I’ve been hesitant to put a win total on Wisconsin’s football team, mostly because this roster still comes with too many moving parts. Even now, I’m not ready to pretend I’ve got the Badgers completely figured out. But I am ready to take the leap and make the call, with one caveat: this number does not include a bowl game result.
The biggest reason for a little more confidence starts under center. There’s no guarantee the Colton Joseph experiment in the Big Ten works out, and there’s no guarantee the health of the quarterback room holds up, either.
Still, this is a better situation than Wisconsin has had in recent seasons. Joseph is going to make mistakes, but he also brings game-changing ability.
And the depth behind him matters. Ryan Hopkins and Deuce Adams give the Badgers a pretty formidable pair with real upside, especially Hopkins.
Carter Smith and Danny O’Neil being in the room also means Wisconsin won’t be forced into playing a woefully over-matched FCS guy in 2026.
The offensive line, though, is where the concern starts to creep in. It’s hard to feel great about an offense when 40 percent of the starting line hasn’t been practicing in fall camp, and both RT Kevin Heywood and G Emerson Mandell are still questionable, at best, for Sunday vs the Irish.
On top of that, Wisconsin is lining up a former guard, PJ Wilkins, at left tackle and still doesn’t have a backup center who can snap. That’s not a small issue.
I have a lot of faith in offensive line coach Eric Mateos, but he’s going to have to earn every bit of his paycheck this season.
Wide receiver remains another problem area. There have been some encouraging moments in fall camp, including the rise of Eugene Hilton and the unlikely emergence of true freshman Kash Brock.
But the bigger picture hasn’t changed much: this group still lacks consistent playmakers. Upgrading receiver was a major offseason objective, and right now Luke Fickell’s lottery ticket approach doesn’t look like it’s paying off the way Wisconsin hoped.
The spots that do inspire confidence are in the middle of the defense, at cornerback, and in the backfield. I have to be careful with hyperbole when talking about the linebacker group, but Cooper Catalano, Mason Posa, Thomas Heiberger, Jon Jon Kamara, Aaron Witt, and Taylor Schaefer form a talented, disruptive unit.
I don’t have concerns there. Opponents should.
The cornerback room also looks loaded. Led by transfer Javan Robinson, Wisconsin has a really intriguing collection of size, athleticism, and upside with Eric Fletcher Jr., Bryce West, Cai Bates, and Jai’mier Scott in the mix. That group should be a huge step forward from 2025.
And in the run game, the Badgers appear deeper and more skilled than they’ve been in a while, even with some injuries in camp. Abu Sama and Darrion Dupree should handle most of the early carries, but transfers Bryan Jackson, III, Nate Palmer, and JuJu Pope all have the talent to earn roles if they stay healthy. This isn’t Gordon/Ball/White, but it should be solid.
That brings the conversation back to the larger question: is this actually a winning culture? There’s been plenty of talk about a renewed commitment to the things that once made Wisconsin strong, but talk only gets you so far. Ryan Harings of Locked on Badgers pointed out to me on a recent podcast that every camp brings the same language about cohesion, attitude, and upside, and that was true even before the forgettable 2025 season.
So the results are going to matter more than the messaging. Wisconsin has spent more on this version of the team, but that doesn’t guarantee anything.
Fickell still has to overcome a track record that includes a number of unforced errors, from his horrific first offensive coordinator pick to not recruiting Wisconsin kids until 2025 to in-game head scratchers. That’s why I’m staying in wait-and-see mode when it comes to these “new look” Badgers.
I want to believe, but I’m not there yet.
Even as one of the more optimistic voices out there, I’m still coming in lighter on wins than some might expect. There are too many unknowns to project a true breakthrough season.
I do think Wisconsin will be better and make a bowl game, but the schedule is no joke. The Badgers face four current top 25 games, starting with No.
4 Notre Dame, and several other matchups are against teams that used to be pushovers but aren’t anymore, like UCLA.
So if Wisconsin lands at 7 or even 8 wins, that wouldn’t shock me. Neither would 5. If the Badgers finish 6-6 without looking terrible or much improved along the way, that would leave new AD Shawn Eichorst with a very difficult decision at season’s end.
In Other News...
Abu Sama Is Suddenly At The Center Of Wisconsins Biggest Opener Question
Abu Sama arrived in Madison with a clear opportunity after three seasons at Iowa State and a coaching change pushed him toward Wisconsin, and the senior running back has quickly become one of the more important names in the Badgers buildup to the season. Luke Fickell has already praised Sama as the teams lead option at the position, which says plenty about the role Wisconsin expects him to fill as the opener against Notre Dame gets closer.
Sama has sounded comfortable with the transition, crediting the coaching staff and making it clear he feels ready for the challenge ahead. For a Wisconsin team looking to settle its backfield before a marquee first game, the question is no longer whether Sama belongs in the conversation. It is how central he will be when the Badgers line up against the Irish. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Has 3 Freshmen Who Could Matter Right Away Against Notre Dame
Wisconsins 2026 recruiting class has mostly been defined by quarterback Ryan Hopkins, but fall camp has also put a few other true freshmen on the radar. Wide receiver Brock, tight end Sievers and defensive player Dunmore have each drawn positive reviews from the coaching staff, and their early path to the field appears likely to run through special teams and occasional rotational work once the season gets going.
Brock brings speed and a chance to add depth at receiver, Sievers gives the Badgers another young option at tight end, and Dunmore has shown enough promise on the defensive side to merit a look in game action. None of them is being asked to carry a major load right away, but Wisconsin clearly sees enough in their work ethic and intelligence to trust them in some capacity early, including in a season opener that should offer a quick read on how ready the freshmen really are. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Freeman Just Sent Wisconsin Fans A Needed Reminder At Lambeau
Marcus Freeman and Luke Fickell are about to cross paths at Lambeau Field in a matchup that carries a little extra weight beyond the schedule. It will be the first time the two face off as head coaches, even though their careers have already been intertwined for years, with Freeman once playing for Fickell and later coaching under him. For Wisconsin fans, that connection alone makes the game feel familiar and unusual at the same time.
Freeman used his Week 1 press conference to offer a reminder that Wisconsin still has the kind of roster and identity that can make life difficult. He pointed to quarterback Colton Joseph and linebackers Mason Posa and Sebastian Cheeks as part of the challenge ahead, a nod that should sound pretty good in Madison even if it also comes with the usual pregame caution. With both programs now led by coaches who know each other well, Lambeau is shaping up as more than just another neutral-site meeting. [Read more 🡒]