Wisconsin now knows the full shape of its 2026 Baha Mar Championship trip, and the field closes with a familiar kind of in-season-tournament reality: Murray State is the fourth team.
The Badgers were already in the event when it was first announced, joined by Seton Hall and NC State. Months later, the final spot has gone to a program that fits the way these tournaments have started to look - a mid-major with enough intrigue to keep things interesting, even if it won’t arrive as a marquee name.
Murray State certainly brings some history of its own. The Racers have produced Ja Morant and Cameron Payne, and after a rough stretch, they seem to be heading back in the right direction.
Ryan Miller took over after Steve Prohm’s second stint did not go well, and he guided Murray State to a 20-13 season in 2025-26. That doesn’t make the Racers favorites in this field, but it does mean Wisconsin won’t be getting a soft landing if the Badgers draw them.
The matchup slate is set now, too. Wisconsin opens against Seton Hall at 7:30 p.m.
CT on Thursday, Nov. 19.
That game is the second contest of the night, and both opening-night games will air on CBS Sports. From there, the Badgers will move on to face either the winner or loser of Seton Hall and Murray State the next day, depending on how Thursday night goes.
For Wisconsin, it’s a quick look ahead to feast week before feast week really arrives the following week.
Tickets are also on the calendar. VIP packages and general admission go on sale Monday, Aug. 24.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Fans Just Sent Luke Fickell A Brutal Message
Since Luke Fickell took over in Madison, the results have been tough enough to show up in the standings, with Wisconsin sitting at 17 wins and 21 losses under his watch. The disappointment has now spilled beyond the field and into the fan base, where season ticket sales have taken a notable hit and the mood around the program feels a lot less patient than it did when he arrived.
Wisconsin sold 47,587 season tickets, down from 54,780 the previous year, a 13.1% drop that sends a clear signal about how supporters are reacting. For Fickell, the message is unmistakable: the margin for error is shrinking, and the pressure is building in a way that could even reach athletic director Shawn Eichorst as the program tries to steady itself. [Read more 🡒]
Former Badgers Star Faces Troubling Recovery Question After Camp Injury
Tyler Biadaszs next chapter with the Chargers has taken an unfortunate turn, with the former Wisconsin star and seasoned NFL center suffering a significant knee injury during a joint practice against the 49ers. He is out indefinitely after the issue was diagnosed as an ACL injury, and the damage also includes his MCL, a setback that immediately raises questions about how soon he can get back on the field.
Biadasz is now seeking additional medical opinions as he sorts through the recovery path, which is where the uncertainty really starts to settle in. Even with the severity of the injury, there is still some hope he could return this season, but for now the focus is on how the Chargers handle a key piece of their offensive line without a clear timetable. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Is Asking One Quarterback To Save Its 2026 Season
Luke Fickell heads into 2026 knowing the margin for patience around Wisconsin football has thinned, and the offense is again the place where the program needs a real lift. The Badgers went into the transfer portal and brought in Colton Joseph from Old Dominion, a move that puts a lot of the seasons hopes on a quarterback who is expected to help change the tone of the attack and give Wisconsin something it has lacked too often in recent years.
For Joseph, the assignment is bigger than just winning a job. If he settles in quickly, Wisconsin can start talking about more than just getting back to a bowl game and instead chase the kind of upward climb that keeps a coaching staff out of trouble. If he does not, the questions around Fickell and the direction of the program are only going to get louder, which is why this quarterback move carries so much weight before a snap has been taken. [Read more 🡒]