2018 was best described as an up and down year for the Wisconsin Badgers defense. After a 2017 season where the Badgers ranked third in total defense behind the juggernauts of Clemson and Alabama, the stock for Wisconsin defense was as high as it had ever been. A regression was somewhat expected in 2018 with a young and inexperienced secondary, but from that struggle comes a new opportunity for the Badgers defense in 2019.
Last season the Badgers had some shortcomings on the defensive side of the football. A team notorious for pressuring the quarterback saw its worst sack output in recent memory, ranking 114th in sacks, just one spot ahead of 1-11 Rutgers.