MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 15: J.T. Barrett #16 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

A darkhorse College Football Playoff contender just got dealt a massive blow

Terrible news for the playoff hopefuls.

Wisconsin was already on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoffs. Their road to the playoffs will be even tougher after the team's leading tackler, linebacker Jack Cichy was designated out for the season:

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Despite losses to Michigan and Ohio State, ESPN's Kirk Kirbstreit admitted it would "hard to imagine" the Badgers not in the playoffs if they win out.

Winning the rest of their games would include beating undefeated Nebraska and taking home the Big Ten championship with a win over (likely) Michigan or Ohio State.

Cichy, a redshirt sophomore, earned the defensive MVP in the 2015 Holiday Bowl. Before his injury, Cichy had 60 tackles thus far this season, with 1.5 sacks.