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College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 After National Championship

By Zach Bigalke

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scores a touchdown on an 8 yard run past against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scores a touchdown on an 8 yard run past against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Wisconsin Badgers tight end Troy Fumagalli (81) catches a touchdown pass in front of Western Michigan Broncos cornerback Darius Phillips (4) and linebacker Caleb Bailey (8) in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium. Wisconsin won 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Wisconsin Badgers tight end Troy Fumagalli (81) catches a touchdown pass in front of Western Michigan Broncos cornerback Darius Phillips (4) and linebacker Caleb Bailey (8) in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium. Wisconsin won 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Wisconsin ended its year with an 11th victory while ending the perfect season of Western Michigan in the Cotton Bowl. Against the top Group of Five team in the country, the Badgers executed a hyper-efficient game plan on offense and holding the Broncos under 300 total yards to prevail 24-16 in Texas. Quarterbacks Alex Hornibrook and Bart Houston combined to go 13-of-14 for 178 yards and a touchdown. The backfield, led by Corey Clement’s 71 yards and a score, racked up a combined 123 rushing yards.

The Badgers bookended their year with statement wins. The season opener against LSU at Lambeau Field provided an instant boost into the AP Top 25 for a team that was unranked in the preseason. Their only three losses came at Michigan, at home to Ohio State, and versus Penn State in Indianapolis. The Badgers easily took the Big Ten West ahead of Iowa and Nebraska, and finished the year with one of the ten best defenses in the country.

Paul Chryst will lose some key talent such as Clement and several linemen such as Ryan Ramczyk next season. Even then, the Badgers had one of the least experienced teams in the country last year and might be a College Football Playoff contender if their roster improves with another season of experience.

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