After two seasons of playing the basement of the Big Ten as its schedule, Wisconsin's 2016 schedule is brutal, leading some to question if their bowl streak is in jeopardy. Ever since 2002, Wisconsin has appeared in a bowl game, going 6-8 in those 14 bowl games. Wisconsin may be a better team this year, but finish with a worse record than last year's 10-3 season. After not playing Ohio State, Michigan or Ohio State in the regular season since 2012, all three re-enter the 2016 slate. This is the first time the Big Ten will go to a nine game conference schedule. This year, Wisconsin will play four home games compared to five games away from Camp Randall Stadium.
Sept. 3: vs. LSU (in Green Bay) 3:30 ABC
For the second consecutive season, College Gameday will be on site for Wisconsin's opener. Last year, Wisconsin dropped a 35-17 decision to the eventual National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium. This year, the Badgers will take on the LSU Tigers at Lambeau Field. This is the third consecutive opener against an SEC team for Wisconsin and the second in three years against the Bayou Bengals. LSU will be a top 10 team when it invades the not yet Frozen Tundra, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Leonard Fournette. Wisconsin will have to replace three members of its secondary as well as its No. 1 wide receiver as well as the all-time winningest quarterback in school history. However, the Badgers do return a fully healthy Corey Clement, who only played in four games a season ago. One of the biggest storylines heading into the game is LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who spent the last three years in Madison and transformed the Wisconsin defense into one of the nation's saltiest units. Under Aranda, Wisconsin finished sixth, 20th and first in points allowed in the country. When you factor in Aranda coaching against his old team, College Gameday, Lambeau Field and a battle of Heisman Trophy candidate running backs, this is a juicy matchup that the whole country will tune in for.
Sept. 10: AKRON TBA
Akron ended last year at 8-5 with a win 23-21 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl over Utah State. Akron's quarterback Thomas Woodson is a dual threat quarterback, having more than 2,200 yards passing and nearly 600 yards rushing, having 19 total touchdowns. Akron was one of the top defenses in the MAC a season ago, but only return four starters off a defense that led the conference in sacks and was third in interceptions. They also have to break in a whole new offensive line, as the unit with 117 career starts lost every member. Akron was a veteran team last year and will have to re-tool its team in 2016. Wisconsin should not overlook the Zips, but the Badgers should win this one comfortably.
Sept. 17: GEORGIA STATE TBA
Georgia State will have to move on from quarterback Nick Arbuckle, who threw for more than 4,000 yards and passed for 28 touchdowns last season. He also ran for six touchdowns. They do, however, return No. 1 wide receiver Penny Hart, who caught 71 passes for more than 1,000 yards as a freshman. The Panthers also return two more players who had more than 500 yards receiving last season. They also return four starters on the offensive line. On defense, Georgia State loses linebacker Joseph Peterson, who was the leading tackler for the Panthers in each of his four seasons, but returns nearly everybody else on a defense that finished 55th nationally in points allowed. Wisconsin should win convincingly, but if the Panthers' new quarterback turns out to be a good one, Georgia State could pose problems, especially for an inexperienced secondary like Wisconsin has.
Sept. 24: @ Michigan State TBA
One of the best rivalries of the 2000s is renewed in East Lansing in late September. Gone is quarterback Connor Cook, who led the Spartans to the College Football Playoff. They do return running back L.J. Scott, though, and wide receiver R.J. Shelton. On defense, they return one of the best linebackers in the country in Riley Bullough and big-time nose tackle Malik McDowell. They also return all four starters on secondary, so the Spartans will need to win ugly once again this season until the inexperienced offense finds its footing. Expect a low-scoring slug fest when these two defensive-minded teams meet in the ring.
Oct. 1: @ Michigan TBA
It has been too long since these two Big Ten powers have collided. Scott Tolzien was the Badgers quarterback and Rich Rodriguez was the Michigan head coach the last time they met. Wisconsin won that meeting 48-28 in Ann Arbor, the same place they will play this time around. The Wolverines will return 15 starters, including a whopping nine on offense, and will look to push Ohio State and Michigan State out of the way in an attempt to make it to the playoffs. One burning question for Michigan would be the quarterback position. Of the two starters who don't return on offense, one of them is quarterback Jake Ruddock. However, they do return a plethora of skill position players to make the transition easier. On defense, Michigan must replace the entire linebacking core. They do have the best duo of cornerbacks in the Big Ten in Jourdan Lewis and Jabrill Peppers, which will help them be the favorite in the tough Big Ten East.
Oct. 15: OHIO STATE 8:00
After the bye week, it does not get any easier as the Badgers welcome the powerhouse Ohio State Buckeyes to Camp Randall for a night game. For another team, losing 16 starters might mean a complete rebuild......but this is Ohio State. Yes, gone are game-changers like running back Ezekiel Elliott, wide receivers Michael Thomas and Braxton Miller and defenders Joey Bosa and Eli Apple. One player Ohio State does return is quarterback J.T. Barrett. Ohio State also has another great recruiting class coming in and Urban Meyer is still the coach, so he will have them competing for not only the Big Ten title, but also a spot in the playoffs once again.
Oct. 22: @ Iowa TBA
Iowa is the heavy favorite in the West to repeat, as the Hawkeyes return 15 starters on a team that went to the Rose Bowl, including senior signal caller C.J. Beathard. On defense, Iowa returns eight starters, led by Jim Thorpe Award winner Desmond King. The question for them is how they will respond to being the hunted instead of the hunter. That has not worked out so well for Kirk Ferentz in the past.
Oct. 29: NEBRASKA 7:00
Another game under the Camp Randall lights for Wisconsin. This time, the Badgers welcome the Nebraska Cornhuskers to Madison. The good news for the Cornhuskers is that they return their quarterback. The bad news is that the quarterback is Tommy Armstrong. However, Nebraska does return a very good group of wide receivers, led by this year's "He is still on the team?" player, Jordan Westerkamp, and Alonzo Moore. The Huskers return eight starters on defense, but those players have to try to keep Clement under 400 yards. though. Nebraska has to enter its house of horrors. Since joining the Big Ten, Nebraska has played in Madison twice......and has lost by a total score of 107-41. That does not even include the 70-31 thumping Wisconsin gave Nebraska in the 2012 Big Ten Championship game.
Nov. 5: @ Northwestern TBA
I mentioned about how Camp Randall Stadium is the 'House of Horrors' for Nebraska. Well, the same could be said for Ryan Field and Wisconsin. The Badgers have not won in Evanston since 1999, having lost four consecutive games to the Wildcats there . No game has been decided by more than nine and the average margin of defeat for the Badgers has been just five points, but the Bucky train has not been able to break through. Wisconsin is coming off a 14-13 win......errrr......13-7 loss to Northwestern at Camp Randall last season. The Cats return four offensive linemen along with star running back Justin Jackson. Northwestern has to replace most of its defense, but Pat Fitzgerald will have the unit playing well once again. I don't think Northwestern will win the division, but I do think the Wildcats will have a say.
Nov. 12: ILLINOIS 3:30 (Homecoming)
It will be interesting to see how Lovie Smith does as the new coach for the Fighting Illini. However, it will take some time for this team to get back on track. The cupboard is pretty bare. The offensive line returns three starters, but loses its best one. The linebackers are a thin group, especially after the team's No. 2 tackler, T.J. Neal, transferred to Auburn. Illinois will struggle this year and Wisconsin should roll at Camp Randall.
Nov. 19: @ Purdue TBA
This is a do or die season for Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell. He is 6-30 in his time at Purdue so far, including just 2-22 in Big Ten play. Purdue needs a quarterback in the worst way. Purdue also could not run the ball at all last year, so the offensive line needs to play better. Purdue also could not stop the run. If you can't run the ball or stop the run, you're gonna have a bad time. I don't see Wisconsin having much of a problem at Ross-Ade Stadium, a place it has not lost at since 1997.
Nov. 26: MINNESOTA TBA
The Badgers have won 12 straight over the Gophers and have not lost at Camp Randall against their rivals directly to the West since 1994. Minnesota returns the running back duo of Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith, as well as veteran quarterback Mitch Leidner. Brooks rushed for 709 yards, but most of those came in wins over hapless Illinois and Purdue. Smith nearly had 700 yards rushing as well. A re-tooled offensive line will be the difference between being a factor in the division race and being near the bottom. They will also need to improve the pass rush.