Wisconsin’s 2027 non-conference slate is already getting a tweak.
The Badgers and Colorado State have mutually agreed to cancel their scheduled game next season, with Colorado State initiating the conversation, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The Rams wanted to add one more home game in 2027, and that was the driving force behind the change.
Wisconsin is now expected to fill that opening with UMass, giving the Badgers another home date. That means Wisconsin’s first three weeks in 2027 are set to be Pitt, Southern Illinois and UMass, with the latter two games at home.
The move doesn’t change the bigger picture for Wisconsin’s future scheduling plans. The Badgers already have games booked through 2033, and they’ve lined up at least one Power 4 opponent in every non-conference slate over that stretch. After Notre Dame this season, Wisconsin’s future list includes Pitt in Ireland in 2027, Utah at home in 2028, Cal on the road in 2029, Cal at home in 2030, Virginia Tech in Charlotte in 2031, Virginia Tech at home in 2032 and Utah on the road in 2033.
UMass may not carry the same name value as Colorado State, but the Minutemen have already shown they can make noise against a Big Ten team. They stunned Rutgers 37-21 in a buy game on the road in Week 0, doing it as a 29.5-point underdog, then followed that up with a 2-0 start after beating Sacred Heart in Week 2.
Wisconsin has also made a habit of lining up MAC opponents in recent years. The Badgers played Eastern Michigan this season in Week 3, and have faced Miami (OH) in 2025, Western Michigan in 2024, Buffalo in 2023, Illinois State in 2022, Eastern Michigan in 2021 and Central Michigan in 2019.
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For Badgers fans, the key detail is what is not changing: there is no current indication Brown is reconsidering his commitment to Wisconsin. His coach confirmed the transfer and said Brown remains eligible under WIAA rules because he is not too old, so the focus now shifts to how the new setting shapes his final prep season and what kind of player Wisconsin will eventually bring into the program. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins 2027 Schedule Just Took An Unexpected Early-Season Turn
Wisconsins 2027 nonconference slate has already shifted, with Colorado State and the Badgers agreeing to cancel their scheduled game after the Rams initiated the change so they can add more home dates. For Wisconsin, the move opens up another opening on a schedule that already has some notable structure, including a season opener in Dublin against Pittsburgh and the usual run of Big Ten opponents that will define the year.
UMass is expected to step into the vacated spot, giving Wisconsin another piece to slot into an early-season calendar that is still taking shape. For a program that already knows it will be traveling overseas to begin the season and then leaning into conference play, the swap is the latest reminder that even far-off schedules can keep changing long before kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Faces A Week 3 Threat Fans Should Not Overlook
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The concern begins with quarterback Kim, who gives Eastern Michigan a steady hand, and extends to a backfield featuring Blue and Bennett, both capable of adding stress to a defense that cannot afford lapses. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Mowchan has been a notable presence as well, giving the Eagles experience at a spot where disruption can change the feel of a game quickly. For Wisconsin, it is the kind of opponent that can look manageable on paper and still demand full attention for four quarters. [Read more 🡒]