LOCATION: Madison, Wis.
COACH: Paul Chryst — At Wisconsin: 42-12, 4 years; overall: 61-31, 7 years
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Joe Rudolph
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jim Leonhard
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 2012 LAST TIME DIDN’T GO BOWLING: 2001 RETURNING STARTERS: 10; 5 offense, 4 defense, punter
PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Jonathan Taylor, C Tyler Biadasz, LT Cole Van Lanen, TE Jake Ferguson, DE Isaiahh Loudermilk, ILB Chris Orr, OLB Zack Baun, S Scott Nelson
PRIMARY STRENGTHS: Taylor is a Heisman candidate, and a talented receiving corps will take another stab at breaking out after a tough 2018 season. The secondary has depth and experience, and the defensive line should be improved with the return of Garrett Rand, who tore his Achilles last summer.
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: While Wisconsin boasts plenty of young talent on defense, the loss of five key seniors won’t be easy to replace — particularly at the linebacker position. The Badgers also need to break in a new starting quarterback, although shortcomings at that position were the source of much of their problems offensively last season.
OVERVIEW
In order to fulfill Top 20 expectations, the Badgers need better quarterback play this season and to see their defense take steps toward returning to the dominant form it showed from 2015-17. This team should put up a better showing than its bitterly disappointing 8-5 campaign last year, but don’t expect a return to College Football Playoff contention.
TOP NEWCOMER
ILB Leo Chenal: The true freshman enrolled early and immediately showed off his playmaking ability this spring, snagging two interceptions over the first three open practices. At 6-2, 239, he can bench 225 pounds 32 times and is already one of the strongest players on the roster. Chenal looks like a good bet to be included in the rotation at inside linebacker in 2019.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 30 at South Florida
Sept. 7 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Sept. 21 MICHIGAN
Sept. 28 NORTHWESTERN
Oct. 5 KENT STATE
Oct. 12 MICHIGAN STATE
Oct. 19 at Illinois
Oct. 26 at Ohio State
Nov. 9 IOWA
Nov. 16 at Nebraska
Nov. 23 PURDUE
Nov. 30 at Minnesota
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