Early Friday afternoon, Wisconsin Football released a very exciting defensive statistic on the team’s social media. The 10th-ranked Badgers are now the number one defense in the nation after their dominant performances against the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan Wolverines.
Related: A leader on defense will return for Wisconsin this Saturday
The statistic that measures the best defense in FBS is total defense, which ranks teams by the total amount of offense they have allowed. According to the ESPN ranking, Wisconsin leads the FBS in total defense with the least average points and yards allowed a game. Through Wisconsin’s first two games, the Badgers have only allowed 218.5 average yards and nine average points a game.
Gotta keep working.
Do what we do. #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/hgNeCWrNZR
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 20, 2020
This statistic is a bit deceptive as Wisconsin has played significantly fewer games than most of the FBS and Power Five Conferences, with the exception of the Pac-12 that are only two games into their season as well. Teams in other conferences, or around the Big Ten, have played more games against oftentimes tougher opponents. This will lower their defense ranking, while the Badgers have played two teams that are struggling tremendously in Illinois and Michigan.
The Wisconsin defense has played exceptionally well this season in their first two matchups, and their outstanding performances have earned them a quite exceptional accomplishment in being the best defense in college football. This defense will be tested this Saturday as the Badgers will face off against the undefeated 19th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, Ill. The Wildcats currently have the 10th-ranked defense in FBS.