2026 Preview: Wisconsin

The Schedule Gods smote the Badgers hard in 2025. Hard enough that Luke Fickell probably still feels it. Last year's opponents included Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, and Illinois. I wrote in last year's preview that I didn't think Barry Alvarez could have done any better than 6-6 against such a slate, so Wisconsin's 4-8 outcome wasn't too surprising.

What was a little surprising is that Wisconsin kept Luke Fickell in spite of the Badgers' regression in 2025. Some of that is probably because the entire athletic department had to know it was going to be a long year on the gridiron. Some of that is probably because it was clear early in the season that this wasn't a great year for a B-tier team to be looking for a new coach. And at least a little has to do with the fact that Wisconsin actually beat Washington and Illinois, proving that the Fickell Era wasn't yet doomed.

(Probably not, at least.)

Then there's the matter of his buyout, but ... details. Fickell, to his credit, refused a one-year extension on his contract after the season was over. That effectively lowers his buyout should the Badgers continue their losing ways this season. But ... 

The Big Question: Is the schedule stacked against them again?

My Guess at the Answer: LOLnope. Exactly none of the opponents listed above appear on the 2026 schedule. After opening against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field, the Badgers will face Johnny-Come-Notly Western Illinois and perennial ne'er-show-ups Eastern Michigan before opening the Big Ten season against three straight teams with first-year head coaches. Those teams are Penn State, Michigan State, and UCLA, and if you know right now how good all three of those teams will be, you're lying. The back half of the season starts off with a visit from USC and a road trip to Kinnick but concludes with four teams a reasonably competent Wisconsin team should be able to beat. 

Key Games:

• Notre Dame, Sept. 6, at Lambeau Field: The Badgers almost certainly won't win this game, and they probably don't need to. If they can show up and give the playoff-fave Irish a good fight, that will go a long ways toward re-establishing Bucky Badger's credibility. Of course, Wisconsin has historically done pretty well at Lambeau ...
• at UCLA, Oct. 17: Who knows how far Bob Chesney can take the Bruins in year one? Certainly not I. So even if I eat these words later, right now, in mid-August, I think Wisconsin has at least a puncher's chance, and a win here would be huge for showing a turnaround.

AI-Generated Joke about the Badgers:

Why do Wisconsin Badgers fans bring extra cheddar to the stadium?

To go with all the whine when they lose a tight game—and because running the ball down your throat for three yards and a cloud of dust takes a lot of fuel!

Ick. If it had just stopped after the "would you like some cheese with your whine?" cliche it would have been trite but mildly funny. Carrying it that far almost seems like an apology. Also I feel like there's a better possible joke about Buc-Ee's suing the university because it has a meatloaf-shaped animal mascot whose name starts with B, and it uses the color red. 1.5/10.

My Prediction: The Badgers claw their way back to respectability and finish 7-5.