It is Wisconsin Badger game week and, as we’ll do throughout the season, we are here on Monday to preview Friday’s upcoming contest against the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Up first: the series history between the two schools.
Related: Comments to note from Joe Rudolph and Jim Leonhard’s press conference
The Badgers and fighting Illini first faced off back in 1899 when the Badgers won 23-0. Since then there have been a total of 87 contests between the two schools with the all-time record standing at 42-38-7 in favor of Wisconsin.
Obviously, and this fact won’t be dwelled on, Illinois has a 1-game win streak dating back to last season.
Going through the series here are some numbers to note:
- The Badgers had a 9-game win streak from 2008-2018 that was snapped last year
- Illinois’ longest win streak against the Badgers is 6 games from 1987-1992
- The Badgers’ largest margin of victory in the series is 55-7, Illinois’ is 51-0 and they happened just four years apart in the 1960s
- Wisconsin boasts more all-time wins, bowl games, bowl record, Heismans, All-Americans, weeks at AP No. 1, first-round draft picks and much more
- Illinois, though, has more 5 National Championships to the Badgers’ 0 and 15 conference championships to the Badgers’ 14
Stay tuned in to BadgersWire throughout the week as we preview the first game on the Badgers’ 2020 schedule.