What Is 1931 Wisconsin Badgers football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1931 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 1931 college football season, finishing with a 3–5 record under head coach Glenn Thistlethwaite. They played in the Big Ten Conference and scored 67 total points across eight games.

Key Facts

The team's overall record was 3-5 in the 1931 season
They competed in the Big Ten Conference
Head coach Glenn Thistlethwaite led the team for the third year
The Badgers scored 67 points and allowed 99
Home games were played at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison

Overview

The 1931 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 1931 college football season. Competing as a member of the Big Ten Conference, the team struggled to find consistent success, finishing with a losing record under head coach Glenn Thistlethwaite.

Playing their home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, the Badgers faced a challenging schedule that included several strong conference opponents. Despite flashes of offensive potential, the team’s defense and overall consistency were issues throughout the season.

Season record: The Badgers finished the 1931 season with a 3–5 overall record, including a 2–4 mark in Big Ten Conference play.
Head coach: Glenn Thistlethwaite was in his third year as head coach, compiling a 3–5 record in his final season before being replaced.
Scoring performance: Wisconsin scored 67 total points during the season, averaging 8.4 points per game, while allowing 99 points against.
Home field: All home games were played at Camp Randall Stadium, which had been the team’s home since 1917 and had a capacity of approximately 35,000 at the time.
Notable opponent: The Badgers played a tough schedule that included games against conference rivals such as Michigan, Ohio State, and Illinois.

Season Performance

The 1931 season was marked by inconsistency, with the Badgers winning only three of their eight games. Several losses came by narrow margins, suggesting a team that was competitive but lacked the finishing strength to secure more wins.

September 26, 1931: The season opened with a 13–0 loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers, setting a defensive tone for the early weeks.
October 3, 1931: Wisconsin earned its first win by defeating the Oshkosh State Teachers College team 20–0 in a non-conference matchup.
October 10, 1931: A 7–6 victory over Indiana marked the Badgers’ first Big Ten win of the season, decided by a single point.
October 24, 1931: A 14–7 loss to Ohio State highlighted struggles against top-tier conference opponents, despite a strong defensive effort.
November 7, 1931: The Badgers lost 13–7 to Illinois, another close game that reflected their narrow margins of defeat.
November 21, 1931: The season concluded with a 20–7 loss to Minnesota in the annual rivalry game, marking a tough end to Thistlethwaite’s tenure.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1931 Wisconsin Badgers’ performance can be better understood by comparing it to previous and subsequent seasons in program history.

Season	Record (Overall)	Big Ten Record	Head Coach	Points For	Points Against
1929	4–4	2–4	Glenn Thistlethwaite	98	94
1930	4–3–1	2–3–1	Glenn Thistlethwaite	110	81
1931	3–5	2–4	Glenn Thistlethwaite	67	99
1932	3–5–2	2–5–1	Clarence Spears	73	96
1933	4–4	2–3–2	Clarence Spears	109	94

This table shows a gradual decline in offensive output from 1930 to 1931, with the team scoring 43 fewer points than the previous year. The 1931 season also marked the end of Thistlethwaite’s coaching era, as he was replaced after three seasons with a cumulative 11–12–1 record. The transition to new leadership in 1932 reflected the program’s efforts to rebuild and regain competitiveness in the Big Ten.

Why It Matters

While not a standout season in terms of wins, the 1931 campaign is historically significant for understanding the trajectory of Wisconsin football during the early 20th century. It reflects a transitional period for the program, both in coaching and competitive performance.

Coaching change: The 1931 season was Glenn Thistlethwaite’s last, marking the end of an era and leading to the hiring of Clarence Spears in 1932.
Program development: The struggles of this season underscored the need for improved recruiting and training methods in the face of growing Big Ten competition.
Historical context: During the Great Depression, college football provided entertainment and school pride, even for teams with losing records.
Stadium legacy: Camp Randall remained a central part of Wisconsin’s football identity, hosting games through economic hardship and changing times.
Rivalry continuity: Annual matchups with Minnesota and other Big Ten schools helped solidify long-term conference traditions.
Data for analysis: Season records like 1931 contribute to historical databases used by sports historians and statisticians.

The 1931 Wisconsin Badgers may not be remembered for championships or star players, but they are part of the broader narrative of perseverance and evolution in college athletics. Their season reflects the challenges of building a consistent program in a competitive conference during a difficult economic era.