The Jump Around

On today’s episode of The Jump Around, we dig into the decline of Badgers in the NFL, the lack of Wisconsin players in the Super Bowl, and what it says about the direction of the football and basketball programs.

We break down NFL Draft results since 2020, examine Luke Fickell’s record and recruiting, and ask the tough question:

👉 Is Wisconsin’s recent struggle about recruiting, coaching, or something deeper?

We also turn the focus to Greg Gard and Wisconsin basketball, looking at NCAA Tournament results, Sweet 16 droughts, and whether the Badgers are falling short in March because of personnel or crunch-time coaching.

Plus:

🔍 How many wins does Luke Fickell need in 2026 to keep his job?

📉 Why has Wisconsin produced fewer high-impact pros in recent years?

🗣️ A lively Twitter Portal with fan-submitted questions

🏆 National champion Riley Nowakowski joins us to talk Indiana’s magical run, Curt Cignetti, Fernando Mendoza, and what it’s like to win it all

📍 LIVE on the ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee YouTube channels

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments — recruiting, coaching, or both?

The Wisconsin Badgers’ 2026 football schedule is officially here, and it raises a big question — is this finally the year Wisconsin takes a real step forward?

On today’s episode of The Jump Around, we break down every game on the Badgers’ schedule, debate whether this is the easiest path to 8 wins in years, and discuss what it all means for Luke Fickell and the program moving forward.

🔹 Full 2026 Wisconsin Football Schedule Breakdown

🔹 Is this an 8-win team… or are expectations too high?

🔹 Badgers basketball rallies from 20 down vs Minnesota — encouraging sign or red flag?

🔹 Six Badgers shine in Senior Bowl showcase games — who has the best NFL future?

🔹 JJ Watt weighs in on Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame snub

🔹 Twitter Portal chaos: Notre Dame fans, Minnesota slander & more

📍 LIVE on ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee

👍 Like, subscribe, and comment — do YOU see 8 wins on this schedule?

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell joined Wilde & Tausch this morning — and The Jump Around is spending the entire show reacting to his most revealing comments yet.

-Jim, Pablo, and Riley break down Fickell’s candid thoughts on:

-Wisconsin’s aggressive but disciplined transfer portal approach

-Why he never wants NIL to just be about money

-Agents setting “markets” that may not be real

-Why this era has no rules and demands constant adaptability

-Building culture through honesty, relationships, and trust

-Why Indiana’s title run matters — and why talent alone isn’t everything

-His belief that college football is the greatest team sport known to man

-What Colton Joseph and Wisconsin’s recruiting strategy say about the future

-Why this is now a “grown man’s league”

If you want the full context behind Wisconsin’s offseason mindset — straight from Fickell himself — this is a must-watch

breakdown for Badgers fans.

🔴 LIVE on the ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee YouTube channels

🦡 The Jump Around — Wisconsin’s Badgers-dedicated show

Momentum is finally building in Madison — and The Jump Around breaks it all down.

On today’s episode of Wisconsin’s Badgers-dedicated show, we ask the big question: are the Badgers actually back? After a stunning turnaround on the hardwood and renewed frustration on the football side, there’s plenty to unpack.

🏀 Wisconsin Basketball: Are We Back?

Three straight wins following the Purdue blowout

Victories over UCLA, #2 Michigan, and Minnesota

John Blackwell’s buzzer-beater — signature moment or turning point?

What actually changed during this stretch?

🏈 Wisconsin vs Indiana Football

Indiana Hoosiers playing for a national title sparks debate

Is Curt Cignetti’s model repeatable?

Should Wisconsin Badgers follow a similar blueprint?

👀 Watchability Meter

Rutgers

@ Penn State

USC

Which games are worth circling on the calendar?

🎥 Clip of the Week

**Barry Alvarez’s National Championship preview

Predictions for Monday night

🐦 Twitter Portal Chaos

Blackwell’s buzzer-beater comparisons

Healing signs for humanity

How do you feel about the Badgers’ loss to Indiana now?

🎙 Special Guest: Freddie Owens

3× Big Ten Champion at Wisconsin

Hit the iconic Sweet 16-clinching three vs Tulsa

Former coach at Holy Cross, Montana, & UW-Green Bay

Author of Echoes of Stark Park (releasing February)

Wisconsin is making serious noise in the transfer portal, and one of the Badgers’ rising stars believes it’s only the beginning 👀

🏈 Star LB Mason Posa joins The Jump Around and delivers a powerful message to players considering Wisconsin Badgers — including why this roster can compete for the College Football Playoff.

We also break down:

🔁 Wisconsin’s HOT start in the transfer portal (21 incoming transfers)

⭐ Big-name additions like QB Colton Joseph, RB Abu Sama III, and CB Bryce West

🤔 Is Badgers basketball still #InGardWeTrust?

🎙️ Kelly Sheffield’s blunt comments on transfers & agents

🐦 Twitter Portal reactions you have to hear

📌 Mason Posa accolades:

2025 Freshman All-American

2025 All-Big Ten Third Team

⬇️ Drop your thoughts below ⬇️

Does this portal class make you believe in Wisconsin football again… or do you need to see it on the field first?

🔴⚪️ New episodes of The Jump Around stream live on the ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee YouTube channels every Thursday at 12:30!

Wisconsin’s transfer portal run keeps rolling, and The Jump Around is here to break it all down.

The Badgers now sit with the No. 8 transfer portal class in the country (per 247Sports) after adding even more talent, including offensive lineman Blake Cherry from Arkansas and cornerback Bryce West from Ohio State.

On this episode, Jim, Pablo, & Riley dive into:

🔄 Wisconsin’s explosive start in the transfer portal

📈 Moving into the top-8 nationally in portal rankings

🧱 Blake Cherry (Arkansas) and how he fits into the Badgers’ offensive line rebuild

🛡 Bryce West (Ohio State) and what he brings to a retooled secondary

🏈 Previously added portal standouts:

QB Colton Joseph (Old Dominion)

RB Abu Sama III (Iowa State)

WR Shamar Rigby (Oklahoma State)

🧠 What this portal approach says about Wisconsin’s offseason philosophy

Is this the most aggressive portal stretch in Wisconsin football history? Are the Badgers finally adapting to the modern era of roster building?

📺 Watch now on ESPN Madison’s YouTube channel

💬 Drop your grade for Wisconsin’s portal class in the comments

👍 Like, subscribe, and follow for more Badgers football breakdowns

It’s Final Four night in Kansas City, and The Jump Around Extra is here with a full-throttle Wisconsin Volleyball preview ahead of the Badgers’ NCAA Semifinal showdown vs. Kentucky!

Hosted by Pablo Iglesias and Riley Jauch, this volleyball-only special dives into every storyline, every matchup, and every high-stakes moment as Wisconsin chases another national title.

We’re joined throughout the show by the voices of Wisconsin Volleyball:

🎙 Jesse Nelson — studio anchor, Wisconsin Volleyball Radio Network

🎙 Jon Arias — play-by-play broadcaster for Wisconsin Volleyball Radio

🎙 Pete Waite — former Wisconsin head coach & analyst

Plus, a pre-recorded exclusive interview with:

🏐 Lauren Carlini, Wisconsin volleyball legend, Olympic medalist, pro setter & current UW assistant coach

What we’re breaking down:

🔥 How Wisconsin matches up with Kentucky’s offense and serving pressure

🧠 Key adjustments entering the NCAA Semifinals

💣 Postseason mindset — “win or go home” energy

🏆 What it takes to get back to a national championship match

⭐ X-factors, matchups, serving targets & momentum players

🐦 Your live reactions, predictions & fan hype

This show is for Badgers Volleyball fans, NCAA tournament junkies, and anyone looking for expert breakdowns before first serve.

📺 Watch live on ESPN Madison YouTube channel

💬 Tell us in the comments — are the Badgers winning tonight?

👍 Like & subscribe for more Wisconsin volleyball tournament coverage

A massive day of Wisconsin news on The Jump Around, and we’ve got a loaded show — including 2021 National Champion and Badgers volleyball star Devyn Robinson LIVE at 1 PM, plus an exclusive interview with Social House Vodka following their new partnership with Wisconsin Athletics.

We kick things off at 12:30 PM with the biggest headline of the day:

💰 Wisconsin’s New NIL Department: Badger Athlete Partners

Wisconsin officially launches Badger Athlete Partners, a full-service NIL agency under Learfield — built to:

Retain top talent

Compete in the transfer portal

Connect athletes with corporate sponsors

Add five full-time hires, making UW one of the largest NIL departments nationally

Support football roster-building without endlessly hitting donors

Is this a game-changer for Wisconsin?

Is it too little too late?

Can the Badgers finally compete in NIL recruiting?

🎥 Clip of the Week — CFP Debate

Barry Alvarez says James Madison & Tulane in the CFP is GOOD for college football.

Do you agree — or are you Team Tarek?

We give our predictions for the College Football Playoff field.

🐦 Twitter Portal

Penn State QB Beau Pribula hits the portal — should Wisconsin go after him?

Nebraska Volleyball LOST 😂

Who has the most insufferable fanbase in college sports?

Is the UW marching band actually cool?

🏐 Devyn Robinson LIVE at 1 PM!

The reigning MVP joins us to talk:

What it takes to reach this point in the NCAA Tournament

Her best memories from the 2021 National Championship team

Preparing for another deep run

Locker-room culture & big-moment mentality

🍸 Social House Vodka x Wisconsin Athletics

We close with a special interview with Cary Joshi of Social House Vodka, fresh off partnering with the Varsity Collective and Wisconsin Athletics.

Wisconsin Badgers head wrestling coach Chris Bono joins Riley Jauch and The Jump Around Extra for an in-depth conversation on the present and future of Wisconsin Wrestling, the challenges of the NIL and transfer portal era, and what it takes to build a sustainable championship culture in the Big Ten.

Coach Bono discusses:

Wisconsin’s 5–0 start and goals heading into Big Ten play

How the Badgers can close the gap on Penn State, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska

Why development, not the portal, remains the foundation of the program

The importance of All-Americans and national champions in March

How Wisconsin measures progress beyond dual-meet wins

The rapid growth of wrestling nationally and in the state of Wisconsin

The future of women’s wrestling and why the sport is at an all-time high

Bono also opens up about:

The difficulty of adversity as a coach vs. athlete

Building lifelong relationships with his wrestlers

Maintaining roster continuity in the NIL + transfer portal era

Recruiting and retaining Wisconsin in-state talent

The culture of hustle, effort, accountability, and commitment inside the room

Plus, Coach Bono explains why fans should make it a priority to pack the UW Field House, what makes this team especially entertaining to watch, and his vision for taking Wisconsin Wrestling events across the state.

This is a must-watch conversation for Badgers fans, wrestling fans, and anyone interested in how college athletics is evolving.

A massive week in Wisconsin sports means a loaded episode of The Jump Around.

We kick things off with Clip of the Week, reacting to Tarek Saleh's claim that Tulane and JMU’s inclusion in the College Football Playoff is “ruining college football.” Do you agree? And if not Tulane or JMU—who should have made the CFP?

Then, the Wisconsin Twitter Portal heats up with Luke Fickell making his first major offseason move: hiring offensive line coach Eric Mateos away from Arkansas while parting ways with AJ Blazek.

Arkansas OL under Mateos (via PFSN College):

⭐ #1 in QB pressure rate allowed (69.9%)

⭐ #5 in yards before contact (2.7 YBC)

⭐ #2 in yards per attempt (6.2)

⭐ #2 overall OL grade (Wisconsin ranked 84th in 2025)

Plus, Mateos reunites with OC Phil Grimes from their BYU and Baylor days.

We also react to the latest Wisconsin departures: Cade Yacamelli, Joseph Smith Jr., Atticus Bertrams, Tackett Curtis, and most notably, Trech Kekahuna.

How big of a deal are they—and how much should fans really care?

At 12:45 PM, Jim Polzin of BadgerExtra joins to discuss:

Wisconsin Football’s disappointing season

Whether Luke Fickell will still be the coach in 2027

The early outlook for Wisconsin men’s basketball

His reporting on UW’s response to abuse allegations against former WBB coach Marisa Mosely — and how the university could call her actions “heroic”

At 1:00 PM, Jon Arias joins the show to talk Wisconsin Volleyball and Women’s Basketball:

Badgers VB heading into the Sweet 16 / Elite Eight

Whether a Final Four run would be a surprise

How Wisconsin WBB earned a massive ranked win over #20 Michigan State

Whether he’s a believer in Robin Pingeton and how her leadership differs from past approaches

📺 Watch live on ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee’s YouTube Channels

👍 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for weekly Badgers talk and exclusive interviews.