The Wisconsin Badgers have to be one of college football’s biggest surprises this season.

A season-opening 41-13 loss to Notre Dame can quickly dissipate the little credit Luke Fickell had left in the bank.

That being said, since then, the Badgers have churned out one of the nation’s strongest defenses, anchoring their success. 

However, despite a 5-2 start to the season, the Badgers still remain on the outskirts of Paul Myerberg’s weekly college football re-rank, placing Fickell’s team at 26th. 

Is this a fair ranking?

No matter how good a defense is, Wisconsin’s offense still ranks as one of the most uninspiring in the country. 

Through the opening seven games of the season, Jeff Grimes’ offense averages just 317.5 yards per game, ranking 116th-best among FBS teams.

Against power-conference opposition, the Badgers have accumulated over 300 yards just twice in wins against Michigan State and Penn State. 

In the Badgers’ upset 24-7 win over USC last weekend, Wisconsin finished with 58 yards through the air and only 200 total.

As long as Wisconsin continues to make even big wins into defensive dogfights, they are vulnerable for a loss against almost any power-conference team. 

The Badgers’ next test is against the Iowa Hawkeyes, another stellar defense. Kickoff is set for 12 PM ET, with streaming available on FOX.