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Big Ten football standings predictions for the 2023 season

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 12: A detailed view of a Big Ten end zone pylon seen before the Illinois Fighting Illini and Michigan Wolverines game at Memorial Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 12: A detailed view of a Big Ten end zone pylon seen before the Illinois Fighting Illini and Michigan Wolverines game at Memorial Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) runs through a drill during fall training camp at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. – Mike De Sisti / The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) runs through a drill during fall training camp at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. – Mike De Sisti / The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel /

No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers (12-0 overall, 9-0 B1G)

  • Prediction

The top of the Big Ten West in 2023 will go to the Wisconsin Badgers. A program that actually struggled in 2022, going 6-6 overall and 4-5 in the Big Ten, will find their legs once again.

Buckle your seatbelts, as I have the Badgers going 12-0 overall and 9-0 in the Big Ten. That is right, I don’t have them losing a game. I believe this Wisconsin team could be pretty good in 2023.

  • Reasoning

I’ll first start with the schedule. Wisconsin only plays two ranked teams in 2023, and those two games are both at home against No. 25 Iowa and No. 3 Ohio State. I think both are very winnable. There aren’t a lot of high-powered offenses on the schedule either.

A big sticking point for Wisconsin has been quarterback play. Graham Mertz is gone and is down in Florida now. He was only able to throw for 2,136 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. The replacement for him is Tanner Mordecai, who I think was one of the best offseason additions in college football. He threw for 3,524 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions for SMU last season.

There is a lot of talent around Mordecai as well. Braelon Allen is back in the backfield. He rushed for 1,242 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2022. I think with a competent quarterback, Allen will have a bigger year. Wisconsin also has their top three pass catchers returning from last season.

Under the previous head coach, Wisconsin’s defense struggled in 2022. They gave up 21.9 points per game, which ranked No. 24 in the country. I think you could see that number improve with the new coaching staff in place.

The Badgers do return four out of the top five players in tackles, three out of the top five players in sacks, and three out of the top five players in interceptions. Wisconsin will have a good defense, and that is dangerous with their offense being able to move the ball.

I think Mordecai gives Wisconsin a big boost this season. He is someone who could sneak into the Heisman Trophy conversation.

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