Which game could make or break Wisconsin's 2026 football season?

On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch break down the Wisconsin Badgers' 2026 schedule and hand out our biggest game-day superlatives. From the best win and worst loss to the biggest trap game and potential season killer, which matchup will ultimately define Wisconsin's season?

We also discuss:

• Wisconsin's 2026 schedule from top to bottom

• The best win on the Badgers' schedule

• The worst potential loss

• Wisconsin's biggest statement game

• The toughest game of the season

• The biggest trap game

• The must-win matchup

• The most exciting and most underrated games

• The potential season killer

• Which game could become the season-defining matchup

Plus, we dive into the changing economics of college football and what it takes to build a contender:

• Why professional athletes are attempting to return to college football

• Whether college football can now offer more money than an NFL practice squad

• Reports that some college football programs are spending nearly $50 million on their rosters

• Quarterbacks earning $3.5 million or more at numerous Power 4 programs

• Wisconsin reportedly committing around $25-30 million to its roster

• Does Wisconsin's investment make you more confident the Badgers can compete?

And Jim Polzin of BadgerExtra and the Wisconsin State Journal joins The Jump Around to share his biggest observations from Wisconsin fall camp, the position battles to watch, and what he's learned about the 2026 Badgers.

Subscribe for Wisconsin Badgers football, recruiting, Big Ten analysis, NIL and roster spending discussion, fall camp coverage, and more from The Jump Around on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.

Wisconsin football fans saw one rough open practice and immediately hit the panic button 🚨—but is the concern actually justified? Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch push back on the doom and gloom surrounding the Badgers offense and explain why the talent, depth and upside look **significantly different in 2026**.

How much better can Colton Joseph and the offense be? Could Wisconsin realistically win **8 or 9 games** if everything clicks? 👀 And with major investment in the roster, how high should expectations be for Luke Fickell and the Badgers this season?

Plus, the guys debate which era truly represents the **golden age of Wisconsin football** 🌹, celebrate Matt Lepay joining the ESPN Wisconsin team and tackle whether the Badgers actually have a puncher’s chance against Notre Dame.

Then, former Badgers fullback **Bradie Ewing** joins Riley to go inside Wisconsin’s renewed push to reconnect former players with the program. Ewing shares how Badgers legends are getting involved at fall camp, what he’s seeing from the 2026 roster and why this team’s size, physicality and running back room have him excited for what’s ahead. 🦡

**Are Badgers fans sleeping on how much better Wisconsin could be in 2026? 🔥**

Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers coverage and listen live and on demand on the ESPN Wisconsin App.

Is 8 wins enough for Luke Fickell to keep his job at Wisconsin?

There is renewed excitement around Wisconsin football heading into the 2026 season. The Badgers have a revamped roster, expanded resources, an easier schedule, and a quarterback in Colton Joseph who believes this offense can create more explosive plays and score a lot of points. But after two difficult seasons, is that enough for Luke Fickell to turn things around?

On this episode of The Jump Around, Riley Jauch and Jesse Nelson debate:

🏈Is 2026 truly a make-or-break year for Luke Fickell?

🏈 Is 8 wins enough for Fickell to keep his job?

🏈 Can Wisconsin realistically win 8 or more games this season?

🏈Why is there renewed excitement around the Badgers?

🏈What does an easier schedule mean for Wisconsin's 2026 season?

🏈Colton Joseph previews an offense built around explosiveness, big plays and scoring

🏈If Wisconsin's offense takes a step forward, how good can this team be?

🏈 Justin Williams of The Athletic joins The Jump Around to discuss Luke Fickell, Wisconsin's offseason, and the "Burn the Boats" mentality

🏈Why expanded resources and increased investment have created more confidence inside the program

🏈Can Wisconsin's offseason finally "bear fruit" in 2026?

Subscribe to The Jump Around for Wisconsin Badgers football, basketball, recruiting, Big Ten news, coaching analysis and exclusive interviews from ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.

Wisconsin football has officially unveiled the new Kellner Family Athletic Center. Is this proof the Badgers are finally catching up in the modern era of college football?

On this episode of The Jump Around, Riley Jauch shares his firsthand experience touring Wisconsin's brand-new football facility and discusses what it means for the future of the program.

We also discuss:

🏈 Wisconsin unveils the Kellner Family Athletic Center

🏈 How important elite facilities are in today's college football landscape

🏈 Whether Wisconsin is finally embracing the NIL era

🏈 Biggest takeaways from the first day of Badgers fall camp

🏈 Which players stood out during practice

🏈 The biggest questions facing Wisconsin before Notre Dame at Lambeau Field

🏈 Jeff Grimes says Wisconsin is "more talented and deeper everywhere"

🏈 Is this the deepest roster of the Luke Fickell era?

🏈 Twitter Portal featuring the latest Wisconsin and college football discussions

🏀 Wisconsin assistant coach Sharif Chambliss joins the show to discuss the Badgers basketball roster, defensive identity, and building a "hungry and humble" culture

Subscribe for Wisconsin Badgers football, basketball, recruiting, NIL, Big Ten analysis, and exclusive interviews every week on The Jump Around from ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.

Did Luke Fickell change the conversation around Wisconsin football?

On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch traveled to Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago to hear directly from Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell—and they came away with very different impressions.

Riley believes Fickell's confidence reflects a coach who truly believes in his football team. Jim isn't convinced yet, pointing to the strength of the Big Ten and wondering whether the Badgers can climb out of the hole they've dug over the past two seasons.

Plus, ESPN college football reporter Adam Rittenberg joins the show to discuss:

🏈 Why Colton Joseph could change Wisconsin's offense

🛡️ Why the defense is the Badgers' blueprint for success

📅 Why surviving September is critical after recent injury-plagued starts

📈 Wisconsin's outlook in a loaded Big Ten

You'll also hear exclusive one-on-one interviews from Big Ten Media Days with Wisconsin players:

Sebastian Cheeks

Chris Brooks Jr.

Matt Jung

Can Wisconsin exceed expectations in 2026, or is there still too much ground to make up?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers football coverage, interviews, and analysis from The Jump Around.

Former Wisconsin standout linebacker, Chris Orr, joins Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch on The Jump Around! Orr has moved around since his days in Madison and currently is in Kansas City working as an assistant coach for the Chiefs, but he still loves his Badgers! Orr shares what he likes to see from the current linebacker duo in Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano continuing the great linebacker tradition at Wisconsin. But he feels like the Badgers need to be back in the conversation of competing in the Big Ten, the College Football Playoff, and overall being feared again. How can Wisconsin get back to its dominance when Orr was dominating opposing backfields at Camp Randall? Plus, Orr shares his favorite stories of recruiting Mason Posa while at Baylor, his favorite Camp Randall memories, and his proposition to change the College Football Playoff. All of that and more from Chris Orr on The Jump Around!

Can Wisconsin football become OLineU again?

On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch sit down with new Wisconsin offensive line coach Eric Mateos to discuss why he came to Madison, his relationship with offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, and his vision for rebuilding one of college football's most respected position groups.

We also discuss:

Takeaways from Wisconsin basketball's open practice

Which newcomers stood out the most

Our Top 5 defensive instant-impact players for the Badgers in 2026

Why Eric Mateos believes Wisconsin can return to its OLineU identity

His coaching philosophy and expectations for the offensive line room

Tyler Herro's comments about decommitting from Wisconsin and how different his career might have been

Twitter Portal featuring the biggest Wisconsin Badgers conversations

If you're a Wisconsin Badgers fan, subscribe for weekly football and basketball coverage, recruiting updates, exclusive interviews, and Big Ten analysis from The Jump Around on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.

Shawn Eichorst has officially taken over as Wisconsin's athletic director — and his first public comments are already generating debate.

On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch react to Eichorst's introductory press conference, including his comparison of Wisconsin to Texas and what his vision could mean for the future of Badger athletics.

In this episode:

Shawn Eichorst's introductory press conference

Why he compared Wisconsin to Texas

Is that comparison inspiring or unrealistic?

What Eichorst's leadership style could mean for Wisconsin football, basketball, and the entire athletic department

Should football be the top priority, or can Wisconsin continue supporting all of its successful programs?

Eichorst's "talk is cheap" comments and whether he'll back them up

Twitter Portal featuring the latest Wisconsin Badgers conversations

Former Wisconsin standout Ben Brust joins the show to discuss what Eichorst's arrival means for Wisconsin basketball and the future of UW athletics

Subscribe for Wisconsin Badgers football, basketball, recruiting, NIL, Big Ten news, and weekly live coverage from The Jump Around on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.

Wisconsin has officially named Shawn Eichorst as its next athletic director. Was this the right move for the future of Badger athletics?

On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch react to Wisconsin's biggest offseason decision and discuss what the hire means for football, basketball, NIL, and the future of the athletic department.

In this episode:

Our reaction to Wisconsin officially hiring Shawn Eichorst

Why the fan reaction has been so mixed

What Eichorst's track record says about his leadership and NIL strategy

How Wisconsin compares to Eichorst's previous stops

The domino effect this hire could have on Luke Fickell, Marcus Sedberry, and the rest of the athletic department

Whether fans place too much importance on the athletic director position

Lane Grindle's perspective after working with Eichorst at Nebraska

Twitter Portal featuring the latest Wisconsin Badgers discussions

Jim Polzin joins the show to explain how Wisconsin's athletic director search unfolded, why Eichorst was chosen, and what comes next for UW athletics

Subscribe for Wisconsin Badgers football, basketball, recruiting, NIL, and Big Ten coverage from The Jump Around on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.

The Jump Around is LIVE on ESPN Madison reacting to reports that Shawn Eichorst is expected to become Wisconsin's next Director of Athletics. Jim Rutledge & Riley Jauch are on the air! What does the reported hire mean for the future of Wisconsin football, Luke Fickell, Badgers basketball, NIL, revenue sharing, and the direction of the athletic department?

Eichorst is a Wisconsin native and former Badgers deputy athletic director under Barry Alvarez who later served as athletic director at Miami and Nebraska before returning to a senior leadership role at Texas. Reports indicate Wisconsin is set to bring him back to Madison to replace Chris McIntosh as the Badgers' athletic director.

On today's LIVE show:

Immediate reaction to the reports

Why Wisconsin reportedly chose Shawn Eichorst

What this means for Luke Fickell and Badgers football

How the hire could impact NIL, fundraising, and revenue sharing

Biggest opportunities and concerns for Wisconsin Athletics

Your live reactions and questions

Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers coverage, and listen live or on demand anytime on the ESPN Wisconsin App.