Wisconsin’s defense should appeal to playoff committee
The College Football Playoff committee finally got around to showing some love for unbeaten Wisconsin. The Badgers jumped up to No. 5 in the committee’s rankings this week, after checking in at ninth and eighth the first two weeks of the committee’s rankings.
And you would think the defense-obsessed committee would love the Badgers. On Sept. 30, Northwestern scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes against the Badgers before losing 33-24.
That’s the only game all season Wisconsin has allowed more than 17 points. Defense has carried the Badgers to a 10-0 record, including tight wins of 17-9 over Purdue and 24-10 over Illinois.
Of course, Wisconsin hasn’t been playing a bunch of Mason Rudolphs or Baker Mayfields. The Badgers have played just one team that was ranked at the time of the game (No. 20 Iowa, a 38-14 loser last week) and the Hawkeyes are out of the rankings now, replaced in part by No. 24 Michigan, a visitor Saturday to Camp Randall Stadium in Madi- son.
The Wolverines are no offensive juggernaut, either. They’ve got into the 20s and 30s against a variety of mediocre opponents, but in Michigan’s only marquee game since a season opener against Florida, the Wolverines lost 42-13 at Penn State.
But Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst has the Badgers playing with the right mindset. Don’t worry about the end. The Big Ten championship game or a potential playoff berth. Just worry about the opponent awaiting on Saturday.