Madison ? Wisconsin will open the college football season unranked in both The Associated Press and coaches’ top 25 polls for the first time since 2009.

UW, which finished 10-3 last season under first-year coach Paul Chryst, faces five teams ranked in the top 17 of The AP poll. The poll was released Sunday.

The Badgers open against No. 5 LSU on Sept. 3 at Lambeau Field, open Big Ten play Sept. 24 at No. 12 Michigan State, play at No. 7 Michigan on Oct. 1, host No. 6 Ohio State on Oct. 15 and play at No. 17 Iowa on Oct. 22.

According to the coaches’ poll , Ohio State is No. 5, followed by LSU at No. 6, Michigan at No. 8, Michigan State at No. 11 and Iowa at No. 15.

"Our kids are excited about it and as coaches we are," Chryst said recently when asked about the schedule. "I think when you go into a season you always think that the schedule is going to be tough. So it doesn’t feel different that way.

Youthful Orr not afraid to speak up

"But it is a heck of a challenge. I believe with big challenges come great opportunities."

UW finished the 2009 season 5-3 in the Big Ten and 10-3 overall. The Badgers capped that season with a 20-14 victory over No. 14 Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.

The Badgers opened the season unranked because they had finished 3-5 in the Big Ten and 7-6 overall in ’08. That season ended with an embarrassing 42-13 loss to Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl.

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