2015 Wisconsin Badgers football team

The 2015 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers, led by first-year head coach Paul Chryst, were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium. On January 13, 2015, the Badgers hired offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph. The Badgers were the media preseason favorites to win the Big Ten West division. During fall camp prior to the start of the season Chryst announced the Badgers would return to a pro-style punt scheme instead of the shield punt scheme, also known as the spread punt scheme. Two days after Wisconsin played in the Holiday Bowl defensive coordinator Dave Aranda was hired by LSU as their new defensive coordinator. At the end of the season, Wisconsin featured the #1 defense in college football, with opponents averaging just 13.1 points per game against the Badgers.

Watchlists and preseason awards

 * Vince Biegel (OLB)
 * Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award


 * Michael Caputo (S)
 * Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award


 * Corey Clement (RB)
 * Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award


 * Alex Erickson (WR)
 * Biletnikoff Award


 * Rafael Gaglianone (K)
 * Lou Groza Award


 * Dan Voltz (C)
 * Rimington Trophy, Outland Trophy

vs #3 Alabama

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Miami (OH)

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Troy

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Hawaii

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Iowa

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At Nebraska

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Purdue

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At Illinois

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Rutgers

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At Maryland

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#20 Northwestern

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At Minnesota

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Departures
After enrolling early and attending spring training quarterback Austin Kafentzis announced that he would transfer from Wisconsin to the University of Nevada before the start of the 2015 season.

At the end of the season redshirt freshman quarterback D.J. Gillins announced that he would transfer as well, to Pearl River Community College. It was reported that Gillins likely transferred because he wouldn't fit in Paul Chryst's Pro-style offense, he was originally recruited by former head coach Gary Andersen as a more mobile dual-threat style quarterback.

Team
Non-conference opponents

Big 10 opponents

Defense
Key: POS: Position, SOLO: Solo Tackles, AST: Assisted Tackles, TOT: Total Tackles, TFL: Tackles-for-loss, SACK: Quarterback Sacks, INT: Interceptions, PBU: Passes Broken Up, QBH: Quarterback Hits, FF: Forced Fumbles, FR: Fumbles Recovered, TD : Touchdown

Big Ten Players of the Week

 * Week 4 - Freshman of the Week - RB, Taiwan Deal
 * Week 5 - Co-defensive Player of the Week - LB, Joe Schobert
 * Week 7 - Freshman of the Week - LB, T. J. Edwards
 * Week 8 - Special Teams Player of the Week - P, Drew Meyer
 * Week 13 - Special Teams Player of the Week - P, Drew Meyer

Awards

 * Vince Biegel
 * Third team All-Big Ten (Media)
 * Third team All-Big Ten (Coaches)


 * Michael Caputo
 * Second team All-Big Ten (Media)
 * Second team All-Big Ten (Coaches)


 * Joe Schobert
 * Jack Lambert Trophy
 * Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year
 * First team All-Big Ten (Coaches)
 * First team All-Big Ten (Media)


 * Derek Watt
 * Big Ten Sportsmanship Award

Signed undrafted free agents

 * Michael Caputo, S, New Orleans Saints
 * Alex Erickson, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
 * Darius Hillary, CB, Cincinnati Bengals
 * Tyler Marz, OT, Tennessee Titans
 * Tanner McEvoy, QB/S/WR, Seattle Seahawks
 * Joel Stave, QB, Minnesota Vikings
 * Austin Traylor, TE, Dallas Cowboys