College Football: 5 dark horse playoff contenders
Wisconsin Badgers (Last season: 13-1)
The Badgers narrowly missed out on the College Football Playoff this season after starting out 12-0 on the season. A 6-point loss to the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship came at the worst time for the Badgers and ended up costing them a shot.
More from College Football
- 2024 NFL Mock Draft Journal: Cardinals, Falcons tank for USC QB Caleb Williams
- NFL preseason Week 3: Notre Dame’s Mayer, Foskey with something to prove
- 2024 NFL Draft: Caelen Carson Is Name To Watch At Cornerback
- 2024 NFL Draft: Is This QB Class Worth The Hype?
- 17 Breakout Players From The 2024 NFL Draft
A number of key members return on an offense that was 23rd in the country in rushing. All five starters return on the offensive line as well as sophomore running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor somehow had a fairly quiet season despite rushing for 1,977 yards and 13 touchdowns. The defense meanwhile lost a ton of starters after ranking third in overall defense last season.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards is the catalyst in the middle and while they lost a ton, the expectations are still that an elite unit will take the field.
The Badgers have two road games against Michigan and Penn State and outside of that, there is no Ohio State, no Michigan State and the two games mentioned are divided over the course of a month.
Next. College Football: Tight Ends replacing NFL rookies. dark
It will not be much of a surprise to see the Badgers in the Big Ten title game once again.