Wisconsin Badgers 2025 football schedule with way-too-early score predictions

The Wisconsin Badgers will face a gauntlet schedule in 2025.

That competition, which should be an even further step up from the team’s challenging 2024 slate, represents the dynamics of the expanded Big Ten Conference. New members Oregon, USC, UCLA and Washington each add formidable opponents to the conference landscape, while the elimination of the old East-West division model took away the guarantee of annual matchups against Northwestern and Purdue.

But even given the reality of the challenging new conference, Wisconsin’s 2025 schedule may be one of the most challenging in the entire sport. The Badgers are projected to host at least four ranked teams. They will also visit another four, including national powers Alabama, Oregon and Michigan.

The program’s on-field product, at least, figures to be much improved, specifically on the offensive side of the football. That unit will enter the year under the guidance of coordinator Jeff Grimes, who the Badgers hired away from Kansas after the 2024 season. Given health at quarterback, the unit shouldn’t have much trouble improving on its 2024 outputs of 22.6 points per game (No. 109 in the nation) and 350.3 yards per game (No. 99).

Wisconsin’s transfer portal haul is a big part of that equation. Projected starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. headlines the group. He’s closely followed by tight end Tanner Koziol and wide receiver Mark Hamper. The Badgers’ defense should also receive a similar impact from incoming transfers. Established veterans are joining the unit at every level, headlined by a strong group of defensive linemen.

It’s reasonable to expect Wisconsin to be a better team in 2025 after going 5-7 and missing a bowl game last season. But given what the team is set to face, even a one-game improvement and a return to bowl eligibility may be viewed as a significant win.

Here is a look at that schedule, including an early score prediction for each game:

Wisconsin football 2025 schedule with score predictions

• Aug. 30: Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (Wisconsin 31, Miami (OH) 14)

• Sept. 6: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (Wisconsin 37, Middle Tennessee 10)

• Sept. 13: at Alabama Crimson Tide (Alabama 35, Wisconsin 27)

• Sept. 20: Maryland Terrapins (Wisconsin 26, Maryland 15)

• Sept. 27: BYE

• Oct. 4: at Michigan Wolverines (Michigan 22, Wisconsin 17)

• Oct. 11: Iowa Hawkeyes (Wisconsin 25, Iowa 18)

• Oct. 18: Ohio State Buckeyes (Ohio State 32, Wisconsin 20)

• Oct. 25: at Oregon Ducks (Oregon 38, Wisconsin 21)

• Nov. 1: BYE

• Nov. 8: Washington Huskies (Wisconsin 23, Washington 21)

• Nov. 15: at Indiana Hoosiers (Wisconsin 24, Indiana 16)

• Nov. 22: Illinois Fighting Illini (Illinois 27, Wisconsin 25)

• Nov. 29: at Minnesota Golden Gophers (Wisconsin 24, Minnesota 23)

• Final record: 7-5 overall, 5-4 Big Ten

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football 2025 schedule preview early score predictions