Bold predictions for Wisconsin football in 2025
The team is fresh off one of its more disappointing seasons in recent memory, as a five-game losing streak to close the year clinched its first campaign without a bowl appearance since 2001. Many expect at least a return to stable winning in 2025, especially given Luke Fickell's pedigree as a head coach and the program's impressive offseason of roster improvements. However, the nation's top-ranked schedule is tempering any expectations of a further breakthrough.
Wisconsin starts its quest to return to its once-stable position near the top of the Big Ten with a home game against Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 28. It begins its gauntlet schedule with a Week 3 trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to face the No. 8-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. With games against Oregon, Ohio State, Washington, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota following, any finish above .500 would mark a relative success.
With less than two weeks remaining before the RedHawks travel to Camp Randall Stadium to kick off the season, here are bold predictions from the Badgers Wire staff for Wisconsin's 2025 campaign.
Ben Kenney: Billy Edwards Jr. is a top-three quarterback in the Big Ten
This prediction may be more about what the Big Ten doesn't have than Edwards Jr.'s individual excellence. Given health, he should deliver Wisconsin's best quarterback season since Jack Coan's 2019 campaign. That output could rank favorably if a collection of first-year starters, Dante Moore (Oregon), Julian Sayin (Ohio State), Bryce Underwood (Michigan and Demond Williams Jr. (Washington), all struggle.
Edwards should be a perfect fit for Jeff Grimes' pro-style offense. Wisconsin fans are correct for having high expectations for his play specifically, and for the unit overall.
Mike Hall: The Badgers will finish with just three wins
Wisconsin's 2025 slate is nothing short of a gauntlet. The team squares off against six top 25 opponents this season. That doesn't include Iowa or Minnesota, two formidable conference foes. With a new offensive coordinator and quarterback set to take the helm on offense, UW is simply not positioned well enough to complete in a loaded Big Ten. Following games against Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee, the Badgers won't win any other contest outside of their tilt against the Terrapins.
Connor Whelan: Running back Dilin Jones rushes for 1,000+ yards
Jones was one of the more impressive players in summer camp for the Badgers. With new OC Jeff Grimes calling the plays, expect a lot of sets designed specifically for the second-year running back. Grimes has had a running back eclipse 1,000 yards twice in his last five years coaching, including in 2024 at Kansas (Devin Neal). I expect Jones to join that list.
Ben Kenney: Wisconsin's crowded transfer class is not enough to fix the defensive side of the football
Arguably, the biggest question of Wisconsin's offseason was Fickell's offensive coordinator and overall changes to that side of the football. As hinted earlier, I think he hit it out of the park with Grimes and Edwards Jr. as the head coach-quarterback duo.
The next biggest question was the team's defensive front. The unit struggled mightily as the 2024 season continued. Those struggles culminated in the team allowing 329 rushing yards and more than six yards per carry in a 42-10 loss to Iowa.
Wisconsin appears to have significantly improved its defensive front this offseason with significant transfer additions at defensive tackle and edge rusher. That is, the unit looks much better on paper. Fickell and Mike Tressel's defense will need to back up that offseason hype with stellar on-field results. That unit's performance is critical to the program reestablishing its classic identity and returning to the eight or nine-win mark.
Connor Whelan: The Badgers win at the Big House
Wisconsin is still lacking a signature win during Luke Fickell's tenure. I think that will come in Week 6 when the Badgers head to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to face the Wolverines. Last season, the Badgers went to Los Angeles, California, to play the USC Trojans early on their schedule and looked strong for 65-70% of the game. Expect the Badgers to play well in the Big House against the recent national champs, who will be starting true-freshman Bryce Underwood at quarterback.
Mike Hall: This will be Luke Fickell's final year on campus
Fickell, entering his third full season on campus, can't afford 3 straight subpar outputs. He built a culture at Cincinnati, but he has yet to experience that same type of success in building an identity in Madison. Yes, the schedule is tough, but Badger faithful expects wins against the Golden Gophers and Hawkeyes at the least. UW went 5-7 a season ago, and it doesn't appear as if that performance will improve. With pressure mounting, AD Chris McIntosh will be left with no other choice.
Ben Kenney: Wisconsin finds its signature win...against rival Iowa
Wisconsin's schedule has been discussed at length. Road games at Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, Indiana and Minnesota, plus home contests against Iowa, Ohio State, Washington and Illinois. The reality of that gauntlet has tempered expectations entering the year. That noted, it also gives the team several golden opportunities for a breakthrough win.
This prediction may not be too bold, as the Badgers will be significant underdogs to Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State and some others. It is more of a wishful prediction. I have long argued that the Iowa game is Wisconsin's most important of the season and is the most direct reflection of program health. 2025 is no exception: Wisconsin's performance against the Hawkeyes could very well decide the team's bowl fate, as well as the program's trajectory.
Connor Whelan: Wisconsin nearly doubles its number of sacks from last season
One of the biggest issues with the Wisconsin defense last season was that it rarely forced turnovers or tallied tackles for loss. I expect that to change this fall. Wisconsin only had three defensive linemen over 300 pounds last fall, but now has nine on the roster. The Badgers have made a real effort to bulk up that defensive front, and I think that will help them vastly improve on their pressure totals.
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