Here’s a telling detail that helps explain why Wisconsin is consistently viewed as an elite program in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Over the last 10 years, UW has navigated three abrupt coaching changes. Bret Bielema left after seven seasons to take the reins at Arkansas in 2012. His replacement, Gary Andersen, bolted after just two seasons in Madison for Oregon State in 2014. Then Paul Chryst, who followed Andersen, was fired five games into his eighth season in 2022.
Yet Wisconsin has crafted such an enduring reputation that, despite the volatility that comes with most regime changes, it was ranked in the Associated Press’ top 25 preseason poll after all three episodes.
UW checked in at No. 23 when Andersen debuted in 2013 and was 20th in 2015 when Chryst took over. The streak will continue into the Luke Fickel Era in 2023. The latest AP preseason ranking, released earlier this month, has the Badgers at No. 19.
No other UW coach made his debut with a team situated in the AP preseason poll, which was introduced in 1950. A curious omission came in 2006 when Bielema took the reins from Hall of Famer Barry Alvarez. Even though the Badgers went 10-3, toppled seventh-rated Auburn in the Capital One Bowl and finished the ’05 season ranked No. 15, they weren’t included in the AP preseason poll to open the ’06 season.
UW proceeded to go 12-1 overall, finish tied for second in the Big Ten Conference and outlast No. 15 Arkansas in the Florida Citrus Bowl. Bielema was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year.
All told, Wisconsin has appeared in the AP preseason ranking 32 times – the sixth-most among current Big Ten members – heading into its season-opener vs. Buffalo at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday. Ohio State has 70, Michigan 52, Penn State 49, Nebraska 46 and Michigan State 33.
Here are five more things to know: