Someone voted Wisconsin No. 1 in this week's USA Today coaches' poll. Bret Bielema has a vote in that poll, but we might never know for sure if it was his ballot that had his Badgers ranked on top.
The coaches aren't required to reveal their votes except on the final poll of the season, and Bielema said Tuesday that he'll never tell how he votes in that poll during the year.
What is clear is that Wisconsin is becoming more popular, both in the rankings and in the national media. Coming off their thrashing of Nebraska last week, the Badgers are ranked No. 4 in The Associated Press Top 25 and fifth in the coaches' poll, while Russell Wilson has been garnering lots of Heisman attention. Bielema isn't ignoring the hype.
"What I do know is that the polls matter," he said. "I think that was brought to our attention last year more than ever with three teams tying within our conference for a chance to go to the Rose Bowl."
Wisconsin will almost certainly need some help to get to the BCS title game since it is behind Oklahoma, Alabama and LSU in the AP poll and also trailing Standford in the coaches' poll. Bielema said he'd be watching this week's Texas-Oklahoma game from his couch while the Badgers are on a bye week, though he said an Oklahoma loss might only mean that Texas jumps his team in the polls.
"We just have to play each week as it goes," he said. "The last two or three weeks will probably be the biggest factors."
After resting this week, Wisconsin returns Oct. 15 against Indiana, a team it squeaked by 83-20 last season. Then come perhaps the two biggest tests of the season: back-to-back road games against Michigan State and Ohio State. The Badgers have yet to play a true road game this season.
Bielema said he has stressed to his players that this week is an important time to heal up and get their minds right. He told them to be wary of people who want to slap them on their back or lead them down the wrong path during their down time.
But it's pretty clear right now that Wisconsin is in the most enviable position of any Big Ten team.
"There's no question that is the football team we're all chasing," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "They're the football team to beat."
The coaches aren't required to reveal their votes except on the final poll of the season, and Bielema said Tuesday that he'll never tell how he votes in that poll during the year.
What is clear is that Wisconsin is becoming more popular, both in the rankings and in the national media. Coming off their thrashing of Nebraska last week, the Badgers are ranked No. 4 in The Associated Press Top 25 and fifth in the coaches' poll, while Russell Wilson has been garnering lots of Heisman attention. Bielema isn't ignoring the hype.
"What I do know is that the polls matter," he said. "I think that was brought to our attention last year more than ever with three teams tying within our conference for a chance to go to the Rose Bowl."
Wisconsin will almost certainly need some help to get to the BCS title game since it is behind Oklahoma, Alabama and LSU in the AP poll and also trailing Standford in the coaches' poll. Bielema said he'd be watching this week's Texas-Oklahoma game from his couch while the Badgers are on a bye week, though he said an Oklahoma loss might only mean that Texas jumps his team in the polls.
"We just have to play each week as it goes," he said. "The last two or three weeks will probably be the biggest factors."
After resting this week, Wisconsin returns Oct. 15 against Indiana, a team it squeaked by 83-20 last season. Then come perhaps the two biggest tests of the season: back-to-back road games against Michigan State and Ohio State. The Badgers have yet to play a true road game this season.
Bielema said he has stressed to his players that this week is an important time to heal up and get their minds right. He told them to be wary of people who want to slap them on their back or lead them down the wrong path during their down time.
But it's pretty clear right now that Wisconsin is in the most enviable position of any Big Ten team.
"There's no question that is the football team we're all chasing," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "They're the football team to beat."
Brian Bennett | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big Ten blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008
- Wrote for The Courier-Journal
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