The Badgers were led by fourth year head coach Paul Chryst and competed as members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference.

They were ranked fourth in the pre-season AP Poll, tied for the highest start in school history.

[2] He became the third Badger player to eclipse the 2,000 yard mark in a single season after Ron Dayne and Melvin Gordon.

Four members of the offensive line received first-team all-conference honors: Benzschawel, Tyler Biadasz, Michael Deiter, and David Edwards.

The Badgers hosted Big Ten opponents Nebraska, Illinois, Rutgers, and Minnesota and traveled to Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern, and Penn State, and Purdue.