The Wisconsin Badgers’ non-conference slate is packed with a little bit of everything this season: a few games where they should be in control, plus several matchups that ought to tell us more about where this team really stands.
The schedule starts on November 2 against Denver, but Wisconsin gets things rolling before the regular season even begins. The Badgers will host UW-Parkside in an exhibition, then head to Green Bay to play UW-Green Bay, before finishing the preseason with a home exhibition against Oklahoma State one week before the opener.
Once the games count, the early stretch is front-loaded with home dates. After four straight games in Madison, Wisconsin travels to the Bahamas for the Baha Mar Invitational, where NC State and Seton Hall are waiting. Later in November and December, the Badgers’ calendar gets even more interesting.
The annual meeting with Marquette is back, and this year it will be played in Milwaukee. That one is followed by trips to face Villanova in the Philly Hoops Showdown and Auburn in the Bad Boy Mower’s Series. Wisconsin closes out the non-conference portion of the schedule on December 30 with a home game against Colorado State.
There’s also plenty of turnover across those opponents, which adds another layer to the schedule. NC State has a new coach in Justin Gainey, who arrived from Tennessee after Will Wade’s departure.
Seton Hall was active in the transfer portal. Marquette invested after a disappointing season.
Villanova and Auburn, meanwhile, are both trying to be more competitive this year.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Is Stuck In A Bigger NIL Fight Than Ever
The NIL arms race has not settled into anything close to a steady state, and Wisconsin is feeling the pressure along with the rest of the Big Ten. Budgets across the Power 4 have climbed sharply, with The Athletic reporting average roster spending at $18 million in the SEC, $14.5 million in the Big East and $14 million in the Big Ten, a sign that what once felt like a temporary adjustment has become a permanent part of roster building.
Coaches around the country expected the market to flatten out, but the opposite has happened, with spending still rising as teams chase every possible edge. One interesting wrinkle from this spring: centers have become the most expensive position, another reminder that the recruiting and retention battle is no longer just about stars at the top, but about how programs allocate money across the roster while trying to keep up with rivals willing to spend even more. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Burks Jr Could Be Wisconsins Missing Piece In The Secondary
Wisconsin has spent the offseason looking for answers in the back end, and Marvin Burks Jr. arrives with the kind of rsum that can steady a secondary quickly. A two-year starter at Missouri, he brings real game experience to Madison and is expected to step into a starting safety role for the 2026 season, giving the Badgers a veteran presence at a spot where reliability matters every week.
Luke Fickell and safeties coach Jack Cooper have both pointed to Burks experience and the leadership he can provide, which is often the first sign a transfer is being counted on for more than just snaps. If he settles in the way Wisconsin hopes, Burks could become one of the defenses key pieces and put himself in position for a strong season that keeps NFL Draft attention in the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Fickell Is Facing Wisconsins Biggest Test Heading Into 2026
Luke Fickell knows the scrutiny around Wisconsin is not going away after two difficult seasons, and he did not try to pretend otherwise. The Badgers coach acknowledged he is on the hot seat while stressing his commitment to getting the program back on track, even as the contract buyout attached to his job underscores how complicated the situation has become for the school.
There are still signs Wisconsin fans are willing to lean back in if the results start to follow. Attendance has slipped, but upcoming games and season ticket sales have shown some renewed interest, giving the Badgers at least a little evidence that the base has not tuned out completely. For Fickell, the challenge heading toward 2026 is not just improving the on-field product, but convincing a restless fan base that the program is finally moving the right way. [Read more 🡒]