Ranking the five most important games on Wisconsin's 2025 football schedule

USA Today

27-04-2025

Ranking the five most important games on Wisconsin's 2025 football schedule
Wisconsin football's 2025 schedule is no joke, there's no underscoring its difficulty. The Badgers will potentially match up against six ranked opponents, with four of those games occurring on the road (at Oregon, Alabama, Michigan, and Indiana) and two at home (vs. Ohio State and Illinois).
The challenge of the four road contests should speak for itself. Wisconsin also has not beaten Ohio State since a 31-18 upset over the then-top-ranked Buckeyes in 2010. Furthermore, the team has dropped two of its last five to the Fighting Illini. Even games that typically were viewed as a wins can no longer be labeled as such.
The Badgers finished the 2024 campaign at 5-7, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2001. The team will have its work cut out to return to that six-win threshold, let alone to approach an eight or nine-win season.
As we head into the summer and finish up spring camp, it's time to start preparing for the upcoming football season. Here are the five most important games on Wisconsin's schedule next year, plus why each is so crucial.
5. Nov. 15 at Indiana
I was debating between putting Indiana or Michigan in this spot, but opted for Indiana, considering the lack of certainty with how well second-year coach Curt Cignetti will perform against a harder conference schedule. The Hoosiers had a nice offseason, with a transfer commitment from top-quarterback transfer Fernando Mendoza, plus strong depth pieces, including Notre Dame offensive lineman Pat Coogan. Wisconsin has had a lot of success against Indiana in the past, winning eight of its last ten matchups against the Hoosiers. However, their two losses have both come in their two most recent matchups in 2020 and 2023.
Indiana will be a solid team again in 2025, but it would be surprising if they are anywhere as good the 2024 team that reached the College Football Playoff. For that reason alone, the Badgers will have a chance to upset the Hoosiers in Bloomington. Indiana will play its fifth straight game that weekend, with the team's bye week coming the following week. Wisconsin would only be two weeks removed from their bye, so there's a chance for the Badgers to have the upper hand health-wise.
4. Nov. 8 vs. Washington
Washington has had a heck of an offseason after year one under Jedd Fisch, landing highly touted Arizona transfer cornerback Tacario Davis in the transfer portal. The Huskies also are starting Demond Williams at quarterback, who some believe to be a sleeper for All-Big Ten honors this season. Wisconsin hosts Washington in early November in the team's first game after a much-needed bye week. The Badgers face Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, and Oregon consecutively before the idle week, so this game against Washington could be a nice opportunity for a much-needed win.
3. Nov. 22 vs. Illinois
Not only is Illinois a former Big Ten West and longtime conference rival, but the team's head coach is also Bret Bielema, Wisconsin's former coach from 2006-2012. Bielema won his first game back in Madison decisively. Wisconsin getting revenge while the Illini are likely ranked, with a decent chance at the CFP, is as good of an opportunity as any. Illinois also has many former Badgers as assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Aaron Henry and assistant running backs coach James White. Both the history between Bielema and his coaching staff, combined with the fact that it's a ranked home game late in the season, makes this a must-win matchup for Wisconsin.
2. Nov. 29 at Minnesota
Losing to all three of your rivals in one season is tough. It's even tougher when you lose to your biggest rival at home and have to surrender Paul Bunyan's Axe. That is why this year's battle for the axe is so important to the Badgers. Not only would it be a good win on the road against a conference opponent, it's also against your biggest rival, who have won three of four in the series. Beating Minnesota at Huntington Bank Stadium for the second time in his three seasons would give Luke Fickell some praise from frustrated fans.
1. Oct. 11 at Iowa
Wisconsin has had its fair share of struggles against Iowa during the Luke Fickell-era, the most recent result a 42-10 blowout loss in Iowa City. Wisconsin did upset the Hawkeyes when they were the 9th ranked team in the country back in 2021, but that win was so long ago that none of the players on this current roster care much about it. Many players during spring camp, including senior linebacker Darryl Peterson, told the media about his frustrations with the recently rivalry losses. Peterson also added a quip about last year's defeat, asking 'When has Iowa ever scored 42 points?' It's clear that this game means a lot to the current players in the program and to the coaching staff who has yet to beat the Hawkeyes. Since this game is at home, expect this matchup to be extremely close and an important one to the Badgers.
Wisconsin will have to win several of these critical games to even have a chance at becoming bowl-eligible. It's certainly possible, but the team has its work cut out in the 2025 season.
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