By any measure, Wisconsin far surpassed expectations in 2016. The Badgers began the year with an upset of LSU in the season opener to vault from unranked into the Associated Press top 10 and never relented on their way to a Big Ten West division title. Wisconsin finished 11-3 overall with a victory against Western Michigan in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, recording double-digit wins for a third consecutive season.
So, what can Wisconsin do for an encore? The Badgers should be considered among the favorites to win the West again next season. On its 2017 schedule, Wisconsin replaces Ohio State and Michigan State with Indiana and Maryland for two of its three crossover games against the Big Ten East.