The future of Wisconsin athletics is officially in motion.

The Wisconsin Badgers announced the nine-person committee tasked with selecting the university’s next athletic director — and the names are drawing major reactions. From Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard to former Badgers stars Michael Finley and Meghan Duggan, who will have the biggest influence on the future of UW athletics?

On this episode of The Jump Around with Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch, we break down:

Wisconsin’s newly announced AD search committee

Which committee member matters most

Whether Badger fans should trust this process

What traits Wisconsin SHOULD prioritize in its next athletic director

What the search says about the future of football and basketball at UW

Evan Cohen joins the show to discuss the committee and search process

Clip of the Week reactions

Twitter Portal featuring the latest Wisconsin & college athletics takes

If you’re a Wisconsin Badgers fan, this is a huge moment for the future of UW football, basketball, recruiting, NIL, and the direction of the athletic department.

Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers coverage, live debates, recruiting talk, football and basketball analysis, and daily content from ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee.

Are the Wisconsin Badgers being underrated heading into 2026? On this episode of The Jump Around, we break down where Wisconsin truly belongs in the Big Ten after being projected as low as #14 by major outlets. Is the national perception fair... or way off?? We also kick off our Athletic Director search series with a deep dive into Shawn Eichorst: the Wisconsin native and current Texas deputy AD with ties to Barry Alvarez.

Plus:

-Reacting to Tyrese Haliburton's comments about Donovan Davis and Wisconsin basketball in-state recruiting 👀

-24-team College Football Playoff debate 🔥

-Twitter Portal: Best Badgers takes of the week

🏈 SPECIAL GUEST:

Former Wisconsin OL Rob Havenstein joins the show after retiring from an 11-year NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams, including a Super Bowl title. Havenstein reflects on his career, Wisconsin roots, and what’s next.

For the first time since 1978, Wisconsin football had ZERO players drafted in the NFL Draft… 😳

Is this rock bottom for Wisconsin Badgers football under Luke Fickell — or is there reason for optimism?

On this episode of The Jump Around, we break down:

What the “no draft picks” reality means for the program

Key takeaways from spring practice (including major OL improvement 👀)

Why the defense may still lead the Badgers in 2026

Greg Gard’s thoughts on NCAA Tournament expansion

PLUS: Exclusive interview with Nyzier Fourqurean — former Wisconsin CB and current Los Angeles Rams UDFA — on his journey, the NCAA situation, and what’s next!

📺 The Jump Around — your home for Wisconsin sports coverage on ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee

Big news for Wisconsin basketball - John Blackwell is heading to Duke, while Nolan Winter is staying a Badger for life… and the fanbase is split.

On this week’s episode of The Jump Around, we dive into:

Blackwell to Duke reaction — are you rooting for him or not?

Comparing John Blackwell vs Nolan Winter’s legacy at Wisconsin

Rapid-fire “one word” breakdown of every major Wisconsin program

Big Cat’s comments — does Wisconsin need to lean into donors more?

Throwback uniforms & fan debates in the Twitter Portal

💪 PLUS: Wisconsin Football Strength Coach Brady Collins joins the show

Offseason changes to the program

Player development for the NFL Draft

Growth of the Badgers this spring

🔥 A packed episode covering BOTH Wisconsin basketball & football.

The Jump Around is LIVE with the latest on the Wisconsin Badgers, including the ongoing search for a new Athletic Director and the potential role of Barry Alvarez after his appearance on Wilde and Tausch yesterday...

In today’s episode, we discuss:

Should Barry Alvarez be involved in Wisconsin’s AD search?

Did the Badgers make a mistake distancing themselves from Barry?

What qualities does Wisconsin NEED in its next Athletic Director?

PLUS, Badgers legend and former AD Pat Richter joins the show

We break down everything surrounding the future of Wisconsin athletics and where the program stands in today’s college sports landscape.

Subscribe for daily Badgers coverage, interviews, and analysis from ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee.

Chris McIntosh is out as athletic director at Wisconsin Badgers, leaving for a senior role with the Big Ten — and it raises a major question:

Did he leave… or did he jump ship?

In this special emergency episode of The Jump Around, we break down:

Why McIntosh made the move now

The state of Wisconsin athletics in the NIL era

Whether the Badgers have fallen behind the Big Ten

The leadership vacuum facing UW right now

What comes next for football, basketball, and the entire department

From NIL struggles to fan frustration, this moment could define the future of Wisconsin sports.

Is this a smart career move… or a sign of bigger problems in Madison?

Where does Wisconsin really fit in today’s college sports landscape? 🤔

On this episode of The Jump Around, we break down the biggest questions surrounding the Badgers:

Are Wisconsin’s football and basketball programs closer to a blue blood or a mid-major in today’s NIL era?

What does John Blackwell’s departure say about the state of Wisconsin athletics?

Can the Badgers realistically compete for championships moving forward?

Is there untapped revenue potential Wisconsin should be leveraging?

Plus, Wisconsin beat reporter Jim Polzin joins the show to give his insight on Blackwell, NIL, and where the Badgers stand compared to the rest of college sports.

The Wisconsin Badgers are under the microscope 👀

On this episode of The Jump Around, we break down some of the biggest questions surrounding Wisconsin athletics:

What grade does Athletic Director Chris McIntosh deserve right now?

Are there real concerns about Luke Fickell and Wisconsin football heading into 2026?

Early spring practice takeaways, including defensive dominance and QB development

Frank Kaminsky responds to the “mid-major” debate

Recruiting buzz: Is Fickell building the best class in program history?

Plus, former Badgers fullback and new Director of Football Alumni Relations Bradie Ewing joins the show to discuss his new role, the importance of alumni engagement, and his confidence in the future of Wisconsin football.

📍 Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers content

📍 Watch The Jump Around LIVE on ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee

Wisconsin had everything lined up for a March run — and still lost to High Point.

The Jump Around breaks down the Badgers’ shocking Round of 64 exit, what went wrong late, and the bigger questions now facing Greg Gard and Wisconsin basketball.

Jim Rutledge and Pablo Iglesias discuss the brutal ending to a season that felt like it could be different, why Wisconsin couldn’t get stops late, whether roster construction and NIL limitations are holding the Badgers back, and what this loss means for Greg Gard moving forward.

They also dive into:

Why the High Point loss hurts so much

Whether Wisconsin’s March struggles are becoming a bigger issue

Greg Gard’s future and the direction of the program

The Badgers’ roster build, toughness, and defensive concerns

Frank Kaminsky’s comments on Gard and the state of Wisconsin basketball

Why other Big Ten tournament runs only made this loss sting more

If you’re a Wisconsin Badgers fan, this episode is a full postmortem on one of the most frustrating NCAA Tournament exits in recent memory.

Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers coverage, analysis, reactions, and interviews from The Jump Around on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.

The Sweet 16 is set, and for Wisconsin fans, it somehow hurts even more.

Alex Strouf and Wisconsin legend Ben Brust react to the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, why the Badgers’ loss to High Point still stings, and how the Big Ten’s success made it all worse. Iowa and Nebraska are somehow one win away from the Final Four, while Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State, and Illinois are all still alive.

The guys break down the Big Ten’s Sweet 16 teams, revisit the idea that the 6-seed may have been the better path, and reset their thoughts on the tournament heading into Thursday’s regional semifinals.

In this episode:

Why Wisconsin’s loss still feels brutal

Why High Point pushing Arkansas changes nothing

Iowa and Nebraska’s bizarre runs

Michigan State skepticism

Illinois vs Houston preview

Purdue, Michigan, and the Big Ten’s ceiling

Final Four reset after the first weekend