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ESPN names one team with harder 2025 football schedule than Wisconsin Badgers

Despite facing as many as six College Football Playoff contenders, the Wisconsin Badgers still might not have the hardest schedule in the country, according to ESPN.
Lorin Cox|
Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz talks to the media as part of Wisconsin Badgers football media day at the McClain Center in Madison on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz talks to the media as part of Wisconsin Badgers football media day at the McClain Center in Madison on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. | Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers aren't ignoring or backing down from the difficult football schedule they face in 2025.

Luke Fickell is embracing it.

Despite facing as many as six College Football Playoff contenders, the Badgers still might not have the hardest schedule in the country.

ESPN thinks the Florida Gators have a slightly more difficult path.

Toughest overall Power 4 schedule: Florida

Wisconsin is a close second in this category. Luke Fickell and the Badgers could use a strong bounce-back season after losing five in a row to end 2024 and missing a bowl game for the first time in 22 years. Like Florida, Wisconsin faces six ranked teams, including four of the top 11 -- at No. 9 Alabama on Sept. 13, home against No. 5 Ohio State on Oct. 18, at No. 8 Oregon on Oct. 25 and home against No. 11 Illinois on Nov. 22.
Chris Low, ESPN

The Gators have to face Texas, Georgia and LSU, who are all ranked in the Top 7. Their schedule also includes Miami (FL), Texas A&M, Tennessee and Ole Miss.

Their non-conference schedule has a few cupcake games, though. Florida opens the season against Long Island University and South Florida. Wisconsin starts with Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee State.

It's hard to compare a Big Ten and SEC schedule side-by-side. Both schools face three teams that made the College Football Playoff last season, but Wisconsin has to play the defending national champions.

PFF's algorithm has the Badgers with the hardest schedule in the country, ranking Florida's schedule at No. 4 behind UCLA and Arkansas.

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Lorin Cox
LORIN COX

Lorin Cox is the managing editor of Wisconsin Badgers on SI. He has been covering Badgers sports since 2014, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. He previously wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal, NBC Sports Chicago and USA Today Sports Media Group, and he is a former analyst for Pro Football Focus.

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