This is not an article I’m necessarily enjoying writing, especially right after Wisconsin suffered a terrible loss at Indiana. But, nevertheless, the Big Ten West is on-brand in its final season and the Badgers are somehow alive.
Wisconsin sits at 3-3 in Big Ten play with three games remaining: vs Northwestern, vs Nebraska and at Minnesota.
The current standings are as follows:
1-Iowa (4-2)
T2-Wisconsin (3-3)
T2-Nebraska (3-3)
T2-Minnesota (3-3)
T5-Northwestern (2-4)
T5-Illinois (2-4)
7-Purdue (1-5)
Of note, Iowa currently holds the tiebreaker over Wisconsin, but the Badgers would have it over Nebraska and Minnesota if it were to win its final three games.
That’s the first thing that must happen: Wisconsin must run the table and finish 6-3 — which right now does not feel like a likely outcome.
After that, Wisconsin would only need Iowa to lose two of its final three vs Rutgers, vs Illinois and at Nebraska.
Iowa is 7-2 and in the driver’s seat in the division right now. But it can easily lose to any team with what its offense is unable to do.
ESPN FPI currently gives Wisconsin a 27-1% chance at winning out, and a 13.2% chance at winning the West. It’s unlikely, but Luke Fickell has a shot to reverse the narrative surrounding his first season.