Wisconsin’s final regular-season test in 2026 lands in the kind of spot that can make or break a rivalry run: Friday night, Nov. 27, at Camp Randall Stadium, with Minnesota coming in at 8-5 and NBC carrying the game at 6:30 CT.
And this isn’t just another Big Ten date on the calendar. It’s the latest chapter in a series that has tightened up considerably for Wisconsin.
The Badgers won 14 straight in the rivalry, then dropped five of the last eight to the Gophers. Luke Fickell is 1-2 against P.J.
Fleck, and this one brings the matchup back to Madison.
Fleck is now entering his 10th season at Minnesota with a 66-44 record. The results have been solid - six winning seasons and seven bowl victories - but the bigger question still hangs over the program: is this a team ready to break through, or one that keeps living in the middle of the Big Ten? Minnesota has only one double-digit win season under Fleck, that coming in 2019.
The Gophers will have some real pieces in place when they arrive in Camp Randall. On offense, quarterback Drake Lindsey is the name to know after starting all 13 games and guiding Minnesota to eight wins, a program record for victories by a freshman quarterback.
He finished 249-of-386 for 2,382 yards, with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. That kind of first-year production gives Minnesota a foundation to build on in year two.
The backfield and offensive line should help, too. Darius Taylor is listed among the key offensive players, with Greg Johnson, Ashton Beers and Nathan Roy all part of the mix up front.
Jalen Smith is also on the list at receiver. Still, the passing game beyond Lindsey comes with questions, and Minnesota is expected to lean on portal help at receiver and tight end.
Defensively, the headline player is Anthony Smith. The All-Big Ten first-team selection in 2025 started all 13 games and posted 38 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and a Big Ten-best 12.5 sacks.
Some project the senior edge as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Minnesota also added TJ Bush Jr. this winter after his stops at Liberty and Cal.
In 2025, he started all 13 games, made 40 tackles, led Cal with 5.5 sacks and finished second on the team with 11.5 tackles for loss.
Other defensive names to know include Kerry Brown, Maverick Baranowski, John Nestor and Jaxon Howard.
The big-picture read on this one is simple: it looks like one of Wisconsin’s toughest calls on the 2026 schedule. Minnesota had one of the Big Ten’s top defenses last season and should be strong again with Smith and Bush Jr. coming off the edge. Lindsey is expected to make a jump in his second year as the starter, and Taylor has a strong line in front of him if he stays healthy.
Even with that, the Gophers don’t bring a ton of proven production at receiver or tight end, which keeps the door open for Wisconsin. The projection here is a close one, and the Badgers are picked to edge it, though not with much confidence.
ESPN’s FPI gives Wisconsin a 68.4 percent chance to win in Week 13.
In Other News...
Wisconsin May Be Headed Toward A Kicking Fix Fans Wont Love
Wisconsins kicking situation is already looking fragile before the season even gets going, and that is usually the kind of camp storyline teams try hard to avoid. Gavin Lahm is the only primary place kicker in the mix, and early reports out of camp have not exactly settled concerns about his consistency, leaving the Badgers with more questions than answers at a spot that can swing close games.
The depth chart behind him is thin enough to raise alarms, with the staff still searching for reliable options rather than leaning on an established second choice. That is why the conversation around the position has started drifting toward outside help, including a familiar name with some unfinished business in Madison, as Wisconsin looks for a solution fans probably would not have picked as Plan A. [Read more 🡒]
Brady Ewings Return Is Becoming A Big Deal For Wisconsin Culture
Brady Ewings arrival in March has quickly become one of the quieter but more meaningful developments around Wisconsin football. The former fullback and Badgers alumnus came back as Director of Alumni Relations, a role designed to strengthen the bridge between the current program and the people who helped build it, and it has already started to matter in ways that go beyond a standard staff hire.
Around a program that leans heavily on tradition, that kind of work has real value. Ewing has been helping deepen relationships with former players and alumni, and the result has been a more positive feeling around the program as Luke Fickell continues shaping the culture. It is the sort of behind-the-scenes connection that does not always get much attention, but in Madison it can carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Badgers Believe One Big Problem From Last Year Is Finally Changing
After a difficult 2025 season, Wisconsin has spent the offseason trying to fix more than just what showed up on tape. The Badgers have made a point of improving the locker room environment, and players around the program have noticed a real difference in the way this group is carrying itself. Charles Perkins and Tommy Heiberger have both pointed to stronger camaraderie and connectedness, a tone shift that matters just as much as any schematic tweak in August.
The transfer portal class has played a big role in that reset, adding not only talent but also a better feel in the room. Those newcomers are being credited with helping the defense and giving the roster a more unified edge, which is exactly the kind of development Wisconsin needed after last years disappointment. Whether that chemistry holds once the hits start counting is the next test, but for now the Badgers seem convinced one of their biggest issues is finally moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]