All this week, we’ve identified and analyzed the pivotal points in the 2016 schedules of every Big Ten team. These make-or-break periods may determine the result of a program’s bid of a program to escape the division basement, to reach bowl eligibility or contend for the College Football Playoff.
And we’ve saved the most preposterous stretch for last. To finish the series, let’s look at Wisconsin.
Toughest stretch: Weeks 4 through 7 (at Michigan State, at Michigan, Ohio State)
Why: OK, seriously, how does this happen? In the return of the nine-game conference schedule -- which means the first year of three division crossover games -- the Badgers got this steep hill to climb at the open of league play.