Confidence is already running high in Madison. Especially on Wisconsin’s secondary.

The Badgers typically field one of the nation’s top defenses. It’s become one of the few certainties in the world of college football. But for cornerbacks Derrick Tindal and Nick Nelson, they don’t believe they’re receiving the respect that’s deserved.

In an article by Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Tindal and Nelson argued that Wisconsin’s secondary won’t just be good in 2017, it could be one of the best in the country.

“Honestly, I feel like we’re going to be the best duo in the nation,” Tindal said of he and Nelson. “And our secondary, I feel we should be the best secondary in the nation.”

Wisconsin surrendered just over 200 yards per game through the air last season, good enough for sixth-best in the B1G. But the Badgers were one of the most opportunistic teams in the country last fall, intercepting 22 passes, which was the highest total in the conference and third-highest nationally.

Wisconsin was exposed against Penn State in the B1G title game, as the Lions threw for 384 yards and four touchdowns. And the loss of playmakers like Leo Musso and Sojourn Shelton have left some wondering about how talented the Badgers secondary can be this year.

Tindal and Nelson are confident, though, and the DBs have some high expectations for the upcoming season.

“You’ve got to have that swag,” Nelson told Potrykus. “You’ve got to have that confidence, especially at that position.”

We’ll see if Tindal and Nelson live up to their own expectations this fall.