Coming off the most difficult schedule in the nation last season, the Wisconsin Badgers were thrilled with their 2026 slate.
This team is going to get tested early, no doubt, but from there, they get to enjoy a schedule that features the four lowest-ranked teams in the Big Ten.
Throw in a few non-conference games with Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan coming to town, and that right there could guarantee this team six wins and end their multi-year bowl game drought.
As always, things are never that easy. This is a make-or-break season for struggling head coach Luke Fickell, and he’s relying on a brand-new true dual-threat quarterback, Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph.
12. Eastern Michigan Eagles
It’s basically a toss-up with these nonconference games, but the Eagles earn the nod as the Badgers’ easiest opponent simply because Wisconsin will have played Western Illinois. As long as that game goes according to plan, that’ll make this one much, much easier.
11. Western Illinois Leathernecks
Wisconsin’s first game after playing Notre Dame is a night game at Camp Randall. Both the Leathernecks and Eagles went 4-8 last season, but this game is played on one fewer day’s rest, and who knows how this squad will look after opening against the Fighting Irish.
10. Purdue Boilermakers
The Badgers are tasked with playing at Purdue, but it’s undoubtedly their easiest road game of the year. The Boilermakers are predicted to finish dead last in the conference, and this is the perfect tune-up game before ending the year against Minnesota.
9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Wisconsin’s toughest stretch of the year comes with three of four on the road from October 31 to November 21. That lone home game just happens to be against Rutgers, a squad that’s predicted to finish 17th in the Big Ten.
8. Michigan State Spartans
Joseph’s first time playing a conference opponent at home will be on Saturday, October 3, when the Badgers welcome the Spartans, a team that struggled big time last year and isn’t projected to improve by that much.
7. Maryland Terrapins
Maryland comes in the aforementioned three road games in a four-week stretch. Ultimately, though, the silver lining is that they are predicted to finish 15th in the Big Ten and should be one of the Badgers’ easiest road games of the year.
6. UCLA Bruins
Playing on the West Coast is never easy, but Wisconsin draws UCLA on the road the week after their bye. It’ll be interesting to see how the Bruins look in mid-October, but the Badgers should be extremely well rested and ready to go.
5. Minnesota Golden Gophers
It’s a bit surprising to see Minnesota ranked so low. While they’re not exactly a premier team in the nation, this is a crucial rivalry game, and it gets to be played in Madison this season. It’s worth noting Wisconsin loses a day of rest as this comes on Friday, November 27, but there are still other teams on their schedule that will, or at least should present far more of a challenge.
4. Penn State Nittany Lions
Even though Penn State is projected to finish two spots ahead of Iowa, Wisconsin should be sitting pretty for this Nittany Lions game. That’s not to say Penn State won’t be, but this late-September showdown shouldn’t faze the Badgers, even though they’re tasked with playing their first conference game on the road.
3. Iowa Hawkeyes
Not only do the Badgers have to play at Kinnick, but they have to do so on Halloween. This game has all the makings of an instant classic and could easily go down as Wisconsin’s biggest test of the year, away from home. As for their biggest conference test, that will have happened the week prior.
2. USC Trojans
The Trojans are no Alabama, Michigan, or Ohio State, but this USC team is projected to finish fourth in the Big Ten. Camp Randall better be packed and rowdy for this one; otherwise, it’ll be extremely tough for Wisconsin to pull off the upset.
1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
In the least surprising news of all, Notre Dame will present Wisconsin their biggest challenge of the year. Sure, Fickell and this staff had all offseason to prepare, but no one can judge this Badgers squad after what could be a blowout loss at Lambeau Field, as the spread currently suggests.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Ranking Wisconsin Badgers football opponents from easiest to toughest
Reporting by Jordon Lawrenz, Badgers Wire / Badgers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jordon Lawrenz, Badgers Wire | USA TODAY Network
