Wisconsin’s first two weeks of 2026 have left the fan base a little restless, and that’s understandable after the Badgers opened 1-1. The schedule has already done some of the explaining - Notre Dame was a brutal start, Western Illinois a far easier follow-up - but the bigger question is whether Wisconsin has actually looked the way people want it to look.
That’s where Saturday’s matchup with Eastern Michigan comes in. The out-of-conference games aren’t about style points in the long run, but this one still offers a clear chance for Wisconsin to sharpen some edges before conference play takes over. And there are a few reasons to think the Badgers can do more than just win.
One place Wisconsin has been encouraging, even if the sack total doesn’t scream it, is the pass rush. The Badgers have only recorded one sack through two games, but the pressure has been there.
Against Notre Dame, Sebastian Cheeks opened things up with a strip-sack before Wisconsin ran into a much better offense. Against Western Illinois, the Badgers pressured the quarterback on more than 60% of drop-backs, even if the Leathernecks’ passer kept slipping away at the first sign of heat.
Eastern Michigan’s protection numbers suggest a much friendlier target. Noah Kim has already been sacked six times in three games, and right tackle Samuel Adjin has given up eight pressures and two sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
Kim has been pressured on nearly one out of every four drop-backs. He’s not a statue back there, but he also isn’t nearly as slippery as Kennedy McGill was last week.
That should matter because the Eagles’ passing game has already been getting dragged around by opposing quarterbacks. Sacramento State’s Carson Conklin threw for 222 yards.
San Jose State’s Luke Weaver got to 316. Michigan State combined for 214 passing yards.
That adds up to a defense that ranks No. 112 nationally against the pass, giving up 250.7 yards per game.
There is one bright spot in that secondary: Caleb Dobbs. He’s already got five pass breakups and an interception, while allowing a team-best reception percentage of 58.8%. Outside of him, the back end doesn’t look especially daunting.
That’s why this feels like a good week for Colton Joseph to bounce back. Some Wisconsin fans were ready to move on from him after the accuracy issues he showed against Western Illinois, but that’s too quick a trigger.
That game looked like a rough outing, not a quarterback who suddenly forgot how to play. If the misses keep piling up against Eastern Michigan, then it’s fair to sound the alarm.
But this is the kind of opponent that should let him settle in.
There’s also one more thing Wisconsin badly needs to change: the turnovers. The Badgers still haven’t forced a takeaway through two games. If that drought extends another week, especially against an opponent like Eastern Michigan, it would be a real concern heading into Big Ten play.
If there’s a quarterback on the schedule who gives Wisconsin a chance to break that streak, though, it’s Kim. He’s tied for third-worst in the nation among FBS quarterbacks with six turnover-worthy plays, per PFF, a number that reflects throws with a strong chance of being intercepted or moments of loose ball security.
He can get careless, and his arm strength isn’t a strength. That’s exactly the kind of profile Wisconsin’s defensive backs should be looking to pounce on.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Fans Have A New Fear About RB Commit Kingston Allen
Kingston Allens start at Notre Dame Academy has been impossible to ignore, and Wisconsin fans have every reason to keep checking in on the state of the running back commit. Through just five games, the high school standout has piled up more than 1,400 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, production that would draw attention anywhere and usually brings a fresh wave of recruiting interest along with it.
Instead, Allen is still sitting on only five college offers, and he has not picked up any new ones this season. That combination has sparked a familiar anxiety around Badgers recruiting, where a late surge from a talented prospect can invite new suitors even when he is already committed, leaving Wisconsin supporters watching closely for any sign that the situation might change. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Just Got A New Concern With Its Top Basketball Commit
Wisconsins 2027 recruiting class still looks strong on paper, with three four-star commitments led by combo guard Jalen Brown, the highest-rated name in the group. But Brown is heading to Sequoia Charter School in Mesa, Arizona, for his senior season, a move that changes the backdrop of his final prep year even as he remains committed to the Badgers.
For Wisconsin, the concern is less about the commitment itself than the distance that now comes with it. Having Brown in Arizona makes it harder for the staff to keep a close eye on his development day to day, turning what had been a more manageable in-state or nearby recruitment into something more remote as the program tries to hold together one of its best early classes. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin's Big Ten Path Just Put One Stretch In Focus
The Big Ten has finally laid out Wisconsins path for the 2026-27 basketball season, and the shape of it already jumps out. The Badgers will play a 20-game conference slate, with home-and-away matchups against Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois helping define the rhythm of the year. There are no three-game home or road stretches in the schedule, which should keep the travel and venue swings from getting too extreme over long runs.
Still, a few road dates stand out right away for Wisconsin fans keeping an eye on the league race. Trips to Michigan State, UCLA and Illinois give the Badgers some of the tougher swings on the calendar, and those stretches figure to matter when the bracket picture starts taking shape. It is the kind of schedule that leaves room for opportunity, but not much margin if Wisconsin wants to position itself well in Big Ten play. [Read more 🡒]