Wisconsin Badgers 2026 College Football Preview
Posted July 21, 2026
2025 Recap
Record – 4-8
ATS – 6-6
The Badgers got through their first two warmup games with ease, taking down Miami (OH) and MTSU by a combined tally of 59-10. And then the season took a savage detour to TURD TOWN, USA as Bucky lost the next six games in a row, and they didn’t score more than 14 points in any of those defeats. Oh yeah, and they were shut out in back-to-back weeks. However, Wisconsin gets full marks for refusing to completely pack it in, as they scored a pair of upset wins in the final month of the regular season (Washington, Illinois) to salvage a bit of dignity.
Wisconsin Badgers 2026 Outlook
OFFENSE
2025 By The Numbers (Big Ten):
- Scoring: 12.8 PPG (#18, dead last)
- Total Offense: 253.1 YPG (#18, dead last)
- Rushing: 116.7 YPG (#16)
- Passing: 136.4 YPG (#18, dead last)
- Sacks Allowed: 27 (#12)
“Are you not entertained?”
— Maximus Decimus Meridius, Gladiator (2000)
Actually “no”, Maximus. We were NOT entertained. Wisconsin finished next to last in the country in terms of YPG and PPG output. Only mighty UMass was worse.
The Badgers made what we hope is a sneaky-good signing in the portal by signing former Old Dominion star QB Colton Joseph who’s a legit dual-threat specimen (2,624, 21-10 TD to INT; 1,007 rush, 13 TD) that should be able to do some damage in the Big Ten. It’s a YUUUGE rise in class from the Sun Belt, but hopefully Joseph can get some help from his friends. The Wisconsin WR/TE corps needs to essentially be rebuilt from scratch, and we’ll see a combination of transfers and holdovers with potential to surprise. The transfer portal haul doesn’t look fantastic, but they bring in a productive dude from SE Louisiana in Jaylon Domingeaux (857, 11 TD) and our Wisconsin INSIDERS believe that sophomore WR Eugene Hilton has the size and skill to make an impact after seeing brief action in 2025. Joseph will like the fact that the Badgers have two or three tight ends that could be helpful in the THROW GAME, but we’ll have to see who emerges during fall camp.
It would be nice to see the ground attack get going after watching the YPG output decline in four consecutive seasons, and the Badgers picked up a legit RB1 in Abu Sama who rushed for almost 2,000 yards (13 TD) during his time with the Cyclones and he averaged a very impressive 5.6 YPC. There are some talented guys behind him on the depth chart that haven’t blossomed yet for one reason or another, and don’t forget about Darrion Dupree who led the team in rushing last season.
The offensive line is in a transition phase as they need to replace a pair of reliable veterans, but it’s worth noting that they add some depth via the portal and the projected starting five averages a robust 323 pounds.
DEFENSE
2025 By The Numbers (Big Ten):
- Scoring: 21.6 PPG (#9)
- Total Defense: 323.5 YPG (#7)
- Rushing Defense: 105.3 YPG (#4)
- Passing Defense: 218.3 YPG (#13)
- Sacks: 24 (#12)
Wisconsin made a significant improvement in terms of stopping the run last year (105 YPG, 165 YPG in 2024) and we like the look of things up front. There are countless 300-pound bodies in the defensive line room and we’re impressed by the additions of Hammond Russell IV (West Virginia) and Buffalo transfer DT Junior Poyser who was an absolute animal on the interior for the Bulls last season (6-2, 310; 5.5 sacks).
We are REALLY excited about the Badgers’ young LB corps as they’ve got a pair of very talented sophomores ready to make an even bigger splash in 2026. MLB Cooper Catalano (#2 tackles, 4.5 TFL) is a local product and a devastating run stopper, and Mason Posa (#1 tackles, 4 sacks) garnered 3rd Team Big Ten honors as a true freshman last year.
Wisconsin allowed a revolting 69.8% completion rate last year (dead last Big Ten) and that seems unthinkable when you consider how great the Badgers used to be on the back end. There’s no question they’ll be much stingier vs the pass this season as they’ve got at least three legit dudes in safety Matthew Jung (#5 tackles), veteran safety Marvin Burks (Missouri), along with CB Javan Robinson who was a standout with Arizona St last year (8 PBU, 2.5 TFL).
SPECIAL TEAMS
There’s a major reload almost across the board and we’re happy to see it. The kicking game was mediocre last season, but it remains to be seen how the FRESH MEAT will work out in 2026.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – Bucky will almost certainly enter Big Ten action with a record of 2-1 after knocking over a pair of TOMATO CANS and losing to Notre Dame. Wisconsin got the polar opposite draw of Northwestern when it comes to conference play as they avoid Oregon, Ohio St, and Indiana (!). That’s some SWEET ACTION.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Iowa (Oct 31)
This game follows the big home date with USC, and the Badgers have lost four consecutive games in the series.
Season Win Total
Market consensus – July 21
Over 6.5 -125
Under 6.5 +100
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
That’s a sharp number. This is a much-improved team, but they’ll probably be 3-2 after five games. Can they win four of the last seven games? Maybe. Even probably. We’ll take a pass for now.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The “Badgers” nickname started as an insult. In the 1820s, lead miners in southwestern Wisconsin dug into hillsides and lived in their mine shafts to survive the brutal winters. Outsiders mocked them for living underground like animals — and the tough miners owned it. Wisconsin became the “Badger State,” and decades later the university made it legendary. BOOM — a Badger Bunker‑Buster Trivia BOMB delivered to you straight from Camp Randall.
Wisconsin was the very first king of the Big Ten, yo. When the Western Conference (now the Big Ten) kicked off its inaugural football season in 1896 with just seven charter schools, Wisconsin ruled the Midwest. Guided by legendary coach Philip King, the Badgers posted a 2–0–1 conference record (7–1–1 overall) to capture the league’s first-ever championship. Proving it was no fluke, Bucky repeated as champions the very next season in 1897.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
It’s been a long downhill slide for the Badgers as their annual win total has slowly faded — 9, 7, 7, 5, then 4. Head coach Luke Fickell has been given plenty of rope, and this just might be the season we see a brand of football more closely associated with Wisconsin.
The quarterback position has been upgraded and they’ve got depth at RB, but we’re just not sure about the offensive line or their ability to throw the football effectively when needed. What we do know is that the defense will be just fine, and that should keep them in almost every game. The schedule couldn’t have worked out much better, so we’ll call for them to get back to a bowl game with a ceiling of probably eight regular-season wins.
On Wisconsin!