Tag: espn SP+ Ranking

Wisconsin football plunges in ESPN SP+ ranking after loss to USC

Wisconsin football plunges in ESPN SP+ ranking after loss to USC

Wisconsin fell 13 spots in ESPN SP+ after its 38-21 loss to the USC Trojans on Saturday.

The Badgers entered the week ranked No. 53 overall with a 5.3 rating. The sizable loss dropped their rating to 3.6, sliding down to No. 66 in the nation. For specifics: Phil Longo’s offense currently ranks No. 92 in SP+, while Mike Tressel and Luke Fickell’s defense ranks No. 27.

Related: Notable Wisconsin alumni irate with the Badgers’ struggles with short-yardage runs

This ranking slide only continues what has been a worst-case start to the 2024 season for the Badgers. They failed to impress in early nonconference wins over Western Michigan and South Dakota, and have since lost in blowout fashion to both No. 1 Alabama and No. 11 USC.

The team’s current form paints a grim rest-of-season outlook. Wisconsin still has remaining games against tough teams including Rutgers (4-0), Penn State (4-0, No. 7 in the AP Poll), Iowa (3-1, No. 17 in ESPN SP+), Oregon (4-0, No. 6 in the AP Poll) and Nebraska (4-1, No. 28 in SP+). That does not include matchups against Northwestern and Minnesota, both of which now look like a challenge given the Badgers’ current struggles.

The narrative can start to change on Saturday when Wisconsin hosts Purdue. A decisive win would quell the current discussion surrounding the program and begin to shift the rest-of-season outlook.

The bad news: Wisconsin has yet to put together a complete, four-quarter performance.

The good news: Purdue is in an even worse situation and just fired its offensive coordinator.

Kickoff for Week 6 is schedule for noon ET, 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.