Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz talks to the media as part of Wisconsin Badgers football media day at the McClain Center in Madison on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

ESPN names one team with harder 2025 football schedule than Wisconsin Badgers

Originally posted on Wisconsin Badgers on SI
By Lorin Cox | Last updated Aug 3, 2025 7:46 PM ET

The Wisconsin Badgers aren't ignoring or backing down from the difficult football schedule they face in 2025.

Luke Fickell is embracing it.

Despite facing as many as six College Football Playoff contenders, the Badgers still might not have the hardest schedule in the country.

ESPN thinks the Florida Gators have a slightly more difficult path.

College football schedule superlatives are here with some of the toughest, easiest and most interesting slates of 2025 ️ @ClowESPN has the full breakdown ⬇️ https://t.co/IUjWrAJ6Z5
— ESPN (@espn) July 31, 2025

Toughest overall Power 4 schedule: Florida

Wisconsin is a close second in this category. Luke Fickell and the Badgers could use a strong bounce-back season after losing five in a row to end 2024 and missing a bowl game for the first time in 22 years. Like Florida, Wisconsin faces six ranked teams, including four of the top 11 -- at No. 9 Alabama on Sept. 13, home against No. 5 Ohio State on Oct. 18, at No. 8 Oregon on Oct. 25 and home against No. 11 Illinois on Nov. 22.Chris Low, ESPN

The Gators have to face Texas, Georgia and LSU, who are all ranked in the Top 7. Their schedule also includes Miami (FL), Texas A&M, Tennessee and Ole Miss.

Their non-conference schedule has a few cupcake games, though. Florida opens the season against Long Island University and South Florida. Wisconsin starts with Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee State.

It's hard to compare a Big Ten and SEC schedule side-by-side. Both schools face three teams that made the College Football Playoff last season, but Wisconsin has to play the defending national champions.

PFF's algorithm has the Badgers with the hardest schedule in the country, ranking Florida's schedule at No. 4 behind UCLA and Arkansas.