Colton Joseph isn’t tiptoeing around expectations for Wisconsin’s offense. He’s going straight at them.
After a brutal 2025 season that left the Badgers near the bottom of the sport in just about every meaningful offensive category, the new quarterback is talking like a man who sees something very different coming. Joseph called the unit “explosive” and went even further with the line, “We're going to score a lot of points!”
That kind of confidence stands out because Wisconsin’s offense last year gave nobody much reason to believe in fireworks. The Badgers finished second-to-last in Division 1 in yards per game at 253.1, making them the worst Power-4 offense in the country in that category.
The passing game was even rougher, with Wisconsin averaging just 136.4 passing yards per game, again the worst among Power-4 teams. The ground game wasn’t elite either, but at 116.7 rushing yards per game it was at least better than Minnesota and Maryland.
The real eye-opener was scoring: Wisconsin put up only 12.8 points per game, with only UMass scoring fewer.
So yes, the standard is pretty low. But Joseph isn’t talking like a quarterback content to merely clear it. He’s selling a much bigger jump, and Chris Brooks Jr., who has been around long enough to know better, backed him up by saying he had nothing to add because Joseph already said it best.
That belief isn’t coming out of nowhere. Jeff Grimes was the new offensive coordinator last season, but he didn’t exactly walk into ideal conditions.
He was working with limited personnel and even a limited coaching setup. This offseason, he was able to bring in more of the coaches he wanted around him, including Eric Mateos for the offensive line, Jayden Everett for the running backs, and Ari Confesor for the wide receivers.
The roster also looks far different. Wisconsin added more than one quarterback who can handle the job, and true freshman Ryan Hopkins emerged as a pleasant surprise. The offensive line was reworked, and the running back room was stocked up as well.
There’s still only one way to know if all of that turns into the kind of offense Joseph is describing, and that’s to see it on the field. Until Game 1 against Notre Dame, the idea of Wisconsin looking drastically different remains exactly that - an idea. But Joseph has made it clear he’s not thinking small.
In Other News...
Malachi Coleman Is Suddenly Pushing Into A Huge Wisconsin Role
Malachi Coleman kept turning heads on day four of Wisconsins fall camp, showing up with a significant gain on a dig route as the Badgers continued sorting through their receiving options. The wideouts combination of size and speed has always made him an intriguing piece, and in a camp where every rep matters, he is starting to look like more than just a project player with upside.
Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes has made clear the offense still needs a receiver to stretch the field and create that true vertical presence, which gives Coleman a real opening if his progress keeps building. He entered camp with limited career production, but his recruiting pedigree and the flashes he has shown so far have put him in the mix for a bigger job, one that could grow quickly if he keeps stacking plays. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Position Battles Are Starting To Heat Up At Fall Camp
Wisconsins fall camp continues to sort itself out, and the fourth practice offered a fresh look at how the roster is beginning to take shape. Rain and lightning briefly pushed the session indoors, but a handful of players still made their presence felt once work resumed. A tall receiver named Coleman drew attention for his size, while offensive lineman Kawecki, inside backers Catalano and Mason Posa, pass rusher Clayton, Kansas transfer Manning and quarterback Hopkins all showed traits that could matter when the Badgers start lining up for real.
The encouraging part for Wisconsin is that these early reps are already giving the staff a clearer sense of who can handle bigger roles this season. Some players stood out for technique, some for physical tools and some for their potential fit in the lineup, which is exactly the sort of mix that makes camp worth watching. The competition is still developing, but the Badgers are starting to learn where the strongest battles may be won, and where the depth chart could still shift before the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins Offensive Line Is Facing An Early Camp Stress Test
Wisconsins fall camp has already put its offensive line depth under a microscope, with two starters currently sidelined as the Badgers sort through the early stages of camp. Guard Emerson Mandell is still working back from foot surgery, while tackle Kevin Heywood is dealing with an injury that has left the line short-handed at a key spot. Even in August, that is the kind of situation that forces coaches to learn a lot fast.
Heywood has remained around the program, but the missed practice time has opened the door for others to get reps, and Lucas Simmons-Johansson has been taking over at right tackle in his place. For Wisconsin, the immediate concern is less about long-term panic than finding out which combinations can hold up if the depth chart gets tested early, because camp has a way of revealing just how thin a line can feel before the season even starts. [Read more 🡒]