Full USCHO.com Preseason Poll

MADISON, Wis. – To kick off the 2025-26 season, the Wisconsin men's hockey team finds itself ranked at No. 20 in the Preseason USCHO.com Division I Men's Ice Hockey Poll. The team received 78 votes.

This marks the second consecutive season the Badgers have been in the preseason polls after they started the 2024-25 season at No. 10.

Wisconsin's last appearance in the USCHO poll was in January 2025, earning the No. 17 ranking with 118 votes. 

Defending NCAA champion Western Michigan received 29 first-place votes to rank No. 1, while Boston University and Michigan State rank second and third, respectively. No. 4 Denver and No. 5 Penn State round out the top five.

UW will face at least seven teams ranked in the poll this season, including No. 3 Michigan State, No. 5 Penn State, No. 8 Minnesota, No. 12 Michigan, No. 16 Ohio State and No. 18 Minnesota State. Wisconsin will also face either No. 1 Western Michigan or No. 6 Boston College at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off in Milwaukee in December, depending on semifinal results. 

All seven Big Ten teams were either ranked in the top 20 or received votes.

Wisconsin opens the 2025-26 season on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3-4, when it pays the Lindenwood Lions a visit in Maryland Heights, Missouri.