2014–2026 performance history

Wisconsin over time

Season-by-season offense and defense game grades, with head-coaching changes placed on the timeline.

Big TenHead coach: Luke FickellView Wisconsin games →
Offense · 2026 estimate28.2/100

45.5 average through 1 game

26.2 prior · 8 equivalent games
Defense · 2026 estimate71.2/100

72.7 average through 1 game

71.0 prior · 8 equivalent games

The trajectory

Game and Season Unit Ratings

Each small dot is one offensive or defensive game rating, arranged in the order played. For completed seasons, the short bar is that season’s average game rating. Both dot and bar values are labeled on a percentile scale. For 2026, the bar is the Bayesian estimate, while the outlined circle is the empirical games-only mean. Labeled background bands show each head coach’s era.

Wisconsin individual offense and defense game grades by seasonEach small point is one game. Horizontal bars show completed-season means and the Bayesian estimate for 2026. The outlined 2026 circle is the empirical games-only mean. Alternating labeled bands identify head-coaching eras.AndersenGary Andersen, 2014Chryst · ’15–’21Paul Chryst, 2015–2021LeonhardJim Leonhard, 2022Fickell · ’23–’26Luke Fickell, 2023–2026offenseGame-grade percentile · higher is better9975502512014 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. LSU · L 24–28; offense 62.6 percentile2014 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Western Illinois · W 37–3; offense 40.6 percentile2014 Week 4: Wisconsin vs. Bowling Green · W 68–17; offense 98.5 percentile2014 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. South Florida · W 27–10; offense 57.4 percentile2014 Week 6: Wisconsin at Northwestern · L 14–20; offense 54.3 percentile2014 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · W 38–28; offense 79.6 percentile2014 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Maryland · W 52–7; offense 93.5 percentile2014 Week 10: Wisconsin at Rutgers · W 37–0; offense 39.4 percentile2014 Week 11: Wisconsin at Purdue · W 34–16; offense 76.9 percentile2014 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska · W 59–24; offense 97.6 percentile2014 Week 13: Wisconsin at Iowa · W 26–24; offense 83.0 percentile2014 Week 14: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · W 34–24; offense 84.0 percentile2014 Week 15: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 0–59; offense 8.0 percentile2014 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Auburn · W 34–31; offense 83.8 percentile2015 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Alabama · L 17–35; offense 60.5 percentile2015 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Miami (OH) · W 58–0; offense 79.6 percentile2015 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. Troy · W 28–3; offense 81.6 percentile2015 Week 4: Wisconsin vs. Hawai'i · W 28–0; offense 68.1 percentile2015 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · L 6–10; offense 10.8 percentile2015 Week 6: Wisconsin at Nebraska · W 23–21; offense 55.7 percentile2015 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Purdue · W 24–7; offense 41.0 percentile2015 Week 8: Wisconsin at Illinois · W 24–13; offense 56.6 percentile2015 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Rutgers · W 48–10; offense 55.3 percentile2015 Week 10: Wisconsin at Maryland · W 31–24; offense 21.3 percentile2015 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · L 7–13; offense 2.9 percentile2015 Week 13: Wisconsin at Minnesota · W 31–21; offense 63.0 percentile2015 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. USC · W 23–21; offense 34.0 percentile2016 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. LSU · W 16–14; offense 49.7 percentile2016 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Akron · W 54–10; offense 87.8 percentile2016 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. Georgia State · W 23–17; offense 58.3 percentile2016 Week 4: Wisconsin at Michigan State · W 30–6; offense 45.9 percentile2016 Week 5: Wisconsin at Michigan · L 7–14; offense 18.8 percentile2016 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 23–30; offense 90.0 percentile2016 Week 8: Wisconsin at Iowa · W 17–9; offense 66.0 percentile2016 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska · W 23–17; offense 47.6 percentile2016 Week 10: Wisconsin at Northwestern · W 21–7; offense 13.2 percentile2016 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · W 48–3; offense 80.2 percentile2016 Week 12: Wisconsin at Purdue · W 49–20; offense 67.5 percentile2016 Week 13: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · W 31–17; offense 56.7 percentile2016 Week 14: Wisconsin vs. Penn State · L 31–38; offense 76.6 percentile2016 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Western Michigan · W 24–16; offense 74.2 percentile2017 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Utah State · W 59–10; offense 94.2 percentile2017 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Florida Atlantic · W 31–14; offense 69.2 percentile2017 Week 3: Wisconsin at BYU · W 40–6; offense 98.8 percentile2017 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · W 33–24; offense 70.4 percentile2017 Week 6: Wisconsin at Nebraska · W 38–17; offense 80.8 percentile2017 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Purdue · W 17–9; offense 88.6 percentile2017 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Maryland · W 38–13; offense 87.6 percentile2017 Week 9: Wisconsin at Illinois · W 24–10; offense 30.4 percentile2017 Week 10: Wisconsin at Indiana · W 45–17; offense 84.5 percentile2017 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · W 38–14; offense 81.6 percentile2017 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Michigan · W 24–10; offense 62.1 percentile2017 Week 13: Wisconsin at Minnesota · W 31–0; offense 93.4 percentile2017 Week 14: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 21–27; offense 32.1 percentile2017 Week 1: Wisconsin at Miami · W 34–24; offense 72.8 percentile2018 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Western Kentucky · W 34–3; offense 69.3 percentile2018 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. New Mexico · W 45–14; offense 96.9 percentile2018 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. BYU · L 21–24; offense 60.4 percentile2018 Week 4: Wisconsin at Iowa · W 28–17; offense 91.7 percentile2018 Week 6: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska · W 41–24; offense 96.6 percentile2018 Week 7: Wisconsin at Michigan · L 13–38; offense 64.8 percentile2018 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · W 49–20; offense 75.9 percentile2018 Week 9: Wisconsin at Northwestern · L 17–31; offense 38.4 percentile2018 Week 10: Wisconsin vs. Rutgers · W 31–17; offense 86.6 percentile2018 Week 11: Wisconsin at Penn State · L 10–22; offense 48.1 percentile2018 Week 13: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · L 15–37; offense 37.7 percentile2018 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Miami · W 35–3; offense 88.9 percentile2019 Week 1: Wisconsin at South Florida · W 49–0; offense 63.9 percentile2019 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Central Michigan · W 61–0; offense 98.3 percentile2019 Week 4: Wisconsin vs. Michigan · W 35–14; offense 98.1 percentile2019 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · W 24–15; offense 24.0 percentile2019 Week 6: Wisconsin vs. Kent State · W 48–0; offense 96.5 percentile2019 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Michigan State · W 38–0; offense 88.6 percentile2019 Week 8: Wisconsin at Illinois · L 23–24; offense 67.8 percentile2019 Week 9: Wisconsin at Ohio State · L 7–38; offense 41.3 percentile2019 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · W 24–22; offense 95.8 percentile2019 Week 12: Wisconsin at Nebraska · W 37–21; offense 92.6 percentile2019 Week 13: Wisconsin vs. Purdue · W 45–24; offense 95.6 percentile2019 Week 14: Wisconsin at Minnesota · W 38–17; offense 96.5 percentile2019 Week 15: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 21–34; offense 84.9 percentile2019 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Oregon · L 27–28; offense 49.8 percentile2020 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · W 45–7; offense 62.4 percentile2020 Week 11: Wisconsin at Michigan · W 49–11; offense 96.8 percentile2020 Week 12: Wisconsin at Northwestern · L 7–17; offense 15.2 percentile2020 Week 14: Wisconsin vs. Indiana · L 6–14; offense 41.3 percentile2020 Week 15: Wisconsin at Iowa · L 7–28; offense 5.8 percentile2020 Week 16: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · W 20–17; offense 18.9 percentile2020 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Wake Forest · W 42–28; offense 23.6 percentile2021 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Penn State · L 10–16; offense 17.4 percentile2021 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Eastern Michigan · W 34–7; offense 80.4 percentile2021 Week 4: Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame · L 13–41; offense 25.6 percentile2021 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. Michigan · L 17–38; offense 13.6 percentile2021 Week 6: Wisconsin at Illinois · W 24–0; offense 95.4 percentile2021 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Army · W 20–14; offense 54.4 percentile2021 Week 8: Wisconsin at Purdue · W 30–13; offense 60.9 percentile2021 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · W 27–7; offense 41.2 percentile2021 Week 10: Wisconsin at Rutgers · W 52–3; offense 98.4 percentile2021 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · W 35–7; offense 88.2 percentile2021 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska · W 35–28; offense 87.7 percentile2021 Week 13: Wisconsin at Minnesota · L 13–23; offense 11.9 percentile2021 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Arizona State · W 20–13; offense 45.1 percentile2022 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Illinois State · W 38–0; offense 49.8 percentile2022 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. New Mexico State · W 66–7; offense 92.6 percentile2022 Week 4: Wisconsin at Ohio State · L 21–52; offense 51.7 percentile2022 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · L 10–34; offense 12.6 percentile2022 Week 6: Wisconsin at Northwestern · W 42–7; offense 99.1 percentile2022 Week 7: Wisconsin at Michigan State · L 28–34; offense 23.7 percentile2022 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Purdue · W 35–24; offense 87.0 percentile2022 Week 10: Wisconsin vs. Maryland · W 23–10; offense 56.7 percentile2022 Week 11: Wisconsin at Iowa · L 10–24; offense 18.3 percentile2022 Week 12: Wisconsin at Nebraska · W 15–14; offense 48.6 percentile2022 Week 13: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · L 16–23; offense 67.1 percentile2022 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State · W 24–17; offense 25.7 percentile2023 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Buffalo · W 38–17; offense 83.7 percentile2023 Week 2: Wisconsin at Washington State · L 22–31; offense 44.7 percentile2023 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. Georgia Southern · W 35–14; offense 62.8 percentile2023 Week 4: Wisconsin at Purdue · W 38–17; offense 81.5 percentile2023 Week 6: Wisconsin vs. Rutgers · W 24–13; offense 62.9 percentile2023 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · L 6–15; offense 26.9 percentile2023 Week 8: Wisconsin at Illinois · W 25–21; offense 60.6 percentile2023 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 10–24; offense 27.1 percentile2023 Week 10: Wisconsin at Indiana · L 14–20; offense 23.2 percentile2023 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · L 10–24; offense 26.7 percentile2023 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska · W 24–17; offense 71.2 percentile2023 Week 13: Wisconsin at Minnesota · W 28–14; offense 85.0 percentile2023 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. LSU · L 31–35; offense 51.9 percentile2024 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Western Michigan · W 28–14; offense 60.2 percentile2024 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. South Dakota · W 27–13; offense 19.4 percentile2024 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. Alabama · L 10–42; offense 20.2 percentile2024 Week 5: Wisconsin at USC · L 21–38; offense 64.7 percentile2024 Week 6: Wisconsin vs. Purdue · W 52–6; offense 69.9 percentile2024 Week 7: Wisconsin at Rutgers · W 42–7; offense 79.3 percentile2024 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · W 23–3; offense 46.1 percentile2024 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Penn State · L 13–28; offense 30.8 percentile2024 Week 10: Wisconsin at Iowa · L 10–42; offense 43.6 percentile2024 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Oregon · L 13–16; offense 15.3 percentile2024 Week 13: Wisconsin at Nebraska · L 25–44; offense 70.8 percentile2024 Week 14: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · L 7–24; offense 1.9 percentile2025 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Miami (OH) · W 17–0; offense 45.6 percentile2025 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Middle Tennessee · W 42–10; offense 85.7 percentile2025 Week 3: Wisconsin at Alabama · L 14–38; offense 38.2 percentile2025 Week 4: Wisconsin vs. Maryland · L 10–27; offense 2.2 percentile2025 Week 6: Wisconsin at Michigan · L 10–24; offense 12.6 percentile2025 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · L 0–37; offense 4.9 percentile2025 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 0–34; offense 16.6 percentile2025 Week 9: Wisconsin at Oregon · L 7–21; offense 18.7 percentile2025 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Washington · W 13–10; offense 18.2 percentile2025 Week 12: Wisconsin at Indiana · L 7–31; offense 35.7 percentile2025 Week 13: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · W 27–10; offense 57.6 percentile2025 Week 14: Wisconsin at Minnesota · L 7–17; offense 30.2 percentile2026 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame · L 13–41; offense 45.5 percentile2014 offense season mean: 73.7 percentile2015 offense season mean: 45.9 percentile2016 offense season mean: 60.6 percentile2017 offense season mean: 79.3 percentile2018 offense season mean: 76.3 percentile2019 offense season mean: 85.5 percentile2020 offense season mean: 37.4 percentile2021 offense season mean: 59.7 percentile2022 offense season mean: 57.1 percentile2023 offense season mean: 55.3 percentile2024 offense season mean: 40.0 percentile2025 offense season mean: 26.2 percentile2026 offense Bayesian estimate: 28.2 percentile2026 offense empirical mean: 45.5 percentiledefenseGame-grade percentile · higher is better9975502512014 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. LSU · L 24–28; defense 63.6 percentile2014 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Western Illinois · W 37–3; defense 76.9 percentile2014 Week 4: Wisconsin vs. Bowling Green · W 68–17; defense 89.9 percentile2014 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. South Florida · W 27–10; defense 27.6 percentile2014 Week 6: Wisconsin at Northwestern · L 14–20; defense 31.2 percentile2014 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · W 38–28; defense 44.7 percentile2014 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Maryland · W 52–7; defense 97.5 percentile2014 Week 10: Wisconsin at Rutgers · W 37–0; defense 97.9 percentile2014 Week 11: Wisconsin at Purdue · W 34–16; defense 92.0 percentile2014 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska · W 59–24; defense 95.9 percentile2014 Week 13: Wisconsin at Iowa · W 26–24; defense 24.2 percentile2014 Week 14: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · W 34–24; defense 73.5 percentile2014 Week 15: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 0–59; defense 34.2 percentile2014 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Auburn · W 34–31; defense 42.1 percentile2015 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Alabama · L 17–35; defense 16.5 percentile2015 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Miami (OH) · W 58–0; defense 97.7 percentile2015 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. Troy · W 28–3; defense 72.1 percentile2015 Week 4: Wisconsin vs. Hawai'i · W 28–0; defense 90.7 percentile2015 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · L 6–10; defense 78.9 percentile2015 Week 6: Wisconsin at Nebraska · W 23–21; defense 78.1 percentile2015 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Purdue · W 24–7; defense 89.4 percentile2015 Week 8: Wisconsin at Illinois · W 24–13; defense 70.6 percentile2015 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Rutgers · W 48–10; defense 98.1 percentile2015 Week 10: Wisconsin at Maryland · W 31–24; defense 71.9 percentile2015 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · L 7–13; defense 79.5 percentile2015 Week 13: Wisconsin at Minnesota · W 31–21; defense 67.7 percentile2015 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. USC · W 23–21; defense 85.0 percentile2016 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. LSU · W 16–14; defense 81.2 percentile2016 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Akron · W 54–10; defense 89.0 percentile2016 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. Georgia State · W 23–17; defense 58.1 percentile2016 Week 4: Wisconsin at Michigan State · W 30–6; defense 90.5 percentile2016 Week 5: Wisconsin at Michigan · L 7–14; defense 93.5 percentile2016 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 23–30; defense 79.5 percentile2016 Week 8: Wisconsin at Iowa · W 17–9; defense 95.9 percentile2016 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska · W 23–17; defense 68.4 percentile2016 Week 10: Wisconsin at Northwestern · W 21–7; defense 97.9 percentile2016 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · W 48–3; defense 77.2 percentile2016 Week 12: Wisconsin at Purdue · W 49–20; defense 55.4 percentile2016 Week 13: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · W 31–17; defense 60.1 percentile2016 Week 14: Wisconsin vs. Penn State · L 31–38; defense 50.5 percentile2016 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Western Michigan · W 24–16; defense 78.8 percentile2017 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Utah State · W 59–10; defense 73.4 percentile2017 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Florida Atlantic · W 31–14; defense 97.2 percentile2017 Week 3: Wisconsin at BYU · W 40–6; defense 72.5 percentile2017 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · W 33–24; defense 78.0 percentile2017 Week 6: Wisconsin at Nebraska · W 38–17; defense 47.5 percentile2017 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Purdue · W 17–9; defense 73.6 percentile2017 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Maryland · W 38–13; defense 25.1 percentile2017 Week 9: Wisconsin at Illinois · W 24–10; defense 47.2 percentile2017 Week 10: Wisconsin at Indiana · W 45–17; defense 69.5 percentile2017 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · W 38–14; defense 96.9 percentile2017 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Michigan · W 24–10; defense 95.5 percentile2017 Week 13: Wisconsin at Minnesota · W 31–0; defense 98.2 percentile2017 Week 14: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 21–27; defense 76.8 percentile2017 Week 1: Wisconsin at Miami · W 34–24; defense 37.1 percentile2018 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Western Kentucky · W 34–3; defense 57.7 percentile2018 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. New Mexico · W 45–14; defense 66.6 percentile2018 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. BYU · L 21–24; defense 27.9 percentile2018 Week 4: Wisconsin at Iowa · W 28–17; defense 41.9 percentile2018 Week 6: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska · W 41–24; defense 27.7 percentile2018 Week 7: Wisconsin at Michigan · L 13–38; defense 45.9 percentile2018 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · W 49–20; defense 52.0 percentile2018 Week 9: Wisconsin at Northwestern · L 17–31; defense 37.4 percentile2018 Week 10: Wisconsin vs. Rutgers · W 31–17; defense 56.4 percentile2018 Week 11: Wisconsin at Penn State · L 10–22; defense 74.2 percentile2018 Week 13: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · L 15–37; defense 47.1 percentile2018 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Miami · W 35–3; defense 95.8 percentile2019 Week 1: Wisconsin at South Florida · W 49–0; defense 99.6 percentile2019 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Central Michigan · W 61–0; defense 99.9 percentile2019 Week 4: Wisconsin vs. Michigan · W 35–14; defense 93.9 percentile2019 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · W 24–15; defense 76.6 percentile2019 Week 6: Wisconsin vs. Kent State · W 48–0; defense 89.8 percentile2019 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Michigan State · W 38–0; defense 98.6 percentile2019 Week 8: Wisconsin at Illinois · L 23–24; defense 68.5 percentile2019 Week 9: Wisconsin at Ohio State · L 7–38; defense 44.3 percentile2019 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · W 24–22; defense 45.7 percentile2019 Week 12: Wisconsin at Nebraska · W 37–21; defense 17.6 percentile2019 Week 13: Wisconsin vs. Purdue · W 45–24; defense 42.4 percentile2019 Week 14: Wisconsin at Minnesota · W 38–17; defense 98.4 percentile2019 Week 15: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 21–34; defense 53.9 percentile2019 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Oregon · L 27–28; defense 96.5 percentile2020 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · W 45–7; defense 80.1 percentile2020 Week 11: Wisconsin at Michigan · W 49–11; defense 96.6 percentile2020 Week 12: Wisconsin at Northwestern · L 7–17; defense 98.6 percentile2020 Week 14: Wisconsin vs. Indiana · L 6–14; defense 57.9 percentile2020 Week 15: Wisconsin at Iowa · L 7–28; defense 87.2 percentile2020 Week 16: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · W 20–17; defense 85.6 percentile2020 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Wake Forest · W 42–28; defense 47.4 percentile2021 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Penn State · L 10–16; defense 73.2 percentile2021 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Eastern Michigan · W 34–7; defense 98.2 percentile2021 Week 4: Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame · L 13–41; defense 98.5 percentile2021 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. Michigan · L 17–38; defense 84.7 percentile2021 Week 6: Wisconsin at Illinois · W 24–0; defense 99.9 percentile2021 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Army · W 20–14; defense 86.0 percentile2021 Week 8: Wisconsin at Purdue · W 30–13; defense 99.8 percentile2021 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · W 27–7; defense 97.8 percentile2021 Week 10: Wisconsin at Rutgers · W 52–3; defense 83.5 percentile2021 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · W 35–7; defense 97.0 percentile2021 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska · W 35–28; defense 45.2 percentile2021 Week 13: Wisconsin at Minnesota · L 13–23; defense 44.5 percentile2021 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Arizona State · W 20–13; defense 86.5 percentile2022 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Illinois State · W 38–0; defense 46.8 percentile2022 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. New Mexico State · W 66–7; defense 91.3 percentile2022 Week 4: Wisconsin at Ohio State · L 21–52; defense 7.4 percentile2022 Week 5: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · L 10–34; defense 56.9 percentile2022 Week 6: Wisconsin at Northwestern · W 42–7; defense 59.3 percentile2022 Week 7: Wisconsin at Michigan State · L 28–34; defense 48.6 percentile2022 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Purdue · W 35–24; defense 41.4 percentile2022 Week 10: Wisconsin vs. Maryland · W 23–10; defense 96.1 percentile2022 Week 11: Wisconsin at Iowa · L 10–24; defense 87.9 percentile2022 Week 12: Wisconsin at Nebraska · W 15–14; defense 82.9 percentile2022 Week 13: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · L 16–23; defense 78.0 percentile2022 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State · W 24–17; defense 84.2 percentile2023 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Buffalo · W 38–17; defense 79.4 percentile2023 Week 2: Wisconsin at Washington State · L 22–31; defense 49.4 percentile2023 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. Georgia Southern · W 35–14; defense 63.5 percentile2023 Week 4: Wisconsin at Purdue · W 38–17; defense 44.6 percentile2023 Week 6: Wisconsin vs. Rutgers · W 24–13; defense 57.9 percentile2023 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · L 6–15; defense 74.6 percentile2023 Week 8: Wisconsin at Illinois · W 25–21; defense 55.5 percentile2023 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 10–24; defense 41.9 percentile2023 Week 10: Wisconsin at Indiana · L 14–20; defense 64.2 percentile2023 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · L 10–24; defense 24.6 percentile2023 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Nebraska · W 24–17; defense 13.0 percentile2023 Week 13: Wisconsin at Minnesota · W 28–14; defense 74.1 percentile2023 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. LSU · L 31–35; defense 88.6 percentile2024 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Western Michigan · W 28–14; defense 73.6 percentile2024 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. South Dakota · W 27–13; defense 28.1 percentile2024 Week 3: Wisconsin vs. Alabama · L 10–42; defense 8.4 percentile2024 Week 5: Wisconsin at USC · L 21–38; defense 46.1 percentile2024 Week 6: Wisconsin vs. Purdue · W 52–6; defense 51.8 percentile2024 Week 7: Wisconsin at Rutgers · W 42–7; defense 88.6 percentile2024 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Northwestern · W 23–3; defense 66.1 percentile2024 Week 9: Wisconsin vs. Penn State · L 13–28; defense 59.6 percentile2024 Week 10: Wisconsin at Iowa · L 10–42; defense 3.9 percentile2024 Week 12: Wisconsin vs. Oregon · L 13–16; defense 97.1 percentile2024 Week 13: Wisconsin at Nebraska · L 25–44; defense 8.3 percentile2024 Week 14: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota · L 7–24; defense 47.2 percentile2025 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Miami (OH) · W 17–0; defense 99.4 percentile2025 Week 2: Wisconsin vs. Middle Tennessee · W 42–10; defense 89.5 percentile2025 Week 3: Wisconsin at Alabama · L 14–38; defense 8.7 percentile2025 Week 4: Wisconsin vs. Maryland · L 10–27; defense 60.7 percentile2025 Week 6: Wisconsin at Michigan · L 10–24; defense 64.2 percentile2025 Week 7: Wisconsin vs. Iowa · L 0–37; defense 35.3 percentile2025 Week 8: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State · L 0–34; defense 42.5 percentile2025 Week 9: Wisconsin at Oregon · L 7–21; defense 75.7 percentile2025 Week 11: Wisconsin vs. Washington · W 13–10; defense 94.5 percentile2025 Week 12: Wisconsin at Indiana · L 7–31; defense 66.3 percentile2025 Week 13: Wisconsin vs. Illinois · W 27–10; defense 90.7 percentile2025 Week 14: Wisconsin at Minnesota · L 7–17; defense 55.0 percentile2026 Week 1: Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame · L 13–41; defense 72.7 percentile2014 defense season mean: 70.7 percentile2015 defense season mean: 80.7 percentile2016 defense season mean: 80.8 percentile2017 defense season mean: 76.9 percentile2018 defense season mean: 54.4 percentile2019 defense season mean: 85.2 percentile2020 defense season mean: 84.8 percentile2021 defense season mean: 92.4 percentile2022 defense season mean: 68.1 percentile2023 defense season mean: 56.8 percentile2024 defense season mean: 47.2 percentile2025 defense season mean: 71.0 percentile2026 defense Bayesian estimate: 71.2 percentile2026 defense empirical mean: 72.7 percentile2014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Individual gameSeason bar · 2026 is the estimate2026 empirical meanCoaching-era band
2014Gary Andersen / Barry Alvarez
2015Paul Chryst
2022Jim Leonhard / Paul Chryst / Luke Fickell
2023Luke Fickell

How to read 2026

The current-season estimate intelligently blends last season with new data.

The 2026 estimate is a Bayesian weighted average of normal-score Z-values. The 2025 season mean counts like 8 games of prior evidence; each completed 2026 game counts once. The result is then translated back to the 0–100 percentile scale.

2026 Z = (8 × 2025 mean Z + games played × 2026 mean Z) ÷ (8 + games played)

Season record

Every annual grade and coach

Retrospective rows average the available single-game grades in normal-score space. The result is shown as a percentile. Roughly speaking, a 95th-percentile season corresponds to about the eighth-best team in a 160-team field.

SeasonHead coachGamesOffenseDefense
2026Live estimateLuke Fickell1
28.2 estimate45.5 games-only average
71.2 estimate72.7 games-only average
2025Luke Fickell1226.271.0
2024Luke Fickell1240.047.2
2023Luke FickellCoaching change1355.356.8
2022Jim Leonhard / Paul Chryst / Luke FickellCoaching change1257.168.1
2021Paul Chryst1359.792.4
2020Paul Chryst737.484.8
2019Paul Chryst1485.585.2
2018Paul Chryst1276.354.4
2017Paul Chryst1479.376.9
2016Paul Chryst1460.680.8
2015Paul ChrystCoaching change1345.980.7
2014Gary Andersen / Barry AlvarezCoaching change1473.770.7