On the field, this most recent season excluded, the Wisconsin Badgers like to think of themselves as competing with the Ohio State’s, Michigan’s, and Penn State’s of the world for conference titles and College Football Playoff rankings. However, on the recruiting trail, the Badgers aren’t quite at the same level as their on-field rivals. Hell, until this year, Maryland was recruiting circles around Wisconsin.
The Badgers have always been known as a “developmental” program. They find under-scouted players and walk-ons and turn them into all-conference performers and NFL draft picks. While that is an admirable and difficult-to-imitate skill for the program, it will never quite get over the final hump of consistently competing for playoff berths without a higher talent floor.