2001 Wisconsin Badgers football team
| 2001 Wisconsin Badgers football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Record | 5–7 (3–5 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Brian White (3rd season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiple |
| Defensive coordinator | Kevin Cosgrove (7th season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| MVP | Lee Evans |
| Captains | |
| Home stadium | Camp Randall Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 12 Illinois $ | 7 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Michigan | 6 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Penn State | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2001 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 12th-year head coach Barry Alvarez, the Badgers compiled an overall record of 5–7 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for eighth place in the Big Ten. The team played home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
After an 8–4 regular season and a Sun Bowl win in 2000, the Badgers looked for their third Rose Bowl trip in four years. Wisconsin was defeated at twice in September, at Autzen Stadium by Oregon at Camp Randall by Fresno State. After those two losses, the Badgers won their next two games. But any dreams of Pasadena were dashed after Wisconsin's first Big Ten home game of the season. The Badgers lost 63–32 to Indiana, one of the worst losses in program history. While they managed to upset a ranked Ohio State team in Ohio Stadium the next week, the Badgers lost four of their final five to close out the season. While the Badgers managed to keep it close against both Illinois and Michigan State, they were unable to pull off an upset of either team.
Despite a disappointing season, the Badgers had some bright spots. Wide received Lee Evans had an amazing season, catching 75 passes for 1,545 yards and 9 touchdowns, despite having three different quarterbacks throwing to him during the year: Brooks Bollinger, Jim Sorgi, and Matt Schabert. Running back Anthony Davis also turned in an outstanding season, with 1,466 yards rushing He would had 10 games of 100 or more yards rushing, including a season high 200 against Penn State.
Despite these great efforts from skill position players, Wisconsin had injuries at quarterback, as well as difficulties on defense all season long. The Badgers were 2–3 in games decided by seven points or less. This was the last year in which Wisconsin had a losing season and was ineligible for a bowl game until the 2024 season, when the Badgers also went 5–7.