Don't overlook Wisconsin as a national power in 2017

The conversation hasn’t changed much.

Nearly every year, we look at Wisconsin as a favorite to win the B1G West. And for good reason. It’s become almost a sure-thing, just as Alabama is the consensus pick in the SEC West year-in and year-out.

In the six-year history of the B1G Championship Game, the Badgers have made four appearances – the most of any other team in the conference. And they’ve done it without highly-ranked recruiting classes or a flashy style of play.

Wisconsin has earned respect in the B1G West.

But when it comes to putting Wisconsin in that national spotlight, that’s when the conversation tends to change direction. It’s the old they-lost-too-much argument that keeps the Badgers out of the national picture. Until, of course, they play their way into it, like they did in 2016.

And now we’re in the early offseason and the whispers have started again and Wisconsin is facing the same scrutiny it did a year ago. Even after a 10-3 season, a B1G West title and a Cotton Bowl victory, the Badgers have apparently “lost too much.”

Is Wisconsin really going to be hurting talent-wise next fall?

Let’s lay it out there. Wisconsin is losing several major contributors. Filling some of those spots is going to be tough.

The defense is going to miss two of the conference’s top linebackers in T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel. And the secondary loses a wealth of experience with Sojourn Shelton and Leo Musso out of the picture. Not to mention, Chryst is looking to hire his third defensive coordinator in as many seasons, after Justin Wilcox accepted the head coaching position at Cal following his stop-and-go trip to Madison.

Offensively, Corey Clement and Dare Ogunbowale leave big shoes to fill at running back and Robert Wheelwright’s production and athleticism will be missed at receiver.

For some reason, that always seems to be the focal point of the debate when Wisconsin is mentioned as a potential national power. It always seems to revolve around what it lost and how difficult it will be to recover.

Wisconsin is more than just a favorite in the West. The Badgers are capable of winning a B1G title and competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff, just as they did in 2016.

Because the Badgers are returning plenty of talent.

Troy Fumagalli is probably the best offensive player returning.

He’ll be one of the top preseason candidates for the Mackey Award for the nation’s best tight end and could very well be one of the best offensive weapons in the conference next season. Just go back and watch the highlights from his six-catch performance in the Cotton Bowl:

Man, that’s pretty hard to defend. He’s the type of player that can make life easy for quarterback Alex Hornibrook, who still has to make a lot of progress this offseason.

Jazz Peavy will serve as really good target for the Badgers, as well.

The receiver was a do-it-all player that probably didn’t receive as much credit as he deserved. Last year, Peavy accounted for 953 offensive yards (635 receiving, 318 rushing) as well as six total TDs.

And does anyone really believe that Wisconsin isn’t going to turn Bradrick Shaw into one of the top running backs in the conference?

It’s understandable to be a bit skeptical about the Badgers’ running game next season, considering the top two ball-carriers are departing and a sophomore is the front-runner to start in the backfield. But Shaw has shown flashes, even with a limited number of touches. Last year, he totaled 457 yards and five TDs on 88 carries.

Wisconsin also has a knack for developing prolific running backs.

In 11 of the past 12 years, the Badgers have had at least one running back eclipse the 1,000-yard mark, with the lone outlier coming in 2015. Shaw will almost undoubtedly reach that clip behind another good offensive line.

Still not convinced? How about the other side of the ball?

Defensively, everyone on Wisconsin’s front line returns. You know, the group that ranked third nationally against the run, allowing just 98.8 yards per game.

Jack Cichy and Chris Orr are veteran leaders at linebacker. D’Cota Dixon is a playmaker in the secondary, too.

And in case you’ve forgotten, Wisconsin’s defense has ranked in the top 10 nationally each of the past four seasons. Why would it lag next fall with that group back on the field?

The Badgers are also going to be aided by a generous schedule next fall. For the first time since 2013, Wisconsin isn’t opening the season against an SEC foe and will have one of the easiest non-conference slates in the B1G.

Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan State are all omitted from the cross-division matchups, too. The toughest opponent on the schedule is a Nov. 18 matchup against Michigan. But even then, Wisconsin has the luxury of playing in Camp Randall Stadium.

RELATED: Season in Review: Wisconsin

In the way-too-early rankings – which really don’t mean anything – the Badgers did receive some recognition. CBS Sports ranked Wisconsin at the No. 12 spot at the end of the 2016 campaign, proving that there is some belief that this team can be a national power.

Still, they were projected to be the fourth-best team in the B1G, behind Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan.

So, once again, Wisconsin is described as that “good, but not quite good enough,” team. That team which can dominate its weak division but isn’t ready to claim a conference title or compete for a national championship.

Wisconsin might change that perception this year. Despite what it lost, it’s returning an awful lot.

2017 might be the year that the conversations about the Badgers finally start to change.