1976 Wisconsin Badgers football team

The 1976 Wisconsin Badgers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 1976 Big Ten Conference football season. In their seventh season under head coach John Jardine, the Badgers compiled a 5–6 record (3–5 against Big Ten opponents) and finished in a three-way tie for seventh place in the Big Ten.

1976 Wisconsin Badgers football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	5–6 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coach	John Jardine (7th season)
Offensive coordinator	Mike Stock (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple T
Defensive coordinator	Charlie McBride (1st season)
Base defense	5–2
MVP	Mike Carroll
Captains	Mike Carroll Andy Michuda Ron Pollard John Rasmussen
Home stadium	Camp Randall Stadium

1976 Big Ten Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 3 Michigan +	7	–	1	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 6 Ohio State +	7	–	1	–	0			9	–	2	–	1
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Illinois	4	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Indiana	4	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Purdue	4	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Iowa	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Michigan State	3	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Northwestern	1	–	7	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Quarterback Mike Carroll was selected as the team's most valuable player and led the Big Ten Conference with 1,773 yards of total offense. Running back Larry Canada led the team with 993 rushing yards, the fifth-highest total in the Big Ten during the 1976 season. Ira Matthews was the team's leading scorer with 42 points on seven touchdowns.

David Charles was selected by the AP as a second-team wide receiver, and Dave Crossen by the UPI as a second-team linebacker, on the 1976 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	at No. 2 Michigan	Michigan Stadium Ann Atbor, MI	L 27–40	101,347
September 18	North Dakota*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 45–9	62,213
September 25	Washington State*	Camp Randall stadium Madison, WI	W 35–26	64,658
October 2	at No. 9 Kansas*	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS	L 24–34	39,033–48,350
October 9	Purdue	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 16–18	79,111
October 16	No. 9 Ohio State	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 20–30	79,579
October 23	at Northwestern	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL	W 28–25	24,580
October 30	at Illinois	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	L 25–31	54,121
November 6	Iowa	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (rivalry)	W 38–21	79,521
November 13	at Indiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	L 14–15	27,518
November 20	Minnesota	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (rivalry)	W 26–17	60,304
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1976 Wisconsin Badgers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 81 Ray Bailey Sr TE 86 Greg Barber So RB 27 Terry Breuscher Jr FB 30 Larry Canada Sr QB 15 Mike Carroll (C) Sr WR 10 David Charles So FB 46 Tom Dohmeier Sr QB 17 Anthony Dudley So TE 85 Ron Egloff Sr QB 11 Charles Green So FB 36 Tim Halleran So G 59 Ron Hegwood Sr QB 18 Dave Hoppman Sr G 56 Brad Jackomino So OT 74 Tom Kaltenberg Jr G 68 David Krall So OT 60 Steve Lick Jr G 63 Terry Lyons Sr RB 25 Ira Matthews So C 58 Al Minter Jr C 52 Jim Moore So RB 33 Mike Morgan Jr FL 29 Ron Pollard (C) Sr G 67 Mike Prusinski Sr FB 26 Joe Rodriguez Jr WR 44 Randy Rose Sr TE 89 Jeff Walsh Jr OT 78 Doug Witkus Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DT 73 Henry Addy So DE 38 Kevin Boodry So S 41 Rick Christian Sr DE 7 Pat Collins Sr LB 55 Dave Cotteau Sr LB 14 Dave Crossen So S 22 Terry Cunningham Sr DT 57 Bob Czechowicz Jr MG 94 Tom Czechowicz Sr LB 66 Steve DiSalvo Sr DB 23 Ken Dixon So S 21 Scott Erdmann So CB 8 Greg Gordon So MG 54 Mike Grice Jr CB 37 Lawrence Johnson So MG 65 Tom Jones Sr LB 43 Mike Kelly Sr CB 5 Tim McConnell Sr DT 62 Andy Michuda (C) Sr DT 76 John Rasmussen (C) Sr MG 20 Dan Relich So S 9 Dan Schieble So DE 35 Dennis Stejskal Jr DE 89 Jeff Vine Fr LB 49 Lee Washington Fr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 2 Vince Lamia Sr P 3 Dick Milaeger Jr	Head coach John Jardine Coordinators/assistant coaches Mike Stock – Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Charlie McBride – Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Tom Backhus – Guards and Centers Oree Banks – Wide Receivers Gary Blackney – Defensive Backs George Chryst – Tackles and Tight Ends Mario Russo – Linebackers Bob Spoo – Quarterbacks LaVern Van Dyke – Administrative Assistant Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Players selected in the 1977 NFL draft

Only one Wisconsin player was selected in the 1977 NFL draft.

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
John Rasmussen	Offensive tackle	10	276	New England Patriots