The 2017 college football season has reached its midway point of the season. The two powerhouse programs from last season remain the top two this season so far, in the Alabama Crimson Tide, and the Clemson Tigers.

Three local Big 10 teams roam the top 10 in the Penn State Nittany Lions at #3 in the nation, the Wisconsin Badgers at #7 in the nation, and the Ohio State Buckeyes at #9 in the nation.

The Wisconsin Badgers, previously ranked #9 in the nation in week five, bounced up two spots to #7 in the nation after a blowout win against Nebraska 38-17. The losses of previously ranked #3 Oklahoma, and previously #7 ranked Michigan also helped the Badgers move up a few spots with those two teams getting knocked out of the top 10.

The Oklahoma Sooners lost to the unranked Iowa State Cyclones 38-31, while the Michigan Wolverines lost to the Michigan State Spartans 14-10.

Wisconsin Badger head coach Paul Chryst, had some positive words to say about their win over Big 10 rival the Nebraska Cornhuskers in blowout fashion.

“Well obviously I am very proud of the work and effort that went into it by our players and coaches to get a hard fought win,” Chryst said in an article. “And also proud of the way the players just played and responded to the different adversity, some self-inflicted, obviously others not. We just started to play off each other and play with each other and some guys stood out but it was a heck of a team win.”

There are many Greendale High School students who are very involved in college football. Not just the Wisconsin Badgers, but other teams around the nation as well.

“I feel like Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor has contributed the most for the Badgers,” freshman Keegan Kapocius said. “He already has over 700 rushing yards on the year, and 9 touchdowns. Wisconsin needs a running back like this, in order to beat the toughest team on their schedule, the Michigan Wolverines. I think the biggest sleeper team in the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, with just one loss to #4 ranked Georgia by one point, they also have a very tough schedule as well so watch out for them.”

Freshman Brett Shumway, shared his thoughts on the key to the Wisconsin Badgers, and who he thinks is the team to beat this year in college football.

“Wisconsin has crushed teams with their traditional ground and pound game,” Shumway said. “Although I think they need to stop throwing the ball downfield, and throw more quick short passes such as slants, screens, and outs to their tight ends. The team to beat is obviously the Alabama Crimson Tide, with their incredible defensive front and secondary. They also have one of the best running backs in the nation with a huge offensive line, as well as a quarterback with an arm and running ability.”

So far, this has been a very exciting year of college football. Top 10 teams have been getting upset by unranked teams left and right, and the Wisconsin Badgers have started off to an undefeated 5-0 start.

At this point, nobody knows what the college football playoff will look like because of top 10 or top five teams getting beaten, which makes the college football season very exciting, and gets everybody at Greendale High School talking about the Wisconsin Badgers and other teams.