Wisconsin to start season in Top 15

The Wisconsin football team is ranked 12th according to the preseason USA Today Coaches' Poll. It is the second straight year, and the fifth time in school history, the Badgers have been ranked among the top 15 to start off the season. The Badgers ended last season ranked 21st in the Coaches' Poll with a 9-4 record and they played in the Outback Bowl. This year Wisconsin returns 17 starters. 8 on offense, 9 on defense and UW was picked to finish second in the Big Ten in the league's preseason poll announced last week.

The Badgers are one of five Big Ten teams to appear in the preseason poll. That is tied with the Big 12 and SEC for most teams from a single conference (aha!! suck on that Big 12 and SEC). Ohio State is the highest ranked Big Ten team, coming in at #3, Wisconsin at #12, Illinois at #19, Penn State at #22 and Michigan at #24. All four of those teams are on the Badgers' schedule this season as is Fresno State, ranked #25 in the preseason poll. With five teams on their schedule ranked in the top 25, Wisconsin is tied with Illinois and Ohio State for most top-25 opponents this season in the Big Ten.

It looks like the Badgers have a good, but hard schedule coming up this year.