So the Wisconsin football team is sitting with a .500 record and is 0-3 in the Big Ten Conference. UW head coach Bret Bielema has stated that it is time for the team to turn things around - as if that wasn't well apparent - and he has all the confidence in the world that his Badgers can right the ship.
But a closer look at the schedule shows just how difficult it is going to be for Wisconsin to climb out of the Big Ten cellar.
This weekend, the Badgers head to Iowa to play for the Heartland Trophy.
Although most students don't even know of this trophy - it has only existed since 2004 - the chances of UW coming away with it for a third straight season seem questionable. Last season, Wisconsin came away with a 17-13 victory, but only after Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen missed a wide-open receiver down the field late in the game, which would have given Iowa the victory.
UW's last two wins against Iowa have come by a combined seven points, and those past UW teams were better than this year's. Iowa dropped 45 points on Indiana last week, and unless Bielema pulls some magic out of his windbreaker, the Badgers could easily lose this game, too.
Next up is Illinois at Camp Randall. This year's homecoming probably won't be a happy one, as Illini quarterback Juice Williams brings a talented offense to Madison. Williams leads the conference in passing yards with 1,677, and his go-to receiver, Arrelious Benn, is second in the Big Ten with 563 yards. The Wisconsin secondary will be tested throughout the game, and with Williams' ability to get out of the pocket and make big plays downfield with his arm and his legs, it seems unlikely that the Badgers will be able to come away with a victory.
By now, everyone knows that Williams spent part of the offseason practicing with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, and it has shown this season. Last week against Minnesota, Williams passed for 462 yards and two touchdowns. Enough said.
After that, the Badgers travel to Michigan State. Halloween weekend in Madison will be frightful, but this game might top the scariest costume found on State Street. Michigan State's offense revolves around one player: running back Javon Ringer.
The thing is, no one has been able to stop him thus far. He is the top rusher in the nation with 1,112 yards and leads the Big Ten in scoring with 84 points. In comparison, Wisconsin's leading rusher is junior running back P.J. Hill, who has a total of 570 rushing yards, almost half as many as Ringer.
Wisconsin travels to Indiana the following week, and here the Badgers have a very good shot to win, if they won't already be the favorites. Indiana is currently 0-3 in the Big Ten as well, and with quarterback Kellen Lewis often injured, Wisconsin should be able to sweep in and get a victory.
Minnesota travels to Madison in the last Big Ten game of the year, and Wisconsin will undoubtedly be ready for this one. However, the Golden Gophers are 6-1 overall and are already bowl eligible. It seems like Bizarro World - where everything is backward when UW is in the pits and Minnesota is flying high - but head coach Tim Brewster has turned things around, and Wisconsin should be wary.
So according to this column, the Badgers will finish at least 3-5 in the Big Ten Conference, and that is if they defeat Iowa and Minnesota. The Indiana game is a lock, hopefully, and with Cal Poly as the powder-puff substitution for Virginia Tech, Wisconsin will at least end the year with a victory. A 3-5 record in conference play would give UW a 7-5 record overall, meaning the Motor City Bowl might be making a phone call.
But a loss at Iowa or against Minnesota - or both - could result in a .500 record or worse, something that Badger fans have not seen since 2001.
And in case Bielema doesn't know Wisconsin history all that well: that team ended up 5-7 with a 3-5 conference record, and did not attend a bowl game.
Think 7-5 is just a bit too optimistic? Tell Nate at ncarey@wisc.edu.
