2024 may mark the end of a seven-year run for Wisconsin football.
That reputation was earned for a worthwhile cause. With a 23-year bowl run under its belt, Wisconsin has not experienced a losing season since finishing 5-7 in 2001. However, one recent success is in peril as 2024 approaches: Wisconsin’s program has been ranked in every AP Poll preseason since 2017.
In 2017, it was ranked No. 9, in 2018, at No. 4, in 2019, at No. 19, in 2020 and 2021, at No. 12 in 2020 and 2021, at No. 18 in 2022, and at No. 19 in 2023.
Alone ahead of Ohio State, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, and Clemson in the country is Wisconsin’s impressive winning streak. If those powerhouses haven’t made it to the College Football Playoffs, Wisconsin has remained just as consistent.
That consistency appears to be taking a step backward for the time being, as evidenced by the 2024 team’s exclusion from the somewhat early top 25 rankings. Working to get the program back to its pre-Paul Chryst state from 2016 to 2019 is Luke Fickell and his team.
During that period, three seasons with ten or more wins were experienced, as well as three trips to the Big Ten Championship.A return to a double-digit victory baseline would make the hire a huge success. However, its future in the redesigned Big Ten Conference is very uncertain.
Enough regression has occurred in 2022 and 2023 for the preseason AP Top 25 rankings to stop being released. Those who support the Badgers believe that a strong 2024 season marks the beginning of a new ten-year run.