Wisconsin avoided playing Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and Penn State last season but failed to navigate its way through the Big Ten West to the conference championship game. Home losses to Iowa and Northwestern resulted in a second-place finish in the division in head coach Paul Chryst's first season.
Chryst and the Badgers topped USC 23-21 in the Holiday Bowl to reach the 10-win mark but now turn to a daunting schedule this fall.
Wisconsin plays LSU at Lambeau Field in its season opener then visits Michigan State and Michigan to start Big Ten play. After a week off, Ohio State and Urban Meyer visit Camp Randall Stadium for a primetime matchup.
Here is an early look at the second edition of Chryst's Badgers.
Offense
Wisconsin's running game took a significant hit in 2015 with the inconsistency of running back Corey Clement. The then-junior only appeared in four games due to sports hernia surgery and a hand injury that came as a result of an off-field incident near his home.
As a result, Dare Ogunbowale led the Badgers with 819 yards and seven touchdowns while the team finished 10th in the conference in rushing. It was the first time since 2006 Wisconsin's final rushing total was outside the top three among conference cohorts.
| Head Coach | Paul Chryst (2nd season, 10-3 career record) |
| 2015 Record | 10-3, 6-2 (Finished tied for second in the B1G West) |
| 2015 Postseason | Beat USC 23-21 in Holiday Bowl |
| Biggest Losses | QB Joel Stave, OT Tyler Marz, WR Alex Erickson, LB Joe Schobert |
| Biggest Returnees | OL Dan Voltz, RB Corey Clement, LB Vince Biegel |
| Summary | Wisconsin must run the ball better to navigate a tough schedule. |
| Matchup | Oct. 15, 2016: Ohio State at Wisconsin, kickoff 8 p.m. |
Quarterback Joel Stave graduated, leaving coach Paul Chryst with a decision to make between presumed starter and fifth-year senior Bart Houston, sophomore Alex Hornibrook and early enrollee Kare' Lyles.
Chryst did not announce a starter this spring, but Houston should have the edge considering he has more in-game experience. The offensive line in front of him will be solid, at it lost only one starter in left tackle Tyler Marz. Longtime center Dan Voltz (27 career starts) offered a move to guard this spring in the hope of keeping Michael Deiter on the field. Deiter replaced Voltz last season when the latter went down with a torn ACL.
Regardless who plays where Wisconsin's offensive line is extremely talented and experienced and with a healthy Clement running behind it should yield better results on the ground in 2016. Chryst could elect to use a by-committee approach at running back, but Clement is the most talented when healthy.
Leading receiver Alex Erickson (978 yards) and multi-year starters at fullback (Derek Watt) and tight end (Columbus' own Austin Traylor) graduated, so new names must emerge as pass catchers. Senior wideout Robert Wheelwright should be the No. 1 option, but needs help in order for the passing game to improve.
Defense
The Badgers have a huge piece to replace in Big Ten linebacker of the year, All-American and Jack Lambert Award winner Joe Schobert. Three starters are gone in the secondary too, however, defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is the most significant absence from the unit. Aranda now coaches at LSU, replaced by Justin Wilcox.
Wilcox's pass rush and defensive line should be one of the more formidable groups in the Big Ten. Ends Chikwe Obasih and Arthur Goldberg are experienced, as is tackle Olive Sagapulu. T.J. Watt will have more opportunities for playing time in 2016 than he did last year, especially with the departure of Schobert, who now plays for the Cleveland Browns.
Sophomore linebacker T.J. Edwards led the Badgers in tackles last season. He teams up with Vince Biegel (and Biegel's amazing mullet) after the latter elected to return for his senior year.
Can Corey Clement return to form?
They will need to be solid in front of the youth in the secondary. Safeties Michael Caputo and Tanner McEvoy are finally gone, leaving inexperience that opponents will test. The group also has a new voice leading it from the sidelines, as Chryst hired Jim Leohnard as secondary coach.
Wisconsin's defense allowed just 13.7 points per game a year ago, best in the nation. Schobert and Aranda were essential reasons for that, so their replacements have their work cut out for them. Still, Chryst has talent waiting in the wings provided Wilcox can iron out the issues that plagued his groups at USC.
A 10-win season in 2015 kept things mostly business as usual for Wisconsin's football program in Paul Chryst's first go-around in the Big Ten. He faces significant losses defensively, namely coordinator Dave Aranda, but has his team in good position to contend in the wide-open Big Ten West.
But the Badgers won't have it easy in 2016, playing the three top teams in the Big Ten East in consecutive games this fall in addition to road games at Iowa and Northwestern, the two teams that beat them last season.
The game against Ohio State is the first between the two schools at Camp Randall Stadium since 2012, Urban Meyer's first season in Columbus. The Buckeyes won that game in thrilling fashion, 21-14, in overtime.
Wisconsin owns one of the best night game atmospheres in the country. The game marks the first of four straight under the lights for Ohio State, a young but talented team. Buckle up.
