Ranking every game on Wisconsin's 2024 schedule from easiest to toughest (2024)

Ben Kenney

May 17, 2024 7:00 am CT

The Wisconsin Badgers enter the 2024 college football season with one of the toughest schedules in the sport.

The program has massive home matchups with Oregon and Penn State in Big Ten play, must visit USC and Iowa and hosts Alabama in a huge nonconference matchup.

Related: Post-spring Big Ten football 2024 power rankings, starting quarterback rankings

Gone are the days of what a tough Big Ten West schedule used to look like. Wisconsin played its biggest games of the season against Minnesota, Iowa, Northwestern and Nebraska while, in most seasons, only having to play one of Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.

Now, the Badgers and other former Big Ten West members must realize a 7-2 or 8-1 conference record will be necessary to make the title game. Plus the number of premier programs in the conference just grew with the addition of USC, Oregon, UCLA and Washington.

Related: Predicting the 2024 College Football Playoff 12-team field, bracket after spring practice

The upcoming season’s outlook may get lost in the summer months as the 2025 recruiting cycle dominates the news. Before that, here is our ranking of every game on Wisconsin’s 2024 schedule from easiest to toughest:

Aug. 31 vs. Western Michigan

Sept. 16, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa; Western Michigan Broncos quarterback Treyson Bourguet (2) and running back Jalen Buckley (29) in action during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

SP+ Ranking: No. 111 (-13.9)

Western Michigan went 4-8 in 2023 and projects to struggle more in 2024. Plus this is the first game of the season. Wisconsin will be fully healthy and ready to prove what it couldn’t in 2023.

Sept. 7 vs. South Dakota

Aug. 31, 2023; Columbia, Missouri; South Dakota Coyotes running back Mike Mansaray (7) celebrates with offensive lineman Sam Kohls (68) after a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

SP+ Ranking: N/A (FCS)

South Dakota went 10-3 in 2023 and is one of the stronger FCS teams entering 2024. Wisconsin shouldn’t have any trouble, especially if its offense shows up to play. I’d say the Coyotes are a bit tougher than the normal bottom-of-the-FBS opponent.

Oct. 5 vs. Purdue

Nov. 18, 2023; Evanston, Illinois; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters watches his team play against the Northwestern Wildcats in the fourth quarter at Ryan Field. Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

SP+ Ranking: No. 86 (-6.7)

Wisconsin gets Purdue in between two tough matchups: at USC and at Rutgers. The Boilermakers project to be one of the worst teams in the Big Ten in 2024. Maybe they can overtake Northwestern, but don’t expect them to give Wisconsin trouble.

Oct. 19 at Northwestern

Nov. 4, 2023; Chicago, Illinois; Northwestern Wildcats head coach David Braun looks on during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Wrigley Field. David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

SP+ Ranking: No. 55 (0.5)

Northwestern was an impressive 8-5 in 2023 in David Braun’s first season — that after he took over during training camp after Pat Fitzgerald was fired in July. 2024 should be a return-to-earth for the program, especially after starting quarterback Brendan Sullivan transferred to Iowa.

The big question here is where the game will be played (Ryan Field is demolished). Wisconsin shouldn’t have much trouble otherwise.

Nov. 30 vs. Minnesota

Oct. 21, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck watches a replay against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

SP+ Ranking: No. 41 (4.2)

Minnesota enters 2024 with a projected win total of 4.5 for a reason. That, plus this game is at home in Madison. Luke Fickell is 1-0 against the Gophers and will likely improve to 2-0 this season.

Oct. 12 at Rutgers

Sept. 3, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at SHI Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

SP+ Ranking: No. 43 (4.0)

Rutgers is sneaky-good entering 2024 and get this game at home in New Jersey. Wisconsin is 5-0 in the all-time series with the following margins: 37-0, 48-10, 31-17, 52-3 and 24-13.

This will be Rutgers’ best shot to best Wisconsin yet. I think the Badgers win, but this isn’t as easy as it normally is.

Get more (Rutgers) news, analysis and opinions onRutgers Wire

Nov. 23 at Nebraska

Nov. 11, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule during the third quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium. Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

SP+ Ranking: No. 39 (5.6)

Wisconsin hasn’t lost to Nebraska since 2012. But the situation feels different in Lincoln under head coach Matt Rhule. I expect these games to start getting tougher and tougher as Rhule builds the program.

This is the don’t be surprised if Wisconsin loses portion of the ranking.

Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions onCornhuskers Wire

Sept. 28 at USC

Oct. 28, 2023; Berkeley, California; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts after a penalty during the third quarter against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Darren Yamash*ta-USA TODAY Sports

SP+ Ranking: No. 23 (11.5)

Weirdly, I think Wisconsin matches up much better against USC than it does against Iowa and some other classic Big Ten programs. Wisconsin can score with the Trojans and will enter with a much better defense — as opposed to a matchup where Iowa’s defense can suffocate Wisconsin’s offense.

I’m picking a Wisconsin upset road win here. I’m just not a big believer in USC this season, and think the matchup is a favorable one.

Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions onTrojans Wire

Nov. 2 at Iowa

Oct. 30, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

SP+ Ranking: No. 26 (10.9)

This is a nightmare matchup until Wisconsin’s identity is established. I would usually bet on Wisconsin’s new-look approach being enough to defeat a team with Iowa’s normal struggles on offense. But the Hawkeyes won that matchup in 2023, exposing real flaws in Wisconsin’s offensive system.

The Badgers need to defeat the Hawkeyes physically, which didn’t happen in 2023. It remains a real question with Phil Longo’s offense.

Plus, Iowa is set to be good again in 2024 and gets this game in Iowa City. This will be a coin-flip spread and should be the same on the field.

Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions onHawkeyes Wire

Sept. 14 vs. Alabama

April 9, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer coaches his team during practice in the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility at the University of Alabama. Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY NETWORK

SP+ Ranking: No. 6 (26.6)

Wisconsin actually gets Alabama in a good spot, if that’s possible. The program is in a transition period with new head coach Kalen DeBoer. So the team should be getting better as the weeks pass in 2024.

The Badgers host this game in Week 3, while the Crimson Tide are possibly still rounding into form. I think Alabama wins, but this situation is better than playing them late in the season. That’s why it’s ranked ahead of the next two games.

Get more (Alabama) news, analysis and opinions onRoll Tide Wire

Oct. 26 vs. Penn State

Dec. 30, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the sidelines against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

SP+ Ranking: No. 7 (25.6)

Penn State is projected to be as good as Alabama on paper in 2024, but it is an established program under James Franklin that has experience winning on the road in Madison. This game has all of the wrong characteristics for Luke Fickell’s team: a great team, a good (maybe great) quarterback, a strong defensive identity and a proven head coach.

A win in this contest would be more impressive than defeating Alabama in Week 3.

Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions onNittany Lions Wire

Nov. 16 vs. Oregon

Nov. 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning (center) leads quarterback Bo Nix (10) and Ty Thompson (13) onto the field for the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

SP+ Ranking: No. 3 (29.3)

Oregon is the best team on Wisconsin’s schedule. Even though this game is in Madison, the Ducks should be an established national contender by this point and don’t have a real weakness. This is easily the toughest game Wisconsin plays in 2024.

Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions onDucks Wire

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