2017 Wisconsin Badgers football team


The 2017 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers, led by third-year head coach Paul Chryst, were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
Coming off a Cotton Bowl-winning season in 2016, the 2017 team began the year ranked ninth in the preseason AP Poll and were the favorites to repeat as West Division champions and return to the Big Ten Championship Game. The Badgers fulfilled that expectation by winning all 12 of their regular season games, including wins over ranked opponents Iowa and Michigan. They entered the 2017 Big Ten Championship Game ranked third in the AP Poll, with a potential spot in the College Football Playoff on the line, but fell to No. 8 Ohio State, 21–27. Wisconsin was invited to the Orange Bowl, where they defeated Miami. Their 13 wins were the most in school history.
The Badgers were led on offense by freshman running back Jonathan Taylor, who led the Big Ten and was third in FBS in rushing yards with 1,977 yards. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten. Quarterback Alex Hornibrook finished with 2,644 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. On defense, linebacker T. J. Edwards was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press and ESPN.

Recruiting

Recruits

The Badgers signed a total of 18 recruits.

Watchlists and preseason awards

Wisconsin's 2017 schedule consists of 7 home, and 5 away games in the regular season. The Badgers will host Big Ten foes Northwestern, Purdue, Maryland, Iowa, and Michigan and will travel to Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota.
The team's three non–conference games are against the Utah State Aggies from the Mountain West Conference, Florida Atlantic Owls from Conference USA, and the BYU Cougars who compete independently in football.

Game summaries

Utah State

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The No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers were defeated by the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes 27-21 at Lucas Oil Stadium in the Big Ten Championship. Paul Chryst is now 0-2 versus the Buckeyes, and Urban Meyer is now 5-0 versus the Badgers, though two of the victories came in overtime. This was Wisconsin's fifth appearance in the Championship game, and their second straight and Ohio State's third.
Statistical Leaders

Rankings

Roster

Injuries

At the start of the season four players were announced as out for the season due to injury; Senior ILB Jack Cichy, Freshman ILB Mason Stokke, Sophomore OLB Zack Baun, Freshman RB Sam Brodner.

2018 NFL Draft

2018 NFL Draft class

Signed undrafted free agents