| Sport: | football |
| Year: | 2003 |
| Team: | Wisconsin Badgers |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 7–6 |
| Conf Record: | 4–4 |
| Hc Year: | 14th |
| Off Coach: | Brian White |
| Oc Year: | 5th as OC; 9th overall |
| Def Coach: | Kevin Cosgrove |
| Dc Year: | 9th as DC; 14th overall |
| Mvp: | Lee Evans |
| Captain: | Lee Evans |
| Captain2: | Jim Leonhard |
| Captain3: | Jeff Mack |
| Bowl Result: | L 14–28 vs. Auburn |
The 2003 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Barry Alvarez, the Badgers completed the season with a 7–6 record, including a 4–4 mark in the Big Ten Conference, finishing in a tie for 7th in the Big Ten.
Wisconsin entered the 2003 season ranked, after an 8–6 campaign the year before. The Badgers defeated West Virginia and Akron to open the season, but then were shocked by perennially underachieving UNLV at home, 23–5. The stunning upset knocked the Badgers (then ranked 14th) out of the polls entirely, and they would not return until after wins in their first two Big Ten games, against Illinois and Penn State (teams that would combine for a 1–15 Big Ten record). With defending National Champion Ohio State coming to town on a 19-game winning streak, the Badgers put together a solid game, and ended the Buckeyes' winning streak in a 17–10 upset.
At 3–0 in the Big Ten and having defeated Ohio State, the Badgers were looking to put together a run at a Big Ten title. Unfortunately for the Badgers, Kyle Orton and the Purdue Boilermakers ended Wisconsin's undefeated Big Ten campaign with a 26–23 win in Camp Randall. The next week in Evanston, the 20th ranked Badgers lost 16–7 to Northwestern.
With Paul Bunyan's Axe on the line against Minnesota, the Badgers were unable to avoid giving up another late drive, and Minnesota beat the Badgers in Minneapolis for the 2nd time in a row, 37–34. Disheartened but not yet finished, the Badgers dealt a massive blow to Michigan State (which was riding a losing streak of its own) as they routed the Spartans, 56–21. It was their second straight win over MSU. WR Lee Evans caught 10 passes for 258 yards and 5 touchdowns[2] in the game.
Against Iowa the next week, the Badgers took a 21–7 lead, which they proved unable to hold. Iowa defeated Wisconsin 27–21, a devastating loss on Senior Day that left the Badgers tied for 7th in the Big Ten. The Badgers accepted an invitation to the 2003 Music City Bowl against Auburn, a team ranked 6th in the nation in the preseason. The Badgers lost 28–14, closing out their 3rd season in a row with 6 or more losses.
FS Jim Leonhard caught 7 interceptions on defense for Wisconsin, leading the Badgers and the Big Ten. However, Wisconsin's defense gave up late scoring drives against Purdue, Minnesota, and Iowa, all games the Badgers lost.
See also: 2003 West Virginia Mountaineers football team.
See also: 2003 Akron Zips football team.
See also: 2003 UNLV Rebels football team.
See also: 2003 North Carolina Tar Heels football team.
See also: 2003 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.
See also: 2003 Penn State Nittany Lions football team.
See also: 2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team.
See also: 2003 Purdue Boilermakers football team and College GameDay (football TV program).
See also: 2003 Northwestern Wildcats football team.
See also: 2003 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team and Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry.
See also: 2003 Michigan State Spartans football team.
See also: 2003 Iowa Hawkeyes football team and Iowa–Wisconsin football rivalry.
See also: 2003 Auburn Tigers football team and 2003 Music City Bowl.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Quarterback | Jim Sorgi |
| Running Back | Anthony Davis |
| Fullback | Matt Bernstein |
| Wide Receiver | Lee Evans |
| Wide Receiver | Brandon Williams |
| Tight End | Tony Paciotti |
| Left Tackle | Morgan Davis |
| Left Guard | Dan Buenning |
| Center | Donovan Raiola |
| Right Guard | Jonathan Clinkscale |
| Right Tackle | Mike Lorenz |
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Defensive End | Darius Jones |
| Defensive Tackle | Anttaj Hawthorne |
| Defensive Tackle | Jason Jefferson |
| Defensive End | Jonathan Welsh |
| Outside Linebacker | Jeff Mack |
| Inside Linebacker | Alex Lewis |
| Outside Linebacker | Kareem Timbers |
| Cornerback | Scott Starks |
| Strong Safety | Ryan Aiello |
| Free Safety | Jim Leonhard |
| Cornerback | Levonne Rowan |
See also: 2004 NFL draft.
| Player | Position | Round | Overall Selection | NFL Team |
| Wide Receiver | 1 | 13 | ||
| Linebacker | 5 | 140 | ||
| Quarterback | 6 | 193 | ||