The Wisconsin Badgers keep finding ways to outplay the numbers under Greg Gard, even when the preseason folks aren’t eager to buy in. Year after year, they’ve landed near the top of the Big Ten, and the track record is hard to ignore: over the past three seasons, Wisconsin finished fifth, third, and fifth in the conference, while also grabbing a top-five NCAA Tournament seed.
That’s why the latest early look from ESPN’s Myron Medcalf feels like familiar territory for the Badgers. In his Big Ten ceiling-and-floor breakdown, Wisconsin landed ninth in projected ceiling wins, with a ceiling of 26 victories.
Medcalf pointed to Gard’s consistency and the challenge of another roster reset. “Greg Gard has been one of the most consistent coaches in the country,” Medcalf wrote.
“He has won at least 20 games in seven of the past eight seasons. He also has exceeded expectations in a handful of those campaigns, including a season ago when John Blackwell became a breakout star and the Badgers earned a 5-seed.
“Gard will have to reset again with both Blackwell and top scorer Nick Boyd gone, though his team could thrive with 7-footer Nolan Winter (13.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.2 BPG), and if Australian point guard Owen Foxwell can make the transition from international standout to Big Ten star at a crucial position.”
A 26-win season would still be a strong one for Wisconsin. Gard has done it twice: in 2024-25, when the Badgers finished 27-10 and tied for third in the Big Ten, and in 2016-17, when they also went 27-10 and were tied for second in the league.
Still, ESPN’s ceiling list places Wisconsin behind Purdue, Ohio State, USC, Nebraska, UCLA, Illinois, Michigan, and Michigan State. Medcalf projects the Badgers’ ceiling as a fourth-place Big Ten finish, while the top six teams in his rankings all carry a ceiling of finishing first. Ohio State and Purdue, meanwhile, are capped at third in the conference in his view.
The floor is respectable, too. Medcalf has Wisconsin at 20 wins at the low end, which the Badgers have reached every season since 2020-21, with an eighth-place Big Ten finish as the floor.
On the postseason side, the ceiling would mean a run to the Sweet Sixteen, something Wisconsin has not reached since Gard’s first two seasons. The floor is an NCAA Tournament appearance followed by a first-round exit, which is what happened this season.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Defense Is Setting A Tone Offense Has Yet To Match
Wisconsins second day of fall camp had the feel of a defense eager to make an early statement, even without pads on. The practice still featured plenty of physicality and competition, and the Badgers defense repeatedly brought more speed and disruption than the offense could consistently answer, giving the workout an edge that was hard to miss.
The offense did have its moments, especially when quarterback Colton Joseph connected with wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. for a few successful plays, but the overall tone belonged to the other side of the ball. The competitive temperature also ticked up with a pair of minor skirmishes involving linebacker Mason Posa, tight end Grant Stec and offensive lineman Lucas Simmons-Johansson, another sign that camp is already finding its edge. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Fickell Has Wisconsin Fans Believing Again For One Big Reason
Luke Fickell has given Wisconsin something it has been searching for: a reason to look ahead with real optimism. After a rebuilt roster and a more manageable 2026 schedule, the buzz around the Badgers is starting to sound less like wishful thinking and more like a program trying to reset the tone. ESPN host Evan Cohen even pointed to a change in Fickells demeanor and leadership, which has helped fuel the sense that the Badgers are moving in a different direction.
The belief, of course, only goes so far until it shows up on the field. Wisconsin has spent enough time hearing about culture shifts and fresh starts to know the next step has to be actual improvement, and the upcoming season will be the real test of whether this momentum is more than offseason noise. For a fan base eager to buy back in, the setup is encouraging, but the proof still has to come in wins. [Read more 🡒]
Badgers Fans Will Have Strong Feelings About T.J. Watts New Ranking
T.J. Watts run with the Pittsburgh Steelers has kept him in the conversation as one of the NFLs most recognizable pass rushers, and Wisconsin fans have had plenty of reason to keep tabs on their former star. Since leaving Madison, Watt has piled up Pro Bowl nods, earned multiple All-Pro honors and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, all while cashing in on a three-year, $123 million contract signed in 2025.
Even so, the leagues latest respect meter took a noticeable dip. Watts sack totals and pressure rates have trended down over the past two seasons, and his place on the NFL Top 100 slid from No. 11 to No. 41 in 2026. For Badgers supporters, it is the kind of ranking that invites argument both ways, because the pedigree is still there even if the recent production has not looked quite as dominant. [Read more 🡒]