They will face five teams within the Top 20, however. The first AP top 25 preseason poll was released on Sunday morning — a list that did not include the Wisconsin Badgers. Like the Coaches poll, UW begins the 2016 season as an unranked program heading into its Sept. 3 match-up against LSU at Lambeau Field. Running back Leonard Fournette and the Tigers debut at No. 5. Wisconsin received 42 votes, behind six other teams left off the first poll. As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus and Wisconsin State Journal’s Jason Galloway both noted, it’s the first time since 2009 UW’s been left off both polls to start the season. Four Big Ten Conference programs ranked in the first poll include Ohio State (No. 6), Michigan (No. 7), Michigan State (No. 12) and Iowa (No. 17) — all of whom the Badgers face during the season. Three of those conference games are on the road, with the Buckeyes’ returning to Camp Randall Stadium on Oct. 15.
Continue Reading: Wisconsin football: Badgers unranked in 2016 AP preseason poll
