ESPN names Wisconsin football fourth-biggest overachiever this season

Wisconsin Badgers football is exceeding expectations in 2026, and ESPN has taken notice. ESPN's Bill Connelly named the Badgers the fourth-biggest overachiever in college football this season, recognizing the team's progress after a disappointing 4-8 campaign in 2025.Wisconsin improved to 5-2 overall, and 3-1 in Big Ten play Saturday with a dominant 24-7 victory over No. 15 USC. The Badgers' defense stole the show, holding the Trojans to just seven points while recording five sacks and forcing two interceptions.The performance marked a significant response after Wisconsin's 17-7 loss to UCLA the previous week. The Badgers bounced back against a ranked conference opponent, demonstrating the defensive potential that has helped fuel their strong start.Under head coach Luke Fickell, Wisconsin entered the season looking to rebound from consecutive disappointing campaigns. The team's early results have provided reason for optimism as it looks to return to bowl eligibility and establish itself as a more competitive Big Ten program.Biggest recent overachievers vs. SP+ projections (weighted toward most recent games):1. Wake Forest2. Oregon State3. Boston College4. Wisconsin5. Arizona6. Ole Miss7. Wyoming8. Liberty9. UCLA10. Oklahoma State— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) October 25, 2026With a 5-2 record and a statement win over USC, Wisconsin has already made meaningful progress this season. The challenge now is sustaining that momentum through the remainder of the conference schedule, which begins with a Halloween showdown at No. 24 Iowa.Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: ESPN names Wisconsin football fourth-biggest overachiever this season