 reasons the Badgers being No. 26 is actually good for Wisconsin.

1. Wisconsin hasn't earned it (totally) yet.

The Badgers have yet to earn the respect that many fans think they may deserve after a 4-1 start. However, they've yet to beat anyone that turns heads. At the time, the Penn State win looked huge and like a program-turning moment, but then we found out that Penn State stinks. The Nittany Lions lost to Northwestern the next week and USC the following week.

Wisconsin also beat Michigan State, a team that is now on a four-game losing streak. If Wisconsin wants to be ranked, they gotta take down a team that gives them the respect they want. No fake respect, only earned respect. Beat UCLA on Saturday, and that's worth something. The Bruins look like a legit team.

2. Wisconsin needs a chip on their shoulder.

Related: Wisconsin vs. UCLA opening odds reveal a surprisingly tough call for Vegas

It never hurts to feel disrespected in the game of football. It's nice to have players believing they have more to prove, more work to be done, and to fly around taking down the giants. This team is built to be a "chip on the shoulder" team. It's been in the water since the start of the season. "Prove the doubters wrong." Even the "burn the boats" mantra is a chip on the shoulder.

If getting to 4-1 is partly due to a chip. Let's give them another one, make them feel disrespected, and have to prove why they deserve it against UCLA. Go prove the doubters wrong, burn the boats, whatever chip you need, take it/own it, and shove it down the Bruins throats.

3. UCLA believing their own hype may be a good thing.

UCLA is a bit of an enigma. A first-year coach came in and took over a bad football team, and he's already turned the corner with an undefeated season. Wisconsin can play the spoiler for a team that's starting to believe its own hype. They have a pretty easy schedule in front of them, and hopefully they are taking their foot off the gas.

Wisconsin not being ranked isn't a bad thing. In fact, the argument is that, ahead of playing No. 12 UCLA, it's a good thing. Now, Wisconsin can go earn a ranking on Saturday with a huge win in Pasadena, California.

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