3. 2017

No. 3 on this list is the 13-1, Orange Bowl-winning, No. 6-ranked 2017 team.

Record wise this is arguably the best team the school has ever had, though there’s one reason they fall at No. 3 on this list: an abysmal strength of schedule.

The story of this team is similar to that of the 2016 unit: a top-5 defense, a pedestrian quarterback and a star running back that carries the offense.

Yes, you remember correctly, 2017 was Taylor’s first year in Madison.

Though they defeated No. 25 Iowa and No. 19 Michigan both at home towards the end of the season and No. 11 Miami in the Orange Bowl, the team’s 12 victories to begin the year were all against unranked opponents and when they finally met a top-10 team in Ohio State for the Big Ten championship, they fell short.

If you remember the game the Badgers had the ball down six points late in the fourth quarter and were unable to get a drive together. Had Hornibrook led the team down the field and won that game, therefore sending the Badgers to the College Football Playoff? This would easily be the best squad we’ve seen since 2000.

Nevertheless, their 22.61 SRS rating ranked No. 1 in the country and No. 1 amongst other Badger teams and they still finished their season with an Orange Bowl victory against a good Miami Hurricanes team.

Better than the Wilson year? Not quite. And it’s hard to think what could have been had Hornibrook been able to work some magic and win the conference championship game.