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Sluggish rebuild holds Wisconsin back in USA TODAY's Big Ten rankings
TL;DR
Wisconsin is ranked No. 14 in USA TODAY's Big Ten rankings due to a sluggish rebuild under coach Luke Fickell. The team faces pressure to improve after being previously placed among the bottom five in the conference.
Key points
- Wisconsin is ranked No. 14 in USA TODAY's Big Ten rankings.
- The ranking reflects a sluggish rebuild under coach Luke Fickell.
- Wisconsin has previously been placed among the bottom five teams in the Big Ten.
Mentioned in this story
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A "sluggish rebuild" is exactly why USA TODAY's Paul Myerberg has Wisconsin at No. 14 in his post-spring rankings.
The Big Ten only has 18 teams, so it's a bit alarming seeing all of these outlets put Luke Fickell's squad as low as they have been.
This isn't the first time Wisconsin has been named a bottom-five team in the Big Ten, and there's still plenty of time for the national media to write them off.
"This sluggish rebuild continues with slightly more optimism than a year ago as coach Luke Fickell faces pressure to win now," Myerberg wrote.
He continued, "The offense is in better shape thanks to the addition of Old Dominion quarterback transfer Colton Joseph... but [he] must button up his accuracy in the intermediate game to get the most out of the Badgers’ scheme."
According to Myerberg, the only teams worse than Wisconsin are Northwestern, Michigan State, Rutgers, and Purdue.
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Q&A
Why is Wisconsin ranked No. 14 in the Big Ten by USA TODAY?
Wisconsin is ranked No. 14 due to a sluggish rebuild that has not yet shown significant improvement under coach Luke Fickell.
What challenges is coach Luke Fickell facing at Wisconsin?
Coach Luke Fickell is under pressure to win now as he navigates a rebuild that has left the team ranked low in the Big Ten.
How does Wisconsin's ranking compare to other Big Ten teams?
Wisconsin's No. 14 ranking is concerning given that there are only 18 teams in the Big Ten, indicating they are viewed as one of the weaker teams in the conference.