Wisconsin football: Big Ten announce schedule revisions for 2021 season

The 2020 season has come and went and I think I speak for the majority in saying good riddance to that entire season. COVID-19 caused headaches across the country, Wisconsin underwent some growing pains, and Alabama ended up the champs anyway because of course they did. Overall, there were some positives but I’d sign up for much more normalcy in 2021.

One step toward getting back to the schedules that we’re thrown all out of whack due to COVID. The Big Ten’s schedules were thrown more than most as they had not one, not two, but three football schedules released with a season cancellation and return sandwiched in between there. Anyway, the Big Ten took steps to get back to normal by releasing the revised 2021 schedule for their respective teams next fall.

For the Badgers, all nine conference games remain the same in terms of the opponent. The only major changes to the schedule are the dates of some games, and the locations they may be played in.

To open the season the Badgers will still start with a home game against the Penn State Nittany Lions. The following week Wisconsin remains at home to take on Eastern Michigan. The week after that the Badgers have an off week before heading to Solider Field to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Jack Coa...I mean Irish.

After the Badgers contest with Notre Dame, Wisconsin returns home for a date with Michigan. The following week the Badgers hit the road to now take on Illinois on October 9th. Originally, this weekend the Badgers were supposed to be at Minnesota.

The following week, October 16th, Wisconsin will return home for a tricky non-conference game against the Army Black Knights. On October 23rd the next big change occurs, as originally Wisconsin was supposed to play at Illinois that weekend, but they will now head to Purdue.

October 30th was originally supposed to be home date with West Division Champion Northwestern, but will now be a date with Iowa at Camp Randall. The week after that the Badgers will hit the road to take on Rutgers as originally scheduled.

On November 13th, the Badgers head back home for two straight home games with Northwestern the first week and Nebraska the following weekend. To round things out and end the season Wisconsin will be on the road against Minnesota on November 27th.

Overall, there is some shake-up to the Badgers but again the opponents remain the same. Personally, I think this new schedule is more favorable for the Badgers. In the original schedule, Wisconsin was due to take on Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Minnesota, and Army in those first six weeks. Now, Wisconsin gets Illinois earlier and Minnesota later. They also get Northwestern later which will hopefully allow the Badgers to gel before taking on West division contenders.