ESPN Wisconsin PodCenter

Has Wisconsin athletics become a stepping-stone program in the NIL and transfer portal era?

On this episode of Saturday Scramble, Pablo Iglesias and Riley Jauch take a deep dive into the changing landscape of Wisconsin Badgers athletics — and ask the tough question fans are starting to wonder.

For decades, Wisconsin built its reputation on elite player development in both football and basketball. But with the rise of NIL deals and the transfer portal, are developing players now leaving Wisconsin once they become stars?

The latest example? John Blackwell entering the transfer portal — raising major concerns about whether Wisconsin is becoming a stepping-stone program for bigger national contenders.

🏈 In This Episode:

Has Wisconsin become a stepping-stone program in the NIL era?

Are the Wisconsin Badgers football and Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball still developing NFL and NBA talent?

Why are fewer Wisconsin athletes being drafted into the pros?

Is Wisconsin’s brand and identity slipping nationally?

Reaction to the Milwaukee Brewers new City Connect jersey design

Fan-favorite Riled Up segment returns

The NIL era has reshaped college sports — but is Wisconsin adapting fast enough to stay competitive?

Join the debate and let us know:

Has Wisconsin become a stepping-stone program — or is this just the new reality of college athletics?

The Milwaukee Brewers are off to a HOT start to begin the 2026 MLB season — but is this finally the year the offense becomes a true strength?

On this episode of Saturday Scramble with Pablo Iglesias and Riley Jauch, we break down the early success and give our BIGGEST overreactions from Week 1:

Is this Brewers lineup actually dangerous?

Are the Brewers becoming a team other MLB clubs fear?

Or are we buying into early-season hype?

We also zoom out and ask a bigger question across Wisconsin sports:

👉 Are ANY Wisconsin teams feared in their leagues right now?

Plus, we shift to the NFL:

Do the Green Bay Packers have to win the division in 2026?

Is the pressure officially on in the NFC North?

And of course… we wrap things up with Riled Up, where things get heated 🔥

⏱️ Topics Covered:

Milwaukee Brewers hot start reaction

Brewers offense breakout discussion

MLB Week 1 overreactions

Are the Brewers contenders in 2026?

Wisconsin sports national perception

Green Bay Packers 2026 expectations

NFL division pressure debate

Riled Up segment

💬 Join the conversation in the comments:

Are you buying the Brewers hype? And should the Packers be expected to win the division this year?

Ben Brust and Josh DiMaggio are LIVE from Potawatomi Sportsbook for the season finale of The Weekly Wager! The guys discuss the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 start to the MLB season, Brice Turang's hot start, and what to expect the remainder of the year from the reigning NL Central champions. Then, the guys attempt to handicap the Alex Strouf vs. Kyle Wallace Decathlon from KBN. After that, a look at the upcoming Final Four Best Bets. The season wraps with a discussion on big proclamations going forward

Saturday Scramble with Pablo Iglesias and Riley Jauch returns after a one-week hiatus, and we have a lot on our plate.

The Wisconsin Badgers are watching fellow Big Ten teams dominate the Sweet 16 and Elite 8—so how should Badger fans feel? Does it prove Wisconsin is closer than ever to making its own deep NCAA Tournament run, or does it only make recent exits more frustrating?

We dive into whether Wisconsin could become a true “Cinderella” team in March Madness and ask the bigger question: does Cinderella still exist in college basketball in the NIL and transfer portal era?

Then we shift to the Milwaukee Brewers as the 2026 MLB season gets underway. Are the Brewers once again being overlooked by the rest of baseball despite their consistency? What are realistic expectations for this year’s team, and what are our boldest Brewers predictions for the season ahead?

And of course, we wrap things up with Riled Up 🔥

🏀 Wisconsin Badgers basketball

🏆 Big Ten Sweet 16 & Elite 8 reaction

👑 March Madness Cinderella debate

⚾ Milwaukee Brewers 2026 season expectations

🔥 Bold Brewers takes + Riled Up

💬 Drop your take in the comments:

Can Wisconsin still make a Cinderella-type Final Four run in today’s college basketball world?

Are the Brewers being slept on again?

Live from Potawatomi Sportsbook, The Weekly Wager with Ben Brust and Josh DiMaggio got fans ready for a packed sports weekend.

With Brewers Opening Day finally here, the guys set expectations for the season ahead — breaking down whether Milwaukee is a true contender or simply a competitive team. They highlighted key players to watch and what will ultimately determine how far this team can go.

The focus then shifted to the Sweet Sixteen, where the stakes — and the bets — are higher than ever. Ben and Josh shared their best bets, identified potential upsets and value plays, and discussed which teams have legitimate Final Four upside. They also pointed out where the public might be getting it wrong.

Looking ahead to the NFL Draft, the conversation turned to the Packers. The guys discussed Green Bay’s biggest roster needs, potential draft fits, and the key positions Brian Gutekunst must address — while debating whether the Packers are just one piece away from taking the next step.

From Opening Day excitement to March Madness picks and Packers draft strategy, it was a loaded show live from Potawatomi Sportsbook.

The Weekly Wager with Ben Brust and Josh DiMaggio went live from the Potawatomi Sportsbook as the madness officially tipped off. With the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament underway, the focus was simple: find the best value and cash in.

The guys dove into First Round bets, highlighting key spreads and totals, identifying upset alerts, and calling out matchups the public might be getting wrong. From bracket busters to sneaky value plays, they zeroed in on games worth targeting during the most unpredictable stretch of the tournament.

Looking ahead, they broke down Championship futures — separating true contenders from overvalued favorites while spotlighting sleeper teams with realistic paths to a title. The goal: lock in strong numbers before the bracket chaos shifts the odds.

Beyond the picks, the show emphasized strategy — how to approach the First Round versus later rounds, when to bet early versus waiting things out, and how to manage risk during one of the wildest betting weekends of the year.

And as always, the audience was part of the action — debating national champions, upset picks, and best bets live as the madness unfolded.

Join hosts Pablo Iglesias and Riley Jauch for a full one-hour deep dive into Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball on this special edition of Saturday Scramble! 🏀

The guys react to Wisconsin’s impressive Big Ten Tournament victories over Washington Huskies men's basketball and Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball, breaking down what these performances mean for their postseason outlook. Plus, they preview the Badgers’ upcoming showdown with Michigan Wolverines men's basketball later today and discuss key matchups, X-factors, and tournament momentum.

Can Wisconsin carry this surge into March? Is this team built for a deep run? Pablo and Riley give analysis, bold takes, and fan-focused insight throughout the entire hour. 🔥

The Saturday Scramble with Pablo Iglesias and Riley Jauch is back with another packed Wisconsin sports show! 🧀🏈🏀

We start with breaking conversation surrounding Rashan Gary and a deleted Instagram farewell message that had many fans believing his time with the Green Bay Packers was over. The team says he hasn’t been released… so what’s really going on? 🤔

Then we shift to Wisconsin Badgers football and head coach Luke Fickell. Has Fickell done everything he can with the program so far, given the resources available? Or should fans expect more by now?

We also preview the season finale for Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball as they travel to face Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball. Is this a must-win game heading into the postseason?

And of course… we wrap things up with Riled Up, where anything can be on the table. 🔥

👇 Join the conversation in the comments:

• What did Rashan Gary’s post mean?

• Is Luke Fickell doing enough for Wisconsin football?

• Do the Badgers NEED to beat Purdue?

ESPN Wisconsin has its final stop of our statewide tour of WIAC basketball. All roads led to Whitewater for the WIAC Men's Tournament Championship as the UW-Whitewater Warhawks hosted UW-La Crosse Eagles. The Eagles soared to victory as the university completed the WIAC Conference Tournament sweep with both men's and women's teams claiming the title. February 28th, 2026.

Saturday Scramble has you covered this morning with Pablo Iglesias and Wally Lukachinsky

The Green Bay Packers just took a major hit in the latest NFLPA Report Card — and fans should be paying attention.

After ranking 7th overall last year, the Packers dropped all the way to 21st in the NFL. The grades? Concerning. Poor marks in treatment of families, training room facilities, training staff, offensive coordinator evaluation, and even head coach Matt LaFleur ranking near the bottom in player respect.

What happened in Green Bay?

Why did the organization’s reputation decline so sharply?

Is this a front office issue under Brian Gutekunst?

Does this change how we should view LaFleur as a leader?

And how quickly can the Packers realistically fix this?

We break down what this means for the culture inside Lambeau, whether this affects free agency moving forward, and if Packers fans should be concerned about long-term organizational stability.

Plus:

🏈 A quick look ahead to the NFL Combine — how would WE stack up athletically?

🔥 “Riled Up” returns with the takes you’ve been waiting for.

If you care about the future of the Packers, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Drop your thoughts in the comments:

Is this overblown… or is something actually wrong in Green Bay?