Bill Connelly released the latest SP+ rankings for ESPN this week ahead of the 2023 season. Wisconsin is ranked No. 19 by the system, 1 of just 4 B1G programs in the top 25 heading into the summer.

While the Badgers are still outside the top 15 nationally, landing inside the top 20 is a jump for the Badgers following Luke Fickell’s first spring. In fact, the SP+ jumped Wisconsin 6 spots coming out of the spring, making the Badgers one of the highest risers on the system.

Here is what Connelly  had to say about the jump for the Badgers and Fickell’s overhaul of the offense, including the addition of new OC Phil Longo and a slew of quarterback prospects:

New head coach Luke Fickell is attempting quite the offensive identity shift in Madison, bringing in coordinator Phil Longo and three different transfer quarterbacks, led by SMU’s 3,500-yard passer Tanner Mordecai… The combination of portal work and an updated roster that included a few more returnees than I thought has bumped the Badgers up to 18th in returning production and 19th overall.

Fickell’s first season at Madison and the program’s transition into the Air Raid are some of the most intriguing storylines in the B1G. We’ll see if the Badgers can compete for a B1G West title out of the gate with Fickell, but the pieces in place are intriguing, to say the least.