The Big Ten announced its Big Ten preseason media poll earlier this week ahead of the 2025-26 season, and the Wisconsin Badgers were ranked No. 7 by voters.
That came after Wisconsin was ranked No. 12 a season ago by voters before putting together a top-five finish and making the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game.
Here are the full rankings in this year’s poll, with first-place votes in parentheses:
1st: Purdue (25)
2nd: Michigan (3)
3rd: UCLA
4th: Illinois
5th: Oregon
6th: Michigan State
7th: Wisconsin
8th: Iowa
9th: Ohio State
10th: Indiana
11th: Washington
12th: USC
13th: Maryland
14th: Nebraska
15th: Northwestern
16th: Minnesota
17th: Rutgers
18th: Penn State
Looking at the rankings, many of the top teams were expected, although they could very well be in a different order.
Purdue and Michigan are seen as the consensus top two teams. The Boilermakers return stars Braden Smith and Trey Kauffman-Renn, while adding top transfer center Oscar Cluff. Fletcher Loyer is back as well, and Purdue has quality depth as well with 7’3 sophomore Daniel Jacobsen healthy.
Michigan, on the other hand, added projected first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg, who starred at UAB last season. He joins returners Nimari Burnett and Roddy Gayle, as well as transfers Elliott Cadeau, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara.
Behind them is a clutter of quality Big Ten teams in what should be a deep conference this season. Wisconsin is among the mix, but voters had it ranked seventh behind the likes of Illinois, Oregon, UCLA, and Michigan State.
Will the Badgers be better than their ranking once again? Or is seventh an accurate rank to start the year?
