2021 Wisconsin Badgers football team
2021 Wisconsin Badgers football | |
---|---|
Las Vegas Bowl, vs. Arizona State | |
Conference | Big Ten Conference |
West Division | |
2021 record | 8–4 (6–3 Big Ten) |
Head coach |
|
Offensive coordinator | Joe Rudolph (7th season) |
Defensive coordinator | Jim Leonhard (5th season) |
Home stadium | Camp Randall Stadium (capacity: 80,321) |
Uniform | |
2021 Big Ten Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 2 Michigan xy$^ | 8 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 6 Ohio State x | 8 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 10 Michigan State | 7 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Penn State | 4 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maryland | 3 | – | 6 | 6 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rutgers | 2 | – | 7 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | 0 | – | 9 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 15 Iowa xy | 7 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wisconsin | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purdue | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois | 4 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nebraska | 1 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 1 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Michigan 42, Iowa 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The 2021 Wisconsin Badgers football team represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers are led by seventh-year head coach Paul Chryst and compete as members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
Previous season[]
The 2020 team started the year twelfth in the pre-season AP Poll.[1] The team finished with three regular season losses, and were invited to the Duke's Mayo Bowl to play Wake Forest. The Badgers won the game 42–28 and finished the year at 4–3.
Offseason[]
2021 NFL draft[]
Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 156 | Isaiahh Loudermilk | DE | Pittsburgh Steelers |
6 | 213 | Rachad Wildgoose | CB | Buffalo Bills |
6 | 214 | Cole Van Lanen | OT | Green Bay Packers |
Undrafted | G | Green Bay Packers | ||
S | New Orleans Saints | |||
FB | Carolina Panthers | |||
RB | Las Vegas Raiders |
Transfers[]
Outgoing
Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Transfer to |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reggie Pearson | #2 | S | 5'10 | 180 | Sophomore | Inkster, MI | Texas Tech |
Jack Coan | #17 | QB | 6'3 | 190 | Senior | West Sayville, NY | Notre Dame |
Nakia Watson | #14 | RB | 5'11 | 212 | Sophomore | Austin, TX | Washington State |
Gabe Lloyd | #46 | TE | 6'5 | 220 | Senior | Green Bay, WI | North Dakota State |
Madison Cone | #31 | S | 5'8 | 165 | Senior | Kernersville, NC | Appalachian State |
Dante Caputo | #38 | S | 5'11 | 185 | Freshman | Wexford, PA | Pittsburgh |
Malik Reed | #53 | LB | 6'2 | 220 | Freshman | Chandler, AZ | Arizona |
Taj Mustapha | #81 | WR | 6'2 | 175 | Sophomore | West Bloomfield, MI | Kent State |
Loyal Crawford* | #22 | RB | 6'0 | 190 | Freshman | Eau Claire, WI | |
Antwan Roberts* | #28 | RB | 6'2 | 195 | Freshman | Hendersonville, TN | |
Jalen Berger* | #8 | RB | 6'0 | 205 | Freshman | Ramsey, NJ | Michigan State |
Devin Chandler* | #86 | WR | 6'0 | 171 | Freshman | Cornelius, NC | Virginia |
Kayden Lyles* | #76 | OL | 6'3 | 323 | Senior | Middleton, WI | Florida State |
Donte Burton* | #4 | CB | 5'10 | 174 | Junior | Loganville, GA | |
Quan Easterling* | #43 | FB | 6'2 | 235 | Sophomore | Akron, OH | Duquesne |
Deron Harrell* | #8 | CB | 6'2 | 175 | Senior | Denver, CO | |
Izayah Green-May* | #50 | OLB | 6'6 | 205 | Senior | Bolingbrook, IL | Northern Illinois |
*Transferred midseason
Incoming
Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Prev. school |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Isaac Townsend | #85 | DE | 6'6 | 235 | Freshman | Arvada, CO | Oregon |
Chez Mellusi | #27 | RB | 5'11 | 190 | Junior | Naples, FL | Clemson |
Preseason[]
Spring Game[]
The Spring Game was held in April 2021.
Award Watch Lists[]
Preseason Big Ten poll[]
Although the Big Ten Conference has not held an official preseason poll since 2010, Cleveland.com has polled sports journalists representing all member schools as a de facto preseason media poll since 2011. For the 2021 poll, Wisconsin was projected to finish first in the West Division.[2]
Media poll (West Division) | ||
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
---|---|---|
1 | Wisconsin | 233 (29) |
2 | Iowa | 202 (5) |
3 | Northwestern | 160 |
4 | Minnesota | 146 |
5 | Nebraska | 91.5 |
6 | Purdue | 72.5 |
7 | Illinois | 47 |
Schedule[]
In Big Ten Conference play, Wisconsin will play all members of the West Division, and draws Penn State, Michigan, and Rutgers from the East Division.
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 4 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 19 Penn State | No. 12 |
| FOX | L 10–16 | 76,832 |
September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | Eastern Michigan* | No. 18 |
| FS1 | W 34–7 | 70,967 |
September 25 | 11:00 a.m. | vs. No. 12 Notre Dame* | No. 18 |
| FOX | L 13–41 | 59,571 |
October 2 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 14 Michigan |
| FOX | L 17–38 | 74,855 | |
October 9 | 2:30 p.m. | at Illinois |
| BTN | W 24–0 | 40,168 | |
October 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Army* |
| BTN | W 20–14 | 76,314 | |
October 23 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 25 Purdue |
| BTN | W 30–13 | 61,320 | |
October 30 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 9 Iowa |
| ESPN | W 27–7 | 74,209 | |
November 6 | 2:30 p.m. | at Rutgers | No. 21 |
| BTN | W 52–3 | 40,280 |
November 13 | 11:00 a.m. | Northwestern | No. 18 |
| ESPN2 | W 35–7 | 73,194 |
November 20 | 2:30 p.m. | Nebraska | No. 15 |
| ABC | W 35–28 | 67,888 |
November 27 | 3:00 p.m. | at Minnesota | No. 14 |
| FOX | L 13–23 | 49,736 |
December 30 | 9:30 p.m. | vs. Arizona State* |
| ESPN | |||
|
Personnel[]
Coaching staff[]
Name | Position | Alma Mater | Years at Wisconsin |
---|---|---|---|
Paul Chryst | Head Coach | Wisconsin–Madison | 7th |
Jim Leonhard | Defensive Coordinator / Safeties | Wisconsin–Madison | 5th |
Joe Rudolph | Associate Head Coach / Run Game Coordinator / OL | Wisconsin–Madison | 7th |
Bobby April | Outside Linebackers / Defensive Run Game Coordinator | Louisiana at Lafayette | 4th |
Bob Bostad | Inside Linebackers | Wisconsin–Stevens Point | 5th |
Gary Brown | Running Backs | Penn State University | 1st |
Chris Haering | Special Teams | West Virginia University | 7th |
Ross Kolodziej | Defensive Line | Wisconsin–Madison | 1st |
Hank Poteat | Cornerbacks | University of Pittsburgh | 1st |
Mikey Tuner | Tight Ends | Wisconsin–Madison | 7th |
Alvis Whitted | Wide Receivers | North Carolina State University | 2nd |
Shaun Snee | Director of Football Strength & Conditioning | California University of Pennsylvania | 1st |
Roster[]
2021 Wisconsin Badgers football roster | ||||||||||
Quarterback
Running Back
Fullback
Wide Receiver
Tight End
|
Offensive Lineman
Defensive Lineman
Long Snappers
Kicker
Punter
|
Linebacker
Defensive Back
|
Source:[4]
Rankings[]
Week | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
AP | 12 | 18 | 18 | 18 | RV | NR | NR | NR | NR | RV | 20 | 19 | 18 | RV | RV | |||||||||||||||||||||
Coaches | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | RV | NR | NR | NR | NR | RV | 24 | 20 | 18 | RV | RV | |||||||||||||||||||||
CFP | Not released | 21 | 18 | 15 | 14 | NR | NR | Not released |
Game summaries[]
No. 19 Penn State[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 19 Nittany Lions | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 16 |
No. 12 Badgers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
- Date: September 4, 2021
- Game time: 11:00 a.m.
- Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C); Cloudy; Wind at W6 MPH
- Game attendance: 76,832
- Referee: Jerry McGinn
- TV announcers (FOX): Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst) and Jenny Taft (sideline)
- [1]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Eastern Michigan[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
No. 18 Badgers | 7 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 34 |
at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
No. 12 Notre Dame[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 12 Fighting Irish | 0 | 10 | 0 | 31 | 41 |
No. 18 Badgers | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
No. 14 Michigan[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 14 Wolverines | 7 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 38 |
Badgers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison WI
- Date: October 2, 2021
- Game time: 11:00 a.m.
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C); Sunny; Wind at S7 MPH
- Game attendance: 74,855
- Referee: John O'Neill
- TV announcers (FOX): Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst) and Jenny Taft (sideline)
- [4]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Illinois[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Badgers | 3 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
Fighting Illini | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: October 9, 2021
- Game time: 2:30 p.m.
- Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C); Sunny; Wind at n/a MPH
- Game attendance: 40,168
- Referee: Mark Kluczynski
- TV: BTN
- [5]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Army[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black Knights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
Badgers | 0 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
at Camp Randall Stadium
- Date: October 16, 2021
- Game time: 7:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C); Sunny; Wind at W6 MPH
- Game attendance: 76,314
- Referee: Jerry McGinn
- TV: BTN
- [6]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
No. 25 Purdue[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Badgers | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 30 |
No. 25 Boilermakers | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Ross-Ade Stadium
- Date: October 23, 2021
- Game time: 2:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 61,320
- Referee: Ron Snodgrass
- TV: BTN
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
No. 9 Iowa[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 9 Hawkeyes | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Badgers | 7 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
at Camp Randall Stadium
- Date: October 30, 2021
- Game time: 11:00 a.m.
- Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C); Cloudy; Wind at N 10 MPH
- Game attendance: 74,209
- Referee: Michael Cannon
- TV announcers (ESPN): Dan Orlovsky
- [8]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Rutgers[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 21 Badgers | 7 | 24 | 21 | 0 | 52 |
Scarlet Knights | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at SHI Stadium
- Date: November 6, 2021
- Game time: 2:30 p.m.
- Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C); Cloudy; Wind at E 5 MPH
- Game attendance: 40,280
- Referee: Reggie Smith
- TV: BTN
- [9]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Northwestern[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
No. 18 Badgers | 0 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
at Camp Randall Stadium
- Date: November 13, 2021
- Game time: 11:00 a.m.
- Game weather: 35 °F (2 °C); Cloudy; Wind at NW 11 MPH
- Game attendance: 73,194
- Referee: John O'Neill
- TV: ESPN2
- [10]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Nebraska[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cornhuskers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
No. 15 Badgers | 14 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
at Camp Randall Stadium
- Date: November 20, 2021
- Game time: 2:30 p.m.
- Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C); Cloudy; Wind at W 7 MPH
- Game attendance: 67,888
- Referee: Jerry McGinn
- TV announcers (ABC): Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek
- [11]
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Minnesota[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 14 Badgers | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
Golden Gophers | 3 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 23 |
at Huntington Bank Stadium
- Date: November 27, 2021
- Game time: 3:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C); Sunny; Wind at NW 12 MPH
- Game attendance: 49,736
- Referee: Ron Snodgrass
- TV: FOX
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Awards and honors[]
Player | Award | Date awarded | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Braelon Allen | Big Ten Freshman Player of the Week | October 18, 2021 | [5] |
Leo Chenal | Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week | October 24, 2021 | [6] |
Leo Chenal | Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week | October 25, 2021 | [7] |
Collin Larsh | Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week | October 25, 2021 | [7] |
Braelon Allen | Big Ten Freshman Player of the Week | November 8, 2021 | [8] |
Braelon Allen | Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week | November 15, 2021 | [9] |
Player | Award | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Butkus/Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year | [10] | |
First Team All-Big Ten Defense (Coaches/Media) | [10] | |
John Seltzner | First Team All-Big Ten Offense (Coaches)/Second Team All-Big Ten Offense (Media) | [10] |
Jack Sandborn | First Team All-Big Ten Defense (Coaches)/Second Team All-Big Ten Defense (Media) | [10] |
Jake Ferguson | First Team All-Big Ten Offense (Coaches)/Second Team All-Big Ten Offense (Media) | [10] |
Braelon Allen | Second Team All-Big Ten Offense (Coaches/Media) | [10] |
Logan Bruss | Second Team All-Big Ten Offense (Coaches/Media) | [10] |
Keeanu Benton | Second Team All-Big Ten Defense (Coaches)/Honorable Mention Defense (Media) | [10] |
Matt Henningsen | Third Team All-Big Ten Defense (Coaches/Media) | [10] |
Tyler Beach | Third Team All-Big Ten Offense (Coaches)/Honorable Mention Offense (Media) | [10] |
Caesar Williams | Third Team All-Big Ten Defense (Coaches)/Honorable Mention Defense (Media) | [10] |
Noah Burks | Honorable Mention Defense (Coaches/Media) | [10] |
Nick Herbig | Honorable Mention Defense (Coaches/Media) | [10] |
Faion Hicks | Honorable Mention Defense (Coaches/Media) | [10] |
Isiah Mullens | Honorable Mention Defense (Coaches/Media) | [10] |
Scott Nelson | Honorable Mention Defense (Coaches/Media) | [10] |
Collin Wilder | Honorable Mention Defense (Coaches/Media) | [10] |
References[]
- ^ "2020 College Football Polls". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Baird, Nathan (Jul 21, 2021). "Ohio State football voted overwhelming 2021 Big Ten favorite in cleveland.com preseason poll". Cleveland.com.
- ^ "2021 Football Coaching Staff". uwbadgers.com. Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Football Roster". uwbadgers.com. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ "Purdue, Michigan State and Wisconsin Earn Weekly Football Honors". bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- ^ "Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman and Wisconsin LB Leo Chenal Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week, presented by Generation UCAN". Al Carbone. Walter Camp Football Foundation. October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ a b "Illinois, Ohio State and Wisconsin Earn Weekly Football Honors". bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ "Illinois, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin Earn Weekly Football Honors". bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ "Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin Earn Weekly Football Honors". bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Big Ten Unveils Football All-Conference Teams and Select Individual Honors" (PDF). bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- "2021 Wisconsin Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- 2021 Big Ten Conference football season
- Wisconsin Badgers football seasons
- 2021 in sports in Wisconsin
- College football 2020s season stubs