The Wisconsin Badgers are on a heater in the transfer portal, and The Barry Alvarez Show breaks it all down.

With Wisconsin currently holding the No. 6 transfer portal class in the country (per 247Sports), Barry Alvarez reacts to the Badgers’ aggressive offseason approach and what it means for the future of the program.

On tonight’s show, the guys discuss:

🔄 Wisconsin’s hot start in the transfer portal

🏈 New additions including:

QB Colton Joseph (Old Dominion)

RB Abu Sama III (Iowa State)

WR Shamar Rigby (Oklahoma State)

📈 Why this portal class feels different than years past

🧠 What Barry looks for when evaluating portal additions

🧱 How these moves impact roster balance, competition, and culture

🔮 Whether this signals a philosophical shift in how Wisconsin builds its team

From quarterback depth to explosive skill position upgrades, Barry offers insight from the lens of a former head coach and athletic director on how portal success translates — or doesn’t — to winning football.

📺 Watch live on the ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee YouTube channels

💬 Join the conversation: Is this the best portal stretch Wisconsin has ever had?

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for weekly Badgers and college football insight.

The College Football Playoff first round is in the books, and The Barry Alvarez Show is back to break down what it all means for the sport — and for Wisconsin.

Barry Alvarez and the crew discuss:

🏈 Reactions to the CFP first round — what stood out, what surprised, and what it says about the expanded Playoff

🔄 Transfer portal fallout, including Badgers like Eugene Hilton Jr. entering the portal

🦡 How portal movement continues to reshape Wisconsin’s roster and offseason priorities

🏆 Bowl games in 2025 — do they still matter in the CFP era, or are they losing relevance?

📖 Best bowl game stories from Barry and the crew — memories, moments, and why bowls once meant everything

With Barry’s perspective as a former coach, athletic director, and College Football Playoff committee member, this episode offers both big-picture context and inside-the-room stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

This week on The Barry Alvarez Show, the former Wisconsin coach and athletic director dives deep into the two biggest stories in college football: the transfer portal explosion and the newly finalized College Football Playoff field.

With more players entering the portal than ever before, Coach Alvarez breaks down:

🔄 How the transfer portal is reshaping rosters nationally

🧭 What Wisconsin must prioritize this offseason

💰 How NIL + portal movement impacts the Badgers’ ability to compete

🧱 Why offensive and defensive line depth matters more than ever

⏳ Whether Wisconsin’s rebuild can accelerate in the portal era

As a former College Football Playoff committee member, Barry also shares rare insight into:

🏆 How committees evaluate teams today

📊 How roster turnover affects a program’s CFP chances

🔍 What Wisconsin must do to get back into national contention

🌎 How conference realignment changes the CFP landscape

Plus:

What teams got the CFP selection right? Who was left out? And how does new playoff seeding connect back to roster construction through the portal?

Whether you're a Wisconsin fan tracking every offseason move or a college football diehard following the evolution of the sport, this episode offers unmatched perspective from one of the most influential figures in Badgers history.

The Barry Alvarez Show returns with a loaded episode breaking down one of the most dramatic finishes to a college football season in recent memory. With the College Football Playoff field officially set, and Indiana stunning Ohio State to win the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game, Wisconsin fans are asking some big-picture questions about the future of the Badgers’ program.

Rose Bowl Champions Derek Engler & Tarek Saleh share insight on:

🏆 The final College Football Playoff field and who has the clearest path to the national title

😳 Indiana’s Big Ten Championship win over Ohio State, how it happened and what it means for the conference

🔴 How far away Wisconsin is from competing for Big Ten titles and CFP spots

🧭 What Wisconsin must fix to return to championship relevance

✍️ Recruiting after National Signing Day, where the Badgers improved and where they still need help

🔄 Transfer portal priorities, positional needs, and program identity

🏈 NFL notes and storylines as the playoff push heats up

Even without Barry, his former players provide the perspective only they can: how Wisconsin stacks up in the new Big Ten, whether the Badgers’ rebuilding timeline is realistic, and what it will take to climb back into championship conversations.

📺 Watch live on the ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee YouTube channels

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for weekly Wisconsin football insight, analysis, and exclusive interviews.

The Wisconsin Badgers hit a historic low on Saturday, falling 17–7 to Minnesota in the Axe Game and closing the season at 4-8, their worst record since 1995. The loss also puts Minnesota ahead in the all-time series 64-63-8, and the Gophers have now won four of the last five matchups against Wisconsin...

On tonight’s edition of The Barry Alvarez Show, the former Wisconsin head coach and athletic director reacts to the state of the program and breaks down what this disappointing season means for the Badgers going forward.

We discuss:

🪓 What went wrong vs. Minnesota?

📉 How does Wisconsin rebound from a 4–8 season?

🧭 Where Luke Fickell’s program stands heading into Year 3

❗ CFP and Lane Kiffin's shocking departure from Ole Miss to LSU

📺 Watch live tonight on the ESPN Madison YouTube channel

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for weekly Badgers discussions and exclusive interviews.

It's The Barry Alvarez Show after the Wisconsin Badgers’ big win over Illinois!

Join Barry Alvarez, Derek Engler, and Jesse Nelson as they break down the bounce-back victory, the growing confidence in Luke Fickell’s team, and how Wisconsin can recapture the Axe this Saturday against Minnesota

Tonight’s Topics:

🔴 What changed in the win over Illinois? Offense, toughness, and execution

🔴 How this team can finish strong, regain the Axe, and have positive momentum heading into 2026

🔴 Luke Fickell’s leadership and the culture shift taking hold

🔴 What the victory means for recruiting, alumni, and the future of Wisconsin Football

🎙 Presented by NUTRL Vodka Seltzer

After a tough 31–7 loss to #2 Indiana, the Badgers look to bounce back, and The Barry Alvarez Show LIVE from Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Middleton breaks it all down!

Barry Alvarez joins Derek Engler, Tarek Saleh, and Jesse Nelson to discuss what went wrong in Bloomington, what needs to change before Illinois comes to town, and the emotions surrounding Bret Bielema’s return to Madison.

Plus:

🏈 What the Badgers can learn from the Indiana game

🔴 How Wisconsin can regroup heading into Senior Day at Camp Randall

👀 The importance of in-state recruiting — and how Jake Ferguson’s legacy ties into the Badgers’ future

🎙️ Sponsored by NUTRL Vodka Seltzer

The Coach himself goes LIVE with ESPN Madison on The Barry Alvarez Show, reacting to the Badgers' BIG win vs No. 23 Washington! They also get into AD Chris McIntosh's announcement that Fickell will return in 2026, tackle in-state recruiting, debate whether or not this program needs a rebuild, and look ahead to Wisconsin's matchup with the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers this weekend!

Don’t miss this candid, must-watch conversation with the man who changed Wisconsin Football forever, only on ESPN Madison’s YouTube channel.

🎙️ Sponsored by NUTRL Vodka Seltzer

LIVE from the Hard Rock Casino Rockford, the Barry Alvarez Show resets after the Badgers bye week. Barry Alvarez, Derek Engler, Tarek Saleh, and Jesse Nelson break down how the Badgers can still have a successful season the rest of the way, the tumultuous QB situation, and much more!

Coach Alvarez also takes this week and the extended show to answer all of your questions!

🎙️ Sponsored by NUTRL Vodka Seltzer

After an inspired effort against Oregon that resulted in a 21-7 loss, Barry and the gang give their thoughts — Does Luke Fickell still have locker room? Should the Badgers continue to roll out Hunter Simmons at QB? And much more!

Plus, the crew reacts to FS1’s Tim Brando calling out “Wisconsin podcasters” for criticizing Fickell’s recruiting strategy. Is the criticism fair, or is the Badgers’ staff being unfairly targeted? Barry gives his honest perspective on the state of Wisconsin football, recruiting in the Fickell era, and what needs to change moving forward.

Alongside Rose Bowl Champions Derek Engler and Tarek Saleh, with Jesse Nelson keeping everyone in check, it's The Barry Alvarez Show LIVE from Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Middleton!