How Dropouts Nearly Sent Badgers to the Bowl
Wisconsin football came agonizingly close to a postseason bowl despite cruising to only four wins in 2025. Their climactic tilt against Minnesota could have secured a fifth victory, making them bowl-eligible at 5–7, thanks to a wave of teams declining invites—from the snubbed Notre Dame to lower-tier programs like Kansas and Rutgers. With empty bowl slots aplenty, Fickell’s crew needed that signature win (and Paul Bunyan’s Axe) to seal the deal. Instead, the Badgers fell short, leaving fans to wonder if they would have even accepted had circumstances aligned.
Move over Cinderella stories—this is Wisconsin’s bid for “Bowl Game Limbo.” The Badgers almost tumbled into a postseason dance because everyone else got cold feet. It’s like showing up to a party where only you can’t stand the music, but hey, free punch bowl! Coach Fickell must love the suspense: will we grumble about losing to our biggest rival, or will we revel in other teams’ existential crises? Either way, happy holidays!
Badgers’ NET Ranking Rockets After Power Wins
Following back-to-back victories over Northwestern and Marquette by a combined 32 points, Wisconsin’s basketball team vaulted 14 spots to No. 55 in the latest NCAA NET standings. After a rough road trip left them shooting under 35 percent and scoring a season-low 63 points, the Badgers rediscovered their scoring touch at home. Their 85-73 win over Northwestern was their largest in the rivalry since 2021, while the 96-76 rout of Marquette marked the biggest margin in 73 years. With 19 and 18 assists in those games respectively, UW’s unselfish play style was on full display, earning votes in the AP Top 25 and setting up a potential Quad-1 opportunity against Nebraska.
Talk about a computer algorithm swooning for point spreads—negative early-season vibes turned into mathematical lust after two blowouts. Wisconsin’s data-loving fans can now brag about high-assist games and historic margins, all while rubbing it in the face of cold-blooded analytics that almost wrote them off. Next up: convincing the NET that chaos is a strategy.
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