Predicting the first loss for every college football top 25 team

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ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 02: Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates after a touchdown in the fourth quarter during the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between Western Michigan and Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium on January 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers: vs. Florida State (College Football Playoff)

While much of the national attention is understandably focused on the trio of teams in the Big Ten East, Wisconsin is emerging as a darkhorse College Football Playoff contender.

Wisconsin rumbled its way to its way to another 11-win season with a Big Ten West championship and Cotton Bowl victory over Western Michigan in year two of the Paul Chryst era. The Badgers’ three losses came against the aforementioned East powerhouses by a combined 21 points, and there’s plenty of returning talent to be excited about.

Quarterback Alex Hornibrook showed flashes of promise as a redshirt freshman and has the talent to take a step froward with targets Jazz Peavy and Troy Fumagali at his disposal, plus another great offensive line and solid group of young running backs led by Bradrick Shaw. While losing stud Jack Cichy to a torn ACL hurts, the Badgers are deep at linebacker and have an experienced defense full of playmakers like T.J. Edwards and D’Cota Dixon.

As opposed to last year’s gauntlet, the schedule opens up perfectly for an undefeated regular season, as the Badgers’ toughest road games come at BYU (Sept. 16) and Nebraska (Oct. 7). Assuming Wisconsin can get by the likes of Iowa and Northwestern at Camp Randall, its biggest test will be at home against Michigan on Nov. 18, and the Badgers’ experience will prevail over a young Wolverines team in a hostile environment.

The Badgers will then erase any questions about their soft schedule by taking down Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game to reach their first College Football Playoff. While the Buckeyes will have the talent advantage, Wisconsin’s defense is terrific at preventing splash plays and will be able to limit J.T. Barrett, while the offensive line can at least slow Ohio State’s terrifying front.

Finally, the Badgers will meet their match against Florida State’s dynamic defense and athletic offense in the National Semifinal, but the national title window should remain open in 2018 with many key pieces set to return.