5 reasons Wisconsin makes the College Football Playoff

MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 14: Head coach Paul Chryst of the Wisconsin Badgers congratulates Jonathan Taylor #23 after Taylor scored a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

2 of 4

MADISON, WI – OCTOBER 21: T.J. Edwards #53 of the Wisconsin Badgers returns an interception for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Camp Randall Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

4. Leadership on Defense

The defense last season ranked third in the nation in points allowed, giving up just 13.9 per game. They said goodbye to several starters and will look for big contributions from underclassmen in 2018 to replace the production lost.

Ryan Connolly and T.J. Edwards were the team’s two leading tacklers in 2017 and they both return in 2018. Their presence in the middle gives Wisconsin not only two big-time players who will rack up tackles, but two senior leaders who have been starters on defense for a combined five seasons.

Safety D’Cota Dixon was an All-Big Ten performer last year and returns to lead the defensive backs this season as a fifth-year senior. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard had a 10-year NFL career as a defensive back and joined his alma mater to coach the position group in 2016 before moving to defensive coordinator.

Leonhard’s background means he’ll put added emphasis on shoring up the back-end of the Badger D. Dixon, the lone returning starter, has played both safety and corner and will play a huge role in helping bring a couple new players around him up to speed as another coach on the field.

Home/College Football