MADISON, Wis. – Thanks to a 9-1-0 start to the season, including four consecutive victories over top-five teams for the first time since the rankings began in 1997, the Wisconsin men's hockey team is ranked No. 1 in both the USCHO.com Poll and the USA Hockey/The Rink Live Poll.

The Badgers, who had this past weekend off from action, garnered 32 of 50 first-place votes and 969 points to check in at No. 1 in the USCHO.com Poll this week, moving up two spots from last week's No. 3 ranking. UW earned 28 of 34 first-place votes and 664 points in the USA Hockey/The Rink Live Poll for No. 1. 

The door opened over the weekend when then-No. 1 Boston College lost and tied at Maine over the weekend, and No. 2 Denver skated to an overtime loss at Arizona State, before earning a split.

The Badgers visit No. 11 Michigan State this weekend to play their eighth and ninth consecutive games against ranked opponents. UW is 6-1-0 during the current stretch against ranked foes, with five of those coming on the road.

UW boasts wins in its last six consecutive games, a first against ranked opponents since the USCHO.com Poll began.

The rise to No. 1 has been swift for UW. The Badgers were receiving votes in the USCHO.com Poll on Oct. 16, before climbing to No. 14 on Oct. 23, No. 5 on Oct. 30 and No. 3 last week (Nov. 6), before earning the top spot this week. UW's climb in the USA Hockey/The Rink Live Poll went similarly, but began at No. 18 on Oct. 23. 

Wisconsin last ranked No. 1 in the 2006-07 USCHO.com Preseason Poll, sharing the top spot with Boston College. UW's last No. 1 ranking in the USA Hockey/The Rink Live Poll came in the final poll of the 2005-06 season after the Badgers won the NCAA championship. 

The Badgers now boats the No. 1 team in both the men's and women's ice hockey rankings.