Wisconsin continues rise in ESPN SP+ after big win over Rutgers

Wisconsin continued to rise in ESPN SP+ after its big 42-7 win over Rutgers on Saturday.

The win improved the Badgers to 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in Big Ten play. It jumped Luke Fickell’s group from SP+’s No. 39 overall team (No. 80 on offense, No. 19 on defense) to No. 32 overall (No. 64 on offense, No. 16 on defense).

The Badgers are now the metric’s 10th-highest-ranked Big Ten team, behind Ohio State at No. 2, Penn State at No. 6, Oregon at No. 7, Indiana at No. 15, Iowa at No. 19, Michigan at No. 21, Nebraska at No. 22, USC at No. 27 and Washington at No. 28.

They now proceed with games against Northwestern (No. 71 in SP+), Penn State (No. 6), Iowa (No. 19), Oregon (No. 7), Nebraska (No. 22) and Minnesota (No. 41) to close the season.

Bowl eligibility looks likely for the Badgers after the back-to-back blowout wins over Purdue and Rutgers. The team could still accomplish much more, however, if those big-time home matchups against Penn State and Oregon turn into wins.

Wisconsin’s combined 94-13 margin over Purdue and Rutgers signals a possible ‘turning of the corner’ for Fickell’s group, and possibly the program as a whole. SP+ agrees, as Wisconsin has risen from No. 66 in the nation to No. 32 after the two wins.

A strong showing on Saturday at Rutgers would continue that forward momentum and enter the Badgers into the national conversation.

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