GREEN BAY, Wis. -- There were enough built-in excuses to construct a mansion, all seemingly valid reasons justifying why you could forget about Wisconsin's football team this season. New quarterback, a young offensive line, three different starters in the secondary and a new defensive coordinator trying to replicate impossible standards set by his predecessor.
And that schedule. Oh, that schedule.
But games aren't played based on perceptions and predictions. Yes, Badgers players understood most pundits expected LSU to slice through Wisconsin like a knife through a cheese wheel on Saturday. They were considered nearly two-touchdown underdogs in a contest that was supposed to showcase the Tigers' speed and talent as a national title contender. They refused to believe any of it.
"It was hard to watch College GameDay and see people not picking us or saying we're going to get blown out by so many points," Badgers running back Corey Clement said.
"We went out to prove to people that just because we've got a hard schedule doesn't mean we're going to lay down and not make plays," cornerback Derrick Tindal said. "I feel like expectations should be set higher for us."
They certainly ought to be now.
Whatever the expectations were for Wisconsin this year, they officially have been raised in the wake of the team's scintillating season-opening 16-14 victory over No. 5 LSU at Lambeau Field. The Badgers were more physically dominant from the start, displaying the type of toughness and resiliency that can turn good seasons into great ones.
Of course, this season has only just begun. There still is so much more to be revealed, and one significant win guarantees nothing. At the same time, one significant win has the potential to drastically change the Badgers' 2016 trajectory.
After all, if Wisconsin can beat the fifth-ranked team in the country, with a Heisman Trophy favorite at running back and NFL-ready skill across the field, then what can't this team achieve? Wisconsin jumped into the national top 25 polls this week and, with nonconference home games against Akron and Georgia State on the horizon, should enter Big Ten play 3-0.
From there, Wisconsin faces one of the most daunting four-game stretches to begin league play in program history: at Michigan State, at Michigan, home against Ohio State, at Iowa. The Badgers, predicted to finish third in the Big Ten West, likely won't be picked to win those games either. So what? Now there is proof Wisconsin has the means to contend for a conference title.
"Honestly, we expect that," safety D'Cota Dixon said. "It all goes out the window when you're playing against somebody. They're ranked No. 5 in the country. They're supposed to go to the national championship. … We play every team the same. And that's what Wisconsin is all about. I think we can be as good as we want to be."
Badgers linebacker Jack Cichy noted that a victory like Saturday's wasn't program defining by any stretch. Wisconsin has produced too many memorable performances the past two decades for such a declaration. In the last two years, the Badgers have beaten teams from the SEC (Auburn) and Pac-12 (USC) in bowl games.
Still, the historic nature of Wisconsin's effort was evident. The last time Wisconsin defeated a top-five nonconference opponent during the regular season came back in 1974 against fourth-ranked Nebraska. Since that contest, Wisconsin's record had been 5-26-1 against top-five teams overall. Wisconsin also had never beaten an SEC opponent during the regular season.
"We hear the SEC-Big Ten narrative all the time," Badgers running back Dare Ogunbowale said. "We took care of business, and it's an awesome feeling."
What the Badgers finally demonstrated to the nation was that they could capitalize on a marquee early-season game. Wisconsin opened the previous two seasons with losses, first blowing a 17-point lead against LSU in the 2014 opener to lose 28-24. Last year, eventual national champion Alabama steamrolled Wisconsin, 35-17.
"It's tough when you have that first loss," said Badgers kicker Rafael Gaglianone, who buried the go-ahead 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter Saturday. "It just kind of takes the breath out of you. You're like, 'Maybe we didn't prepare as well as we should.' But we know now that we've done everything to get to this point. We're in a good situation. We've just got to keep this train rolling."
Wisconsin was by no means perfect on Saturday and will have to take better advantage of scoring chances to survive the Big Ten grind. Quarterback Bart Houston can't give away possessions with inexcusable interceptions -- on Saturday he had one underthrown ball in the end zone and another that resulted in an LSU touchdown.
But this performance by the Badgers was encouraging in many ways. The offensive line held up despite the retirement less than two weeks earlier of veteran Dan Voltz. The secondary was exceptional, with Tindal and Dixon each recording interceptions. The defense as a whole surrendered only 257 yards of offense in coordinator Justin Wilcox's first game replacing current LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda.
"There were a lot of questions thrown out about this team," Badgers coach Paul Chryst said. "We've only played one game. We didn't answer them all. … What we do with this and how we move forward, that'll define who we are as a team this year."
The Badgers rightfully reveled in the victory on the field, partaking in the famed "Lambeau Leap" to share the occasion with adoring fans. They spoke afterward of embracing the moment but not being so caught up in it that they fall flat moving forward.
"We can't get too high and think we're indestructible," center Michael Deiter said.
So, they will keep working without using excuses in preparation for the home opener against Akron. But now, the possibilities ahead seem so much greater.