Wisconsin opens 2024 football season against No. 7 team in MAC preseason poll

Wisconsin football opens its 2024 football season on Friday, Aug. 30 at home against the MAC’s Western Michigan Broncos.

Western Michigan enters 2024 after consecutive losing seasons — 5-7 in 2022 and 4-8 in 2023. It also does so ranked No. 7 in the recent MAC preseason coaches poll.

The Broncos (60 votes) were ranked behind Eastern Michigan (64 votes), Ohio (81 votes), Northern Illinois (92 votes), Bowling Green (92 votes), Toledo (109 votes) and Miami (OH) (119 votes).

Overall, the team enters the 2024 season as ESPN SP+’s No. 106-ranked group in the nation, with the No. 99-ranked offense and No. 96-ranked defense. It shouldn’t be much of a challenge for a supposedly improved Wisconsin Badgers team.

Western Michigan is one of two easier nonconference opponents on the Badgers 2024 schedule — the other being South Dakota (FCS). Luke Fickell’s team then begins a gauntlet schedule with a nonconference game against Alabama before a Big Ten slate that includes games at USC, vs. Penn State, at Iowa, vs. Oregon and at Nebraska.

Starting the season strong is a must for Fickell and the 2024 Badgers. Not only is a 2-0 start a requirement, but the team must look improved overall and ready for the upcoming challenging slate of games.

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