An annual tradition of every college football preseason is digging into Phil Steele’s guides and rankings.
In this season’s edition of Steele’s Top 40 poll, the Badgers fall near the middle of the pack, but lead all Big Ten West squads. Leading the way for the Big Ten are a pair of preseason top-five teams in Michigan and Ohio State. The Wolverines will look to recreate the magic of a 2021 College Football Playoff run, while the Buckeyes will look to get back on track spurred by a comeback win at the Rose Bowl.
Here is a complete look at Steele’s preseason poll, and what he had to say about Wisconsin: