Wisconsin recently put the finishing touches on its 7-6 2023 campaign with a narrow ReliaQuest Bowl loss to LSU.
The season was a disappointment given the preseason expectations, the language used in the offseason by Head Coach Luke Fickell and Athletic Director Chris McIntosh and the schedule in front of the team.
New coaches’ first years at a program are rarely what defines their tenures. So just as fans can be disappointed with the product this season, measures are being taken to ensure 2024 sees great improvements.
But before we turn the page and focus on the impact of the incoming transfers, for example, there is some final context to put the 2023 season in. The Badgers entered the year ranked No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and finished unranked, the fourth straight year that is the case.
2023: AP Preseason: 19, AP Postseason: Unranked
2022: AP Preseason: 18, AP Postseason: Unranked
2021: AP Preseason: 12, AP Postseason: Unranked
2020: AP Preseason: 12, AP Postseason: Unranked
The team was one of eight this year to fit that criteria:
Preseason ranked teams to finish unranked😶 pic.twitter.com/ytBJHZS1kk
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 10, 2024