Wisconsin fans must accept a recalibration of expectations entering the 2024 season.
The Big Ten West is no more, which means the Badgers’ classic path to nine wins and a birth in the Big Ten title game is gone. Now, those marks must come after outlasting an 18-team conference that is now headlined by Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Penn State, USC, Washington, and others.
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In other words, it will require a significantly better Wisconsin team to finish 10-2 and reach the Big Ten title game. That is where expectations must change, as Luke Fickell leading the program to perennial 8-4 records would be impressive given the circumstances.
But although Big Ten titles just became arguably the toughest thing in the sport to win next to the national title, this new format does give programs like Wisconsin more opportunity.
That comes with the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The new format includes the five highest-ranked conference champions, then seven at-large teams. There is a real argument to be made that the Badgers finishing 9-3 with a big win over Alabama or Oregon could be enough to earn them a spot.
Think that’s unrealistic? Well, prominent Associated Press college football writer Ralph Russo just picked the Badgers to make the inaugural 12-team CFP field. Here is his seed breakdown: