Wisconsin Basketball has mapped out its expected non-conference path for 2026-27, and the Badgers’ schedule brings a little bit of everything: exhibition tune-ups, a Bahamas trip, and a December run loaded with high-major opponents.
The program is in summer workouts right now, but Monday’s release gave an early look at what’s coming. Wisconsin opens with three exhibition games, starting October 10 against Parkside and Kyle Blackbourn, then moving to Green Bay on October 15 against Doug Gottlieb’s UW-Green Bay program. The final exhibition comes October 27 against Oklahoma State at the KC.
The regular season portion of the slate begins in November, and Wisconsin will spend much of the month at home before heading overseas. The Badgers open November 2 against Denver, then host Delaware on November 6.
A third home game follows on November 10 against Fairfield, before Coastal Carolina comes to Madison on November 15. After that, Wisconsin heads to the Bahamas tournament, where NC State, Seton Hall, and potentially one more team are in the field.
The Badgers finish November at home against Northeastern.
December is where the schedule really tightens up. Wisconsin visits Marquette on December 5, then travels to Philadelphia to play Villanova on December 12.
A neutral-site meeting with Auburn follows in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 19. The non-conference slate wraps with Purdue Fort-Wayne at home on December 22 and Colorado State at the Kohl Center on December 30.
Wisconsin’s current roster features Owen Foxwell, Jack Janicki, Eian Elmer, Austin Rapp, Nolan Winter, Trey Autry, Zach Kinziger, Jackson Ball, Hayden Jones, Will Garlock, Victory Onuetu, Isaac Riddle, LaTrevion Fenderson and Josh Manchester, giving the Badgers 14 players for now. The expectation is that the roster will grow to 15 before the season begins.
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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 🡒]