Greg McElroy explains why Wisconsin is a sleeper team

The Wisconsin Badgers might be a big time sleeper team in 2023, according to ESPN’s Greg McElroy.

With new head coach Luke Fickell at the controls, Wisconsin could be a sneaky good team in the Big Ten. Some slight changes to the traditional Badger philosophy might help too.

McElroy broke it all down on Always College Football.

“A lot of people are gonna say, hang on, there’s a pretty significant shift in philosophy,” McElroy said. “Well, I acknowledged that without question and it’s tough. I think when you think about what they were to what they’re going to be, we’re talking about a ground and pound style of attack … But they have gotten a little bit more multiple in the last couple of years now.

“Ultimately, they haven’t quite shifted to the air raid. They’re not Mississippi State or Texas Tech back in the day, but with Phil Longo coming in as the OC, this is going to be a completely different looking group.”

Transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai brings in a lot of upside after a successful stint at SMU.

“And if you talk to people that are familiar with the personnel on the roster, they’re very excited about the wide receivers that they have,” McElroy said. “I’ve long been very high on Tanner Mordecai. I think Tanner Mordecai has got a chance in this offense with more reps. I know it didn’t look good in the spring game, but with more reps, I think he’s got a chance to be a top end quarterback in the Big Ten … He’s an experienced guy that understands how to run the system. And I think he’ll run the system at a remarkably high level.” 

Overall, Wisconsin can lean on its physical identity. That’s what could get the Badgers back to the Big Ten Championship Game.

“Now defensively, they’re always going to be strong,” McElroy said. “They’re always going to be stout. They’re always going to be proud and you know, Luke Fickell is going to design practice to make sure that they don’t lose any of their physicality, but they’re going to try to be more explosive offensively in an effort to balance out their attack … 

“I think (Wisconsin is) poised right now to be sleepers. I’m not saying they make the playoff. I’m not saying they win the national championship and I’m not saying you need to go bet the house on them to be in the playoff for the conference championship game, what have you. (But nobody’s talking about them).”