It’s easy to forget Wisconsin won 10 games in Paul Chryst’s first season or that over the past decade, the Badgers have the second-best record in the Big Ten behind Ohio State.
Yet the Badgers are unranked to start the season for the first time since 2009 heading into a season opener against No. 5 LSU and Heisman Trophy contender Leonard Fournette.
How does Wisconsin feel about that?
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“Everyone is excited about opening the season and to be able to do it against an opponent like LSU, “ Chryst said on the Big Ten teleconference Tuesday. “On top of that to be able to do it at Lambeau Field? It’s a big deal.”
The lack of buzz around the Badgers, however, is easy to see. Look at the schedule. It’s ridiculous. Among the finer points:
—Wisconsin’s first nine opponents — and 10 overall — played in a bowl game in 2015.
—Their opponents had a record of 98-57 last season, a winning percentage of .632.
—The Badgers have three crossover games the top three teams in the Big Ten East. That’s road games at Michigan and Michigan State before a bye week and home matchup with Ohio State from Sept. 24-Oct. 15. They had a combined record of 34-5 last season.
—When they’re done with that, they have a road game at Iowa before games against Nebraska and Northwestern. That all happens through the first week of November.
“It’s a heck of a schedule,” Chryst said. “We’ve been talking about – that’s why this group of players chose Wisconsin — to play in big games. That’s a credit to the players and coaches and teams before. I don’t think you’re in this game this week if it wasn’t two good programs.”
Chryst also pointed out the Badgers played in big games on neutral sites the last two seasons — a 35-17 loss to Alabama at AT&T Stadium last season and a 28-24 loss to LSU at NRG Stadium in 2014. Chryst said he hasn’t sensed a revenge factor from the players when it comes to the rematch with the Tigers.
“There aren’t many guys that even played in that game a few years ago,” Chryst said. “Certainly the ones that have will draw from it and yet I think that’s the beauty of each season.”
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Chryst certainly has a rosy outlook for that schedule considering that defending Big Ten West champion Iowa has a softer crossover slate against Michigan, Penn State and Rutgers.
Wisconsin might have one of the roughest schedules in the country, but they won 10 games last season. They won 10 games the last time they were unranked to start the season, too.
At the very least, they aren’t backing down from it.
“Our kids are excited about the schedule,” Chryst said. “Absolutely it’s a challenging schedule, but it also can be great opportunities.”
