The wait is nearly over for Wisconsin football.
The Badgers are set to open fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 6, one day after local media day on Aug. 5. Once camp begins, Wisconsin will be on a near-daily practice grind for 18 straight days, and that stretch should start clarifying the offensive depth chart before the Sept. 6 opener against Notre Dame.
There’s already a fairly clear picture of the projected starters on offense. The bigger question now is what each of them still has to prove.
At quarterback, the physical tools are obvious. The athleticism pops, the arm is there, and the ability to create when the pocket collapses is part of the package.
The real test for Joseph is what happens when the game speeds up and the reads get harder. The Sun Belt didn’t offer much in the way of elite, complex defenses, so Week 1 against Notre Dame will be the first major look at the mental side of his game against the best defense he’s ever faced.
The backfield has no shortage of options, either. Wisconsin can lean on a deep group that includes Darrion Dupree, Bryan Jackson, Nate Palmer and Juju Pope.
Dupree stands out as a natural fit for third-down work thanks to his receiving ability and the progress he’s made as a blocker this offseason. But Sama is talented with the ball in his hands too, which makes the distribution of carries one of the more interesting questions in camp.
How much of the load does he actually get?
At tight end, the Bowling Green transfer brings clear receiving upside. At 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, he has soft hands and moves better than you’d expect for his size.
Still, his role will depend heavily on how he handles blocking duties. That part of the job could be the key to his snap count.
There are also questions out wide. The fifth-year receiver has built a reputation as a strong perimeter blocker, and that part of his game is already established.
What remains to be seen is whether he can become a legitimate downfield threat as a pass-catcher. He hasn’t shown that yet.
Henry is coming into a program that has leaned on shifty slot receivers under Luke Fickell, with Will Pauling and Trech Kekahuna filling that role in the first three seasons in Madison. The issue is whether Henry has that same kind of burst and wiggle. He hasn’t had the chance to show it.
The FCS Southeastern Louisiana transfer arrives with production, too. He caught 52 passes for 857 yards and 11 touchdowns last fall, and his hands and body control suggest real ability. The question is whether he can keep separating against bigger, faster and stronger defensive backs.
Up front, left tackle remains one of the biggest unresolved battles on the roster. Wilkins seems to have the edge, but Simmons-Johansson has clearly gained ground this summer. That one could go right down to the wire.
Elsewhere on the line, offensive line coach Eric Mateos called Cubberly a "dirtbag" this spring and said he’s one of the more improved players he’s coached from a season to spring ball. Now the challenge is whether that edge carries over when the games count.
Kawecki is one of the few players on the roster whose absence would seriously thin out his position group, along with quarterback Colton Joseph and nickel corner Bryce West. Wisconsin’s backup center, Ryan Cory, was essentially unplayable at the position last fall, which only raises the importance of Kawecki staying healthy and steady.
Mandell had to slide to right tackle last season after Wisconsin’s starting offensive line fell apart almost immediately. He’s back at his natural guard spot now, and that creates a real opening for a breakout year from the Minnesota native.
Then there’s Heywood, who some view as Wisconsin’s best NFL prospect even though he has only played a handful of snaps. The former consensus top-60 recruit has plenty of upside. The question is what he can do once he settles in as a full-time starter.
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Wisconsins Lambeau Opener Will Say A Lot About Luke Fickell
Wisconsins 2026 opener at Lambeau Field already stands out as one of the biggest games on the schedule, and not just because it brings Notre Dame to Green Bay for a neutral-site showcase. It will be the first real measuring stick for Luke Fickell in a season that begins with a national spotlight, a demanding opponent and a schedule that is fully laid out from Week 1 through the regular-season finale. For a program trying to keep moving forward under a coach still shaping the roster and identity, the first Saturday in September figures to carry extra weight.
Notre Dame arrives with the kind of profile that makes an early upset difficult, built around continuity, a veteran coaching staff and more depth than Wisconsin can match on paper right now. Fickell has talked this offseason about the work ahead and the importance of being ready from the start, and this matchup will test how close the Badgers are to that standard. The full slate offers chances to settle in after the opener, but the tone of the season may already be set by the time the teams leave Lambeau Field. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin May Be Headed For A Kicking Battle Fans Dread
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For now, the roster picture only adds to the uncertainty. Gavin Lahm and Brady Lelum are both in the mix, but neither has attempted a field goal in college, which makes the competition feel more about projection than proven production. If Vakos does get back on the field, Wisconsin will still have to decide whether his past work makes him the safest answer, or whether this position is headed for the kind of fall battle fans would rather avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin May Have Finally Found The Spark Jeff Grimes Needed
Wisconsin has spent much of the Luke Fickell era searching for steadier play at quarterback, with transfers cycling through and too often not sticking around long enough to provide the kind of continuity an offense needs. This offseason brought another swing at solving that problem, but the addition of Colton Joseph from Old Dominion feels a little different because of the way he plays rather than just where he came from.
Joseph brings a dynamic style that could fit what coordinator Jeff Grimes wants to build, and CBS Sports recently ranked him among the 10 most elusive quarterbacks in college football based on several performance metrics. For a program that has been trying to find a spark and an identity under center, the appeal is obvious, even if the real answer still has to be proven once the games start. [Read more 🡒]