Wisconsin projected to be Bill Belichick's first bowl-game opponent
With Wisconsin nearing a second bowl game under Fickell, ESPN has included the Badgers in their latest bowl projections
The Wisconsin Badgers, under the guidance of head coach Luke Fickell, have made it to just one bowl game in three full seasons, which was a 7-5 season in 2023. In the subsequent two years, the team secured only nine regular season victories. However, the outlook is changing, with the Badgers currently boasting a 4-2 record this season, following a notable win against Penn State in September.
ESPN has included the Badgers in their latest bowl projections, with Kyle Bonagura predicting them to face the North Carolina Tar Heels in the upcoming Pinstripe Bowl. The last time the Badgers participated in the Pinstripe Bowl was in 2018, when they defeated the Miami Hurricanes in a dominant 35-3 victory led by star running back Jonathan Taylor.
The Tar Heels are in their second season under NFL head coach Bill Belichick, who led the team to a 4-8 record and just two wins over power-conference opposition in his inaugural season. However, UNC has transformed into a formidable team in 2026, securing a 4-2 record with losses to Clemson and Notre Dame by a combined 19 points.
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