Wisconsin Football: Will Badgers win Big Ten West again in 2020?

Wisconsin football lost some key players from last year’s Rose Bowl team. Can the Badgers overcome and get back to Indianapolis?

Wisconsin has been one of the more stable programs in the Big Ten. Paul Chryst returned to Madison in 2015 and has guided the Badgers to a 52-16 record in five seasons. Three of those seasons ended with Big Ten West division titles and New Year’s Six bowl appearances. The Badgers won the 2017 Cotton and Orange Bowls but fell just short in last year’s Rose Bowl game against Oregon.

With only one of the season’s under Chryst ending with under 10 wins, the football program is in good shape. Fans can count on the Badgers to do a few things very well. A reliable running game behind a stout offensive line and a solid defense that keeps opposing offenses in check.

The challenge for Chryst and his staff is to get to the next level. Sure they have been consistent the last five seasons, but the Badgers have fallen short in three Big Ten championship games. The whole conference is chasing the king of the league in Ohio State. Teams like Wisconsin and Penn State are right behind the Buckeyes but have flaws that keep them a step behind.

Can this be the year the Badgers finally break through? In a weird year with no spring football, a disjointed fall camp schedule and a conference only slate, anything can happen really. The Badgers are not lacking talent and should be in the conference race to the end.