Wisconsin Badgers returning similar number of football starters as most Big Ten teams

The Wisconsin Badgers will have a handful of returning starters on both sides the ball this season, roughly the same amount as most of their Big Ten peers.

Oct 12, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Darrion Dupree (13) celebrates his touchdown run with offensive lineman Jake Renfro (57) during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Between the NFL Draft, graduation and the transfer portal, the Wisconsin Badgers lost a good chunk of starters from the 2024 team.

They didn't lose more than most other teams in the Big Ten.

CBS Sports' Cody Nagel went through and tracked the returning starters for every Power Four team, and Wisconsin was right there in the same range as their peers

He lists the Badgers with nine starters returning, four on offense and five on defense.

That's three offensive linemen — Joe Brunner (LG), Jake Renfro (C) and Riley Mahlman (RT) — plus wide receiver Vinny Anthony.

On the other side, it's safeties Preston Zachman and Austin Brown, along with cornerback Ricardo Hallman, edge rusher Darryl Peterson and defensive lineman Ben Barten.

Aug 31, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin safety Austin Brown (9) recovers a fumbled punt during the fourth quarter of their game agains Western Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-Imagn Images

He left out cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean, whose eligibility for this season is still being debated in the courts, but Luke Fickell expects to have him back for 2025.

That would give Wisconsin 10 returning starters, the same number as Rutgers, Northwestern, Minnesota and Iowa.

Ohio State, Michigan State and Nebraska all have nine coming back, while Indiana and USC are at eight.

Illinois leads the Big Ten with 16 returning starters, while Penn State and Michigan aren't far behind with 14 and 13, respectively.

Those are the only three teams with more returning starters than the Badgers.

It's far from the deciding factor that will determine how good Wisconsin does in 2025, but it shows they have just as much continuity as most of their conference rivals.

More Wisconsin Badgers News:

• Wisconsin Badgers' reported NCAA penalties for 2023 recruiting violation should have minimal impact

• Billy Edwards Jr. compares favorably to his Big Ten peers at quarterback

• Luke Fickell explains what makes city of Madison special for Wisconsin Badgers football recruiting

• How Wisconsin Badgers coordinators rank compared to rest of Big Ten