Sidelined for two weeks, Badgers left off one AP top-25 ballot
Not playing had its privileges, until it didn’t.
The Wisconsin Badgers saw themselves steadily climbing up the Associated Press top-25 poll before they had even played a game. When the Big Ten announced its return to play, and then AP voters could start putting those teams on their ballots, Wisconsin entered at No. 19 and moved up to No. 14 before ever taking the field.
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After winning their opener against Illinois, the Badgers moved up to No. 9. But then COVID-19 hit the team and Wisconsin had to cancel its next two games.
The Badgers have slipped four spots – down to No. 13 – after two games of being idle.
Wide receiver Kendric Pryor said he tries not to pay attention to the rankings but Tuesday admitted “it definitely sucks a little bit kind of knowing that we were No. 9 and then just not being able to play just dropping.”
Most AP voters didn’t penalize Wisconsin too much – in fact, a handful moved the Badgers up or kept them at the same spot from the previous week.
If you’re wondering why UW slid down as much as it did, 10 voters moved the Badgers down 5+ in their rankings, including three who dropped Wisconsin 10+ spots. Let’s take a look at those three.
Kirk Bohl, Austin American-Statesman: Ranking: 19 down from 9. Some notable teams ahead of Wisconsin on his ballot: Texas A&M (0-0), 5; SMU (0-0), 11; Northwestern (3-0), 16; Oregon (1-0) 17.
Brooks Kubena, The Advocate: Ranking: 22 down from 11. Notable teams: Texas A&M, 6; Oregon, 12; Northwestern, 19; SMU, 20.
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoma: Ranking: Not ranked after having UW at 11 last week. Notable teams: Texas A&M, 6; Oregon, 17; SMU, 20; Army (6-1), 21; Tulsa (3-1), 23; Northwestern, 24; USC (1-0), 25.
Here’s all the votes from Week 10 with Weeks 8-9 included for comparison’s sake:
| Voter | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 |
| Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Andy Greder, St. Paul Pioneer Press | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| Colten Bartholomew, Wisconsin State Journal | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Nate Mink, Syracuse Media Group | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Parrish Alford, Daily Journal (Tupelo, Miss.) | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| Sam McKewon, Omaha World-Herald | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Matt Baker, Tampa Bay Times | 9 | 7 | 7 |
| Conor O’Neill, Winston-Salem Journal | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Davis Potter, Casper Star-Tribune | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| John Bednarowski, Marietta Daily Journal | 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Jonas Pope, Raleigh News and Observer | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Josh Furlong, KSL.com | 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Lauren Brownlow, WRAL Baltimore | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Robert Cessna, Bryan-College Station Eagle | 10 | 10 | 15 |
| Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Ryan Pritt, Charleston Gazette-Mail | 10 | 9 | 6* |
| Soren Petro, 810 WHB Kansas City | 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Steve Virgen, Albuquerque Journal | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Tom Murphy, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Adam Zucker, CBS Sports Network | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| Audrey Dahlgren, WLNS-TV | 11 | 9 | 10 |
| Blair Kerkoff, Kansas City Star | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| John Clay, Lexington Herald-Leader | 11 | 8 | 9 |
| Madison Blevins, WBIR-TV | 11 | 9 | 10 |
| Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald | 11 | 10 | 12 |
| Pete Martini, Salem Statesman Journal | 11 | 8 | 11 |
| Bob Asmussen, Champaign News-Gazette | 12 | 11 | 11 |
| Brian Howell, Daily Camera | 12 | 11 | 11 |
| Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News | 12 | 11 | 11 |
| David Briggs, Toledo Blade | 12 | 8 | 9 |
| Dylan Sinn, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette | 12 | 6 | 5 |
| Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune | 12 | 7 | 7 |
| Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Star-Advertiser | 12 | 10 | 12 |
| Garland Gillen, WVUE-TV New Orleans | 12 | 9 | 10 |
| Gentry Estes, The Tennessean | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Pat Dooley, Gainesville Sun | 12 | 10 | 10 |
| Trevor Hass, Boston.com | 12 | 10 | 11 |
| Jon Johnson, The Dothan Eagle | 12 | 11 | 13 |
| Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register | 13 | 11 | 11 |
| Brett McMurphy, Stadium Network | 13 | 9 | 9 |
| Chris Murray, Reno Gazette-Journal | 13 | 11 | 12 |
| Eric Boynton, Spartanburg Herald-Journal | 13 | 11 | 15 |
| James Kratch, The Star Ledger | 13 | 8 | 9 |
| Norm Wood, The Daily Press | 13 | 11 | 14 |
| Theo Lawson, Spokesman-Review | 13 | 12 | 12 |
| Aaron McMann, Mlive Media Group | 14 | 13 | 13 |
| Steve Batterson, Quad City Times | 14 | 11 | 12 |
| Matt Brown, The Athletic | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| Neill Ostrout, Journal Inquirer | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Rob Long, WJFK-FM Washington, D.C. | 15 | 10 | 12 |
| Tom D’Angelo, Palm Beach Post | 15 | 14 | 13 |
| Jerry DiPaola, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | 16 | 10 | 10 |
| Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News | 16 | 13 | 13 |
| David Jablonski, Cox Media Group | 17 | 14 | 11 |
| Rece Davis, ESPN | 18 | 12 | 12 |
| Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman | 19 | 9 | 12 |
| Michael Lev, Arizona Daily Star | 20 | 19 | 11 |
| Tom Green, Alabama Media Group | 20 | 19 | 20 |
| Brooks Kubena, The Advocate | 22 | 11 | 11 |
| Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman | NR | 11 | 13 |
