Following Wisconsin’s disastrous 34-0 loss to Ohio State on Oct. 18, pessimistic discourse surrounding the team reached a fever pitch.
The offense was shut out in back-to-back losses for the first time since 1968. “Fire Fickell” chants grew ever louder, even with head coach Luke Fickell’s contract buyout standing at roughly $25 million. This was a fork-in-the-road moment for Wisconsin Athletics Director Chris McIntosh, tasked with pleasing a fanbase who became more adamant about their complaints after every defeat.
McIntosh broke his silence the following Monday in a public statement that addressed the state of the program. He reinforced Fickell’s position as head coach, acknowledged that expectations were not being met and committed to “more athletics-funded investments in infrastructure, staffing and, most importantly, student-athlete recruiting and retention.”
While McIntosh’s statement gave some clarity regarding the team's future, the season was far from over. The Badgers would go 2-3 in its final five games, a mixed bag filled with two rejuvenating wins over then-ranked Washington and Illinois, followed by a demoralizing loss to rival Minnesota in the season finale. Wisconsin finished the year at 4-8, its worst record since 1995, signaling a new low for the program in the 21st century.
Regardless of the negativity surrounding the team, there was little time for the Badgers to dwell on their struggles. With no bowl game scheduled for the second straight year, Wisconsin now entered an offseason that could make or break Fickell’s time at the helm.
During Wisconsin’s National Signing Day Media Conference on Dec. 3, Fickell quietly dropped hints that Wisconsin would be changing its philosophy regarding roster construction in the coming offseason.
“The idea of saying ‘Hey, do you wanna bring in 22 high school kids?’ That’s kind of shifted.” Fickell said regarding Wisconsin’s current number of 14 commits in the 2026 recruiting class, down from 22 enrollees in the class of 2025.
A decreased number of high school recruits, alongside a pledge from McIntosh to increase financial support, meant Wisconsin looked towards the NCAA transfer portal as their main source of roster improvement.
It’s this methodology that's allowed programs like Indiana to jump from dead last in the Big Ten in 2023, to being one win away from becoming National Champions in 2026. Heisman winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the main addition from the Hoosiers’s 2025 portal class, which included 22 other players who’d help contribute to their meteoric rise. While head coach Curt Cignetti’s role in Indiana’s success can’t be overlooked, the transfer portal played a legitimate part in their current championship push.
“[The transfer portal] is obviously a little bit more of the way of the world,” Fickell said, acknowledging the importance of the portal in the modern landscape of college football.
When the transfer portal opened on Jan. 2, Wisconsin wasted no time pursuing additions to its roster. Through 12 days of portal activity, the Badgers have received commitments from 27 players, seventh-most in college football and surpassing their total signings in the 2023 and 2024 portal classes, at 15 and 16 respectively.
With the increase in portal acquisitions, each position group has seen its fair share of renovations.
Eager to finally get a full season of his first choice at quarterback, Fickell zeroed in on Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph. A true dual-threat option at quarterback, Joseph threw for 21 touchdowns in 2025, adding 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. The ability to use his legs against defenses will be crucial for offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. Grimes favored a run-pass option offensive scheme when true freshman Carter Smith started for the Badgers, a mobile quarterback in his own right.
Protecting the quarterback was one of many issues for the Badgers in 2025, surrendering 27 sacks, a 14-sack increase from 2024. With center Jake Renfro and guard Joe Brunner entering the transfer portal, the offensive line immediately became a priority this portal cycle.
Wisconsin signed four offensive lineman through the portal so far: Austin Kawecki, Blake Cherry, Lucas Simmons and PJ Wilkins. Former Badger and NFL legend Joe Thomas was even seen on the recruiting trail, having dinner with Simmons before the 6-foot-8 freshman announced his commitment to Wisconsin.
On the defensive side of the ball, no group has seen more additions than the secondary. Six players, including four cornerbacks and two safeties, have joined the Badgers. Perhaps most notable is Ohio State transfer Bryce West, who was a four-star prospect out of high school in 2024.
Other positions that have seen multiple additions through the portal are running back, wide receiver and defensive line. One position group that’s been left largely untouched is linebacker. The mid-season breakouts of both Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano left Wisconsin prioritizing other areas, with the Badgers only adding one linebacker so far: Jon Jon Kamara from Kansas.
For all the buzz that Wisconsin is generating with their portal activity, 2026 will prove to be the most pivotal year in recent Badger memory.
Entering his fourth year as head coach, Fickell will be under a microscope all season. After leading Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff during the four-team format, expectations were lofty coming to Madison in 2023. But instead of raising the bar, Fickell has lowered it significantly. Snapping a 22-year bowl streak left a sour taste in Wisconsin fans mouths, but 2025 saw the program steer even further away from its former glory.
Despite an unsatisfactory 17-21 record in three seasons, McIntosh has stood firm alongside Fickell. Sustained calls for his firing haven’t deterred McIntosh from believing in his head coach’s long-term vision for the Badgers.
However, after giving him public support, increased portal resources and a 2026 schedule that is more favorable to Wisconsin than previous years, another year of Fickell failing to meet expectations could leave McIntosh no choice but to pull the plug on what has been a disastrous era for the Badgers.
