Wisconsin is deep enough into fall camp now that the first real shape of the Week 1 lineup is starting to come into focus. With the Badgers only three weeks out from their massive season opener against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field, there’s been enough practice tape to make a second pass at where things stand.
There’s still plenty of time for movement, and this roster is under real pressure to settle in the right spots. But after eight practices, some battles have clarified while others remain messy.
At quarterback, the picture has tightened. Ryan Hopkins entered camp as the clear backup to Colton Joseph, but Louisville transfer Deuce Adams has made this a much closer race. Hopkins brings the maturity and leadership that coaches like, but Adams has been the steadier performer in August, and in the three practices observed, he looked better.
Running back stays unchanged. Dupree remains in place, and while Bryan Jackson had a chance to push for the RB2 job, a few bumps this fall have limited his reps. The two backs also bring different skill sets, so they’re not really fighting for identical touches.
The biggest shift on offense comes at receiver. Hilton has moved ahead of Domingeax, who was projected as a starter when camp opened. Hilton has been Wisconsin’s most consistent offensive player so far, and he’s become a dependable target for Colton Joseph thanks to his reliable hands and his knack for finding space when a play starts to break down.
Tight end still looks like a committee. Emmett Bork and Ryan Schwendeman remain the names at the top, but this room is still unsettled and likely to be used heavily in 12 and even 13 personnel.
That means multiple tight ends should factor into the offense, and the order on the depth chart may not tell the whole story. No changes there since camp began.
Up front, the projected offensive line is unchanged, though the optimism comes with a caveat: Mandell and Heywood are both out with no timetable to return. Luke Fickell didn’t offer much on either player’s status, and if they can’t go, Cherry or Blackmon would step in for Mandell and Simmons-Johnasson would fill in for Heywood.
Defensively, the line remains steady for EJ Whitlow, though the second unit has included Nolan Vils, Jake Anderson and DeNigel Cooper at times. The room still looks like it will go five deep, even if Whitlow has talked about five and six this offseason.
Outside linebacker is really two jobs in one. The JACK is the bigger body on the edge, while the SAM is the quicker pass-rush option.
Tyreese Fearbry was in the mix before camp, but he’s been quiet. Boone and Garner look like the strongest options in the JACK role, while Cheeks and Clayton appear to be the best pure rush threats.
Linebacker is one of the trickiest depth charts on the roster because the labels don’t always match the real replacement plan. If Posa or Catalano were unavailable, Heiberger would be the next man up, even though he’s listed as the backup STAR in Mike Tressel’s scheme and is rotating across all three linebacker spots. Witt, Gauthier and Bramm don’t seem likely to be major factors.
At corner, Scott still appears to have the edge to start on the field side, but Fletcher has made that competition tighter than expected. Both players should see the field this fall.
Safety hasn’t changed much, though Van Dinter has put together a strong camp and looks like a useful depth piece. Skanes gives Jack Cooper another interesting option behind the starters, but the pecking order there remains the same for now.
In Other News...
Wisconsins Huge UDFA Class Is Already Giving Badger Fans Hope
The first weekend of NFL preseason action gave Wisconsin fans an early look at just how many former Badgers are trying to carve out pro careers after going undrafted. Twelve Wisconsin players landed with different NFL teams for the 2026 season, and Week 1 offered the first real chance to see who is already making a case for more snaps, more opportunities and a longer stay in camp.
A few of those ex-Badgers showed up with tangible production, filling stat sheets with tackles, receptions and even a sack here and there, while others had quieter nights or simply got limited time on the field. For a fan base that always tracks its alumni closely, the early returns are enough to spark some optimism, even if the roster battles are just getting started. [Read more 🡒]
Eugene Hilton Jr Is Forcing His Way Into Wisconsins Plans
Eugene Hilton Jr. has spent fall camp doing exactly what a second-year receiver needs to do if he wants to crack Wisconsins plans: make himself impossible to ignore. The Badgers have seen real growth from Hilton in practice, where his hands have looked steady, his route-running sharper and his overall comfort in the offense noticeably better than a year ago. For a wideout trying to climb the depth chart, that kind of steady buzz can matter as much as any highlight.
The encouraging part for Wisconsin is that Hilton is not just flashing in one area. Coaches and teammates have pointed to his versatility as a reason he is starting to look like a real piece of the offense rather than just a camp story. If that trajectory holds, he could enter the 2026 season with a much more defined role than anyone might have projected earlier in his career, which is exactly the kind of development the Badgers want to see from a young receiver room. [Read more 🡒]