Ben Kenney
September 1, 2024 10:30 am CT
Wisconsin started its season with a 28-14 win over Western Michigan on Friday night.
The Badgers’ performance left much to be desired. Western Michigan hung tough with Wisconsin deep into the fourth quarter despite being a bottom 20 team in the nation entering the season. While Badgers fans were less than enthusiastic with how the team played, a 1-0 record is all that matters after the first weekend.
Related: Takeaways from Wisconsin’s 28-14 Week 1 win over Western Michigan
Looking ahead, Wisconsin’s uninspiring performance is reflected in ESPN’s updated FPI numbers. The Badgers now have an overall rating of only 4.0. That drop in perceived quality has affected how FPI predicts the rest of the team’s season.
So did Wisconsin’s pedestrian outing change its overall season-long outlook? Here are ESPN FPI’s remaining game-by-game predictions for the rest of the season:
Week 2 vs. South Dakota
Aug. 31, 2023; Columbia, Missouri; South Dakota Coyotes head coach Bob Nielson watches play against the Missouri Tigers during the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Date:Sept. 7
Matchup Predictor:94.2% Wisconsin wins (up from 93.7%)
South Dakota FPI Rank:N/A (Football Championship Subdivision … but ranked No. 5 in preseason FCS coaches poll)
South Dakota 2024 Record:1-0
Week 3 vs. Alabama
Aug. 31, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer leads his players onto the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium for his first game as head coach. The Crimson Tide played Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Date:Sept. 14
Matchup Predictor: 9.4% Wisconsin wins (down from 18.7%)
Alabama FPI Rank:No. 2 (27.2)
Alabama 2024 Record:1-0
Get more (Alabama) news, analysis and opinions onRoll Tide Wire
Week 4 (BYE)
Sept. 10, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers logo on a flag prior to the game against the Washington State Cougars at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Wisconsin’s first bye week arrives early, but before a critical Week 5 trip to USC. This will be an interesting time to reevaluate where the team stands after the Alabama game.
Week 5 at USC
Oct. 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Arizona Wildcats during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Date:Sept. 28
Matchup Predictor: 21.3% Wisconsin wins (down from 29.2%)
USC FPI Rank:No. 15 (13.5)
USC 2024 Record:1-0
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions onTrojans Wire
Week 6 vs. Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters leads Purdue onto the field Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, ahead of the NCAA football game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue won 49-0. Alex Martin/Journal and Courier-USA TODAY NETWORK
Date:Oct. 5
Matchup Predictor:55.5% Wisconsin wins (down from 66.7%)
Purdue FPI Rank:No. 45 (4.0)
Purdue 2024 Record:1-0
Week 7 at Rutgers
Aug. 29, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano looks on during the second half against the Howard Bison at SHI Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Date:Oct. 12
Matchup Predictor:49.6% Wisconsin wins (up from 44%)
Rutgers FPI Rank:No. 57 (1.2)
Rutgers 2024 Record:1-0
Week 8 at Northwestern
Aug. 31, 2024; Evanston, Illinois; Northwestern Wildcats head coach David Braun takes the field with his team against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Date:Oct. 19
Matchup Predictor:56.1% Wisconsin wins (up from 55.8%)
Northwestern FPI Rank:No. 67 (-0.1)
Northwestern 2024 Record:1-0
Week 9 vs. Penn State
Penn State head coach James Franklin walks the sideline in the first half of an NCAA football game against West Virginia, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Dan Rainville-USA TODAY NETWORK
Date:Oct. 26
Matchup Predictor:13.4% Wisconsin wins (down from 18.7%)
Penn State FPI Rank:No. 5 (22.0)
Penn State 2024 Record: 1-0
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions onNittany Lions Wire
Week 10 at Iowa
Oct. 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Date:Nov. 2
Matchup Predictor:33.4% Wisconsin wins (down from 42.2%)
Iowa FPI Rank:No. 33 (8.1)
Iowa 2024 Record:1-0
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions onHawkeyes Wire
Week 11 (BYE)
Dec. 30, 2011; Los Angeles, California; General view of the Wisconsin Badgers helmet for the 2012 Rose Bowl at media day at the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown. Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Wisconsin’s second bye week leads into the most important part of the schedule. It is right before the Badgers host top-ranked Oregon and finish with critical games against rivals Nebraska and Minnesota.
For the sake of the team competing late in the year, this is a well-timed bye week.
Week 12 vs. Oregon
Jan. 1, 2024; Glendale, Arizona; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning speaks with the official on the sideline during the second quarter against the Liberty Flames in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Date:Nov. 16
Matchup Predictor:31.9% Wisconsin wins (up from 17.3%)
Oregon FPI Rank:No. 10 (15.8)
Oregon 2024 Record:1-0
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions onDucks Wire
Week 13 at Nebraska
Aug. 31, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule reacts during the second quarter against the UTEP Miners at Memorial Stadium. Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Date:Nov. 23
Matchup Predictor:34.9% Wisconsin wins (down from 45.9%)
Nebraska FPI Rank:No. 35 (7.8)
Nebraska 2024 Record:1-0
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions onCornhuskers Wire
Week 14 vs. Minnesota
Aug. 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck looks on during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Huntington Bank Stadium. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Date:Nov. 29 (Friday)
Matchup Predictor:62.8% Wisconsin wins (up from 60%)
Minnesota FPI Rank:No. 61 (0.9)
Minnesota 2024 Record:0-1
Overall
Oct. 28, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Projected W-L:5.7 — 6.4
Percentage chance Wisconsin …
- Wins six or more games:52.9
- Wins Big Ten:0.3
- Makes College Football Playoff:1.7
- Wins National Title:0.0
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