Manny Navarro projects Wisconsin to earn College Football Playoff rank in 2026

The Wisconsin Badgers are projected to finish the 2026 season ranked No. 16 in the College Football Playoff poll, according to a recent prediction by Manny Navarro. The forecast suggests the program could secure a 9-3 record, marking a significant rebound for head coach Luke Fickell. Despite the projection, the team remains unranked in both the preseason AP and US LBM coaches' polls. Wisconsin has not appeared in the final College Football Playoff rankings since 2019. The team enters the season with a revised roster that includes Old Dominion transfer quarterback Colton Joseph alongside several returning defensive contributors. Success under this projection would represent the most competitive season for the program during the current coaching era.

• 11:01 AMYahoo Sports — Wisconsin Badgers get surprising College Football Playoff prediction