The Wisconsin football program is a model of consistency. Zero losing seasons since 2001, 10 10-win seasons during that span and a
The Wisconsin football program is a model of consistency. Zero losing seasons since 2001, 10 10-win seasons during that span and a consistent spot in the AP Top 25.
2020 was still what many would consider a down year for the program, though, as the team finished 4-3 and looked lost offensively during the heart of the schedule. There were many complicating factors at play, though it was still a let-down after a Rose Bowl appearance in 2019.
Well, 247Sports put together ‘five surprise teams for 2021‘ and included in their piece? The Wisconsin Badgers.
Here’s what they had to say about the 2021 Badgers:
Wisconsin, which has notched four seasons with 10 wins or more since 2015, showed signs of a Big Ten contender in 2020 before COVID-19 put the Badgers on pause — they never truly regained their form en route to a 4-3 finish on the year.
“Wisconsin, again, is just in the wrong conference — because it’s Ohio State drowning out everyone else in the room, so you don’t hear a lot of noise about Wisconsin,” Pate said. “But see, you got a taste of it last year. They go into Week 1 and they … splatter Illinois all over the place. You got a taste of it and then it got taken from you. You got to see (third-year sophomore) Graham Mertz shine for one game and then it got taken from you. And what I mean from ‘taken’ is their season got derailed by COVID. And a lot of their guys — they had a wide receiver in concussion protocol for most of the year — they had guys off the roster because they tested positive and you never got to see the real Wisconsin. And so, then you fast forward a year — a lot of those names are back. I feel really good that they are one of the most underrated wide receiver rooms in America.
“Wisconsin’s got Paul Chryst, head coach there, taking over play-calling duties because what I think he’s done is he’s looked at what he’s got at quarterback — believes in Graham Mertz, one of the higher-rated quarterbacks you have there — loves his receiver room and understands they’ve got an opportunity to do something good there this year.
“And do it in a surprising fashion, because here’s how the schedule shakes out — they have some big games this year. They do every year. They play in the Big Ten. They play Penn State. They play Notre Dame. They play Michigan. I don’t think that surprises you. But it may surprise you if I tell you those three teams are among the first four they play. So I want you to think again about what I just said — if Wisconsin has quarterback figured out, if their offense is in sync, if it goes jell — if it looks, really, for an extended period of time like it did last year — who are we talking about them starting with? Penn State, installing a new offense again — even though I believe in ’em, may be shaky early on.
“Then they play Notre Dame, Jack Coan — ironically, former Wisconsin quarterback transferring down there — they’re doing new things, offensively. Michigan, they’re doing new things offensively. And so, could you catch a significant portion of the big boys on your schedule off guard or maybe off balance a little bit early in the season? ‘Cause if you do, then all of a sudden, you’ve gotten past the meat of your schedule and there you are, a prime-time contender for the Playoff conversation and all that by midseason. That’d be interesting and I don’t think a lot of people expect it.”
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