Wisconsin Badgers have better College Football Playoff odds than Florida State, UCLA among others

ESPN's FPI gives the Wisconsin Badgers low odds to make the College Football Playoffs, but they're still more likely than some other big name programs.

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is shown during the first quarter of their game against Alabama Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

No one is expecting the Wisconsin Badgers to make a run to the College Football Playoff, but they have better odds than some other big name programs.

ESPN's FPI calculations set a percentage likelihood for each team to make the postseason. UW came in low but far from the lowest.

Each P4 Team's Chance to Make CFP 🏈
(via ESPN FPI) pic.twitter.com/CxLPNXWr25

— CFB Tracker (@MatchupTracker) June 6, 2025

Wisconsin's odds at 2.6 percent aren't surprising, but that's still ahead of ACC teams like Florida State, Duke and Boston College.

11 Big Ten teams are ahead of the Badgers, though UCLA, Rutgers, Maryland and Michigan State are even lower.

It's better than Northwestern and Purdue, who were given zero percent chance. For Wisconsin, it's never say never. For those schools, you can say never.

The Badgers would need a spectacular season from Billy Edwards Jr. and a breakout performance from its young backfield, plus some help from the quality opponents on their schedule blowing their games against Bucky.

But ESPN's FPI can give Wisconsin fans hope, and that's all you can ask for in the leadup to the season.

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