This story was updated to add new information.
Wisconsin’s full schedule for the 2025 football season is out. The word ‘gauntlet’ is an apt description of what the Badgers face.
Luke Fickell’s team opens the season with two home nonconference matchups (Miami (OH), Middle Tennessee) before a road trip to face what should be a top-ranked Alabama team.
Related: Takeaways from Wisconsin’s newly-released 2025 football schedule
The Badgers then return home to begin Big Ten play. Unlike a Big Ten West-era schedule that may have one or two premier games, the slate is a test from start to finish.
Luke Fickell’s team opens conference play at home against Maryland, before beginning a headline-grabbing month of October: at Michigan, vs. Iowa, vs. Ohio State, at Oregon. The Badgers then close vs. Washington, at Indiana, vs. Illinois and at rival Minnesota.
We’ve outlined big takeaways from the schedule, including a general recalibration of expectations. For more on each matchup and Wisconsin’s recent history against that program, here is an extended look at what the Badgers face in 2025:
Week 1: Miami (OH) (home)
Date: Aug. 30
Miami (OH) 2024 Record: 8-5, 7-1 MAC, Arizona Bowl vs. Colorado State
Series History: Wisconsin is 1-0 all-time, a 58-0 win in 2015.
Wisconsin begins with appears to be a lighter home matchup against Miami (OH) — though the RedHawks have become one of the better programs in the MAC. These games will be critical as Jeff Grimes installs his offense and the team works to build an identity.
Week 2: Middle Tennessee (home)
Date: Sept. 6
Middle Tennessee 2024 Record: 3-9, 2-6 CUSA
Series History: Zero prior matchups
Middle Tennessee is by far the easiest matchup on the schedule. The Blue Raiders went 3-9 in 2024 under first-year head coach Derek Mason. Before the upcoming gauntlet, these first two games are necessary wins.
Week 3: Alabama (away)
Date: Sept. 13
Alabama 2024 Record: 9-3, 5-3 SEC, ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Michigan
Series History: Alabama is 2-1 all-time, including a 42-10 win in 2024.
Wisconsin’s tough stretch begins in Week 3 with a trip to Alabama to complete the home-and-home series. The Crimson Tide beat the Badgers 42-10 at Camp Randall this season. A road matchup against what will likely be a top-ranked team doesn’t project to be any easier.
Week 4: Maryland (home)
Date: Sept. 20
Maryland Record: 4-8, 1-8 Big Ten
Series History: Wisconsin is 4-0 all time, including a 23-10 win in 2022.
On paper, Maryland looks like Wisconsin’s easiest conference game. The Terrapins struggled in 2024 after a string of 8-5 seasons from 2022-23. Mike Locksley’s program needs a rebound. For Wisconsin’s season-long outlook, this needs to be a win.
Week 5: Bye Week
Wisconsin gets a bye week on each end of its October gauntlet. This week will serve as an important re-set before the biggest stretch of the season.
Week 6: Michigan (away)
Date: Oct. 4
Michigan 2024 Record: 7-5, 5-4 Big Ten, ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Alabama
Series History: Michigan is 52-17-1 all-time, though Wisconsin has won two of the last three (2019, 2020). Last meeting was a 38-17 Michigan win in 2021.
The month of October projects to be quite the challenge for the Badgers. It begins with a road trip to Michigan — a team that projects to be improving entering 2025. The Badgers had great success against the Wolverines from 2017-20. That halted in 2021, the last time these two teams played.
Week 7: Iowa (home)
Date: Oct. 11
Iowa 2024 Record: 8-4, 6-3 Big Ten, Music City Bowl vs. Missouri
Series History: Wisconsin leads the all-time series 49-47-2. Iowa is winners of the last three meetings, and four of the last five.
Wisconsin is 0-2 against the Hawkeyes in the Luke Fickell era, including a 42-10 loss in 2024. This rivalry matchup could go on to define the team’s 2025 season, as it won’t be expected to win matchups against Ohio State or Oregon.
Week 8: Ohio State (home)
Date: Oct. 18
Ohio State 2024 Record: 10-2, 7-2 Big Ten, CFP first round vs. Tennessee
Series History: Ohio State leads 63-18-5, bolstered by a 10-game win streak dating back to 2010. That streak includes wins in the 2014, 2017 and 2019 Big Ten title games.
Wisconsin played Ohio State close at home in 2023, falling 24-10. The Badgers need to do the same in 2025. It is just another of a large collection of high-profile home games in the Luke Fickell era. 2025 needs to be the year one or those matchups is won.
Week 9: Oregon (away)
Date: Oct. 25
Oregon 2024 Record: 12-0, 9-0 Big Ten, CFP quarterfinal (first-round bye)
Series History: Oregon leads 4-3 all-time, including a 16-13 win in 2024. The series is highlighted by two Rose Bowl matchups (2012, 2020). Oregon won both.
This projects as the toughest game on Wisconsin’s 2025 schedule. The Ducks are the current class of the sport. A road trip to Eugene, Oregon makes that matchup even more daunting. The Badgers fared well against the Ducks in 2024, falling 16-13. They will need a repeat performance.
Week 10: Bye Week
Wisconsin gets a bye after that October gauntlet. It will likely need a re-set before a critical closing stretch of the season. Just like this past season, bowl eligibility will likely be at stake over the final month.
Week 11: Washington (home)
Date: Nov. 8
Washington 2024 Record: 6-6, 4-5 Big Ten, Sun Bowl vs. Louisville
Series History: Washington is 4-0 all-time. The last meeting was in 1992 (27-10 Washington win).
Wisconsin meets Washington in 2025 for the first time since the Huskies joined the Big Ten. This is an interesting matchup — Washington went 6-6 in 2024 after a national title trip in 2023. The Huskies should only improve under Jedd Fisch. But this game doesn’t reach the challenge of the Ohio State, Oregon or Michigan matchups.
Week 12: Indiana (away)
Date: Nov. 15
Indiana 2024 Record: 11-1, 8-1 Big Ten, CFP first round vs. Notre Dame
Series History: Wisconsin leads 41-20-2. Indiana has won two straight — 14-6 in 2020 and 20-14 in 2023.
This game is a significant wild card on Wisconsin’s 2025 schedule. Historically, Indiana is among the bottom teams in the Big Ten. But the Hoosiers went 11-1 and made the College Football Playoff in the first year under Curt Cignetti. This game could look entirely different come next November.
Week 13: Illinois (home)
Date: Nov. 22
Illinois 2024 Record: 9-3, 6-3 Big Ten, Citrus Bowl vs. South Carolina
Series History: Wisconsin leads 45-39-7, including a last-second win in 2023.
The final two games could be must-wins for the Badgers as they look to return to bowl eligibility. Illinois is another former Big Ten West program looking to establish a place in the new conference landscape. It had a program-best season in 2024, momentarily elevating it above Wisconsin and others.
Week 14: Minnesota (away)
Date: Nov. 29
Minnesota 2024 Record: 7-5, 5-4 Big Ten, Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. Virginia Tech
Series History: Series is tied 63-63-8 all-time. Minnesota has won three of the last four, including a 24-7 win in 2024.
This the importance of this matchup should go without saying. Wisconsin’s season-ending loss to Minnesota was costly — it closed a 5-7 campaign and saw the Badgers miss a bowl game for the first time since 2001. This game needs to be a win in 2025.
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