Column: Predicting every game on Wisconsin football's 2025 schedule
BadgerNotes staff writer Seamus Rohrer drops his game-by-game Wisconsin Badgers 2025 football predictions.
Week 0 is officially here in college football, with Farmageddon (Kansas State vs. Iowa State) in Dublin, Ireland, mere days away. We’ve almost made it through the dreary offseason, and finally, the 2025 campaign is nearly upon us.
This fall will be a defining year for Wisconsin football, perhaps one of the most important turning points in the history of the program. Head coach Luke Fickell simply must show progress in year three, and much (if not all) of that progress must come in the form of wins.
Inside of two weeks out from the opener and with fall camp in the rear-view mirror, it's time for a game-by-game prediction of how the Badgers will fare this fall.
Miami (OH) at Wisconsin: Win
Record: 1-0
The RedHawks had an excellent season last fall before getting their doors blown off in the MAC title game to Ohio. They bounced back from that with a convincing 43-17 win over Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl, but now only return six total starters as they look for a third straight winning season.
Dequan Finn is a talented mobile quarterback, one who should test the lauded speed of Wisconsin’s linebackers immediately. This is a good MAC program, but Miami has an undersized defensive line and quite literally the least experienced offensive line in the nation, with zero players who have been full time starters and just three career starts in that room as a whole. Thus, the Badgers should be able to dominate the line of scrimmage and win fairly convincingly.
Middle Tennessee at Wisconsin: Win
Record: 2-0
Middle Tennessee is coming off a 3-9 season and must replace its top rusher, top two receivers and top tackler. It deploys an experienced quarterback in Nicholas Vattiato, but that’s about all the Blue Raiders have going for them heading into a road game at a venue the caliber of Camp Randall Stadium.
This is the easiest game on Wisconsin’s schedule by far and should serve as a great tune-up before the Badgers head down south.
Wisconsin at Alabama: Loss
Record: 2-1
Wisconsin was absolutely carved up by Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe in the first game of this home-and-home series last fall in Madison. Alabama must break in a new signal caller in Ty Simpson, who doesn’t boast nearly the same athletic profile as the electrifying Milroe. What’s more, the Crimson Tide are likely to be without star tailback Jam Miller, who is dealing with an upper body injury and doesn’t have a timetable to return.
Still, it’s nearly impossible to see the Badgers rolling into Tuscaloosa and winning in the exceedingly hostile Bryant-Denny Stadium. In theory, Wisconsin’s new (old) offensive formula — running the ball, controlling the clock — is exactly how a team pulls off a shocking road upset.
But with Alabama set to deploy one of the best defensive fronts in the nation, I’m not confident Wisconsin will be able to operate its run game at full or even moderate capacity in this one.
Maryland at Wisconsin: Win
Record: 3-1
In a game that at the time should excite very few on the national front, the main story here is the quarterbacks. Of course, the Terp-turned-Badger Billy Edwards Jr. should be extra fired up for this game. And on the other side, Maryland looks set to deploy true freshman Malik Washington. He’s got all of the physical tools and was a consensus blue-chip prospect.
Despite Maryland’s dismal 4-8 record last fall, they quietly had some nice skill players in receiver Tai Felton and tailback Roman Hemby. Neither return.
The cupboard looks pretty bare in College Park despite the hope that Washington provides for the Terp faithful. In the Badgers’ easiest Big Ten game, they win at home.
Wisconsin at Michigan: Loss
Record: 3-2
True freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood has garnered most of the non-scandal related headlines coming out of Ann Arbor this offseason, but I look to what should be a two-headed monster at tailback with Alabama transfer Justice Haynes and returnee Jordan Marshall.
Despite a national title hangover last season, Michigan remained pesky because to beat them, teams had to match their physicality in the trenches. I anticipate that being the same in 2025, and I’m not sure the Badgers are equipped on either side of the ball to handle that rushing attack or what should be one of the most dominant front sevens in the country.
Iowa at Wisconsin: Win
Record: 4-2
As I’ve written previously, I believe that this is the most important game for Fickell this fall. He’s certainly aware of how big this game is; a 0-3 start against the Hawkeyes would be another massive indictment on the Fickell era.
People seem to believe Iowa finally has a competent quarterback. I’ll believe it when I see it. Mark Gronowski was a good FCS passer; lets see him against Big Ten defenses. I’ll never doubt a Phil Parker-coached defense, and the Hawkeyes will be formidable on that side of the ball again.
But with home field advantage and an offseason of grueling reminders about just how badly they got embarrassed by Iowa last season, I expect Wisconsin to finally reclaim the Heartland Trophy.
Ohio State at Wisconsin: Loss
Record: 4-3
The Badgers get the Buckeyes at home for the second time in the Fickell era, and they were surprisingly close to pulling the upset in 2023 under the Camp Randall lights. This game obviously means a lot to the Ohio State alum and former coach Fickell, but it’s going to take more firepower than Wisconsin has on either side of the ball to knock off the defending national champions.
The Buckeyes have arguably the two best players in the country in wideout Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. They’ll break in a new starting quarterback in sophomore Julian Sayin, but Wisconsin has a disadvantage at just about every position in this game.
Wisconsin at Oregon: Loss
Record: 4-4
The Badgers played the Ducks shockingly close last fall, nearly upsetting the No. 1 team in the country. Wisconsin’s defense seemed to match up well against Oregon’s spread attack, and that won’t necessarily change. Still, Autzen stadium presents a massive challenge for anyone, let alone a team with as many question marks as the Badgers.
I’d give Wisconsin a chance at home or at a neutral site game against the 2025 Ducks, but Oregon is too stacked on paper to lose to the Badgers at home.