Wisconsin unranked in preseason AP Poll for first time since 2016

The Badgers will begin the 2024 season unranked in the AP Poll.

Jul 23, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell speaks to the media during the Big 10 football media day at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports / Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

The Associated Press (AP) has released its preseason Top 25 poll. The Badgers are not ranked for the first time since 2016.

The @AP Preseason poll is out. Overreact accordingly. https://t.co/DN2FowBzVd pic.twitter.com/pum2spnhiO

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 12, 2024

This is only the third time since 2006 that Wisconsin is unranked in the preseason AP Poll. They did recieve 15 votes, which placed them 11th in the receiving votes catergory or 36th overall unofficially.

Heading into year two of the Luke Fickell era, expectations for Badgers football are lower than they've been in quite some time. After being unranked in last week's preseason Coaches Poll this doesn't come as a massive surprise, but it's still rare territory for the program this millennium.

The Badgers will face five teams ranked in the preseason poll on their 2024 regular season schedule. Wisconsin's season kicks off on August 30 against Western Michigan, which is now less than three weeks away.