MADISON, Wis. - With a 6-2 record and coming off its most convincing win of the season, the Wisconsin football team made a dramatic jump in all four major polls released on Sunday. The Badgers returned to the Bowl Championship Series rankings following a one-week absence, back in the 21st spot they occupied on Oct. 18.

In the three components of the BCS rankings, UW ranks 19th (average computer ranking), 22nd (USA Today Coaches Poll) and 24th (Harris Interactive Poll). Wisconsin is one of four Big Ten teams in the BCS top 25, joining No. 4 Iowa, No. 11 Penn State and No. 16 Ohio State.

The Badgers also made their 2009 debut in the Associated Press Poll, ranking 24th in this week’s poll. It is the latest UW has made its first A.P. poll appearance since 1984 when Wisconsin wasn’t ranked until earning the 20th spot on Dec. 5.

Wisconsin is 3-2 in the Big Ten, good for fourth place in the league. The Badgers are coming off a 37-0 win over Purdue and travel to Bloomington to take on Indiana next Saturday. That game will start at 11 a.m. CT and be televised by the Big Ten Network.

-UW Athletic Communications-