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2026 Wisconsin Badgers football team

2026 Wisconsin Badgers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record0–0 (0–0 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJeff Grimes (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorMike Tressel (4th season)
Base defenseMultiple 4–2–5
Home stadiumCamp Randall Stadium
Uniform
2026 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Illinois   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Indiana   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Iowa   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Maryland   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Michigan   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Michigan State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Minnesota   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Nebraska   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Northwestern   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Ohio State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Oregon   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Penn State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Purdue   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Rutgers   0 – 0     0 – 0  
UCLA   0 – 0     0 – 0  
USC   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Washington   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Wisconsin   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Championship: December 5, 2026
As of February 17, 2026
Rankings from AP poll

The 2026 Wisconsin Badgers football team will represent the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers are expected to be led by fourth-year head coach Luke Fickell and will play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium located in Madison, Wisconsin.

Offseason

Positions key
Offense Defense Special teams
  1. ^ Sometimes referred to as an edge rusher (EDGE)
  2. ^ Includes nose tackle (NT)
  3. ^ Includes middle linebacker (MLB or MIKE), outside linebacker (OLB, WILL, SAM), and off-ball linebacker
  4. ^ Includes free safety (FS) and strong safety (SS)
  5. ^ Also known as a placekicker (PK)
  6. ^ Includes kickoff and punt returners

Transfer portal

Departures

Wisconsin outgoing transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Transfer to Source
Christian Alliegro #0 LB 6'4" 247 Junior Darien, CT Ohio State [1]
Geimere Latimer II #1 CB 5'10" 191 Junior Fairburn, GA West Virginia [2]
Trech Kekahuna #2 WR 5'10" 185 Redshirt Sophomore Honolulu, HI North Carolina [3]
Tackett Curtis #4 LB 6'2" 235 Junior Many, LA UCF [4][5]
Omillio Agard #6 CB 5'11" 185 Redshirt Freshman Philadelphia, PA Virginia [6]
Dilin Jones #7 RB 6'0" 208 Redshirt Freshman Pittsburgh, PA LSU [7]
Billy Edwards Jr. #9 QB 6'3" 228 Graduate Student Springfield, VA North Carolina [8]
Tucker Ashcraft #11 TE 6'5" 257 Junior Seattle, WA USC [9]
Joseph Griffin Jr. #12 WR 6'4" 210 Redshirt Junior Springfield, MA UMass [10]
Preston Zachman #14 S 6'1" 212 Graduate Student Elysburg, PA Indiana [11]
Kyan Berry-Johnson #22 WR 5'10" 160 Redshirt Freshman Bolingbrook, IL Sam Houston [12]
Cade Yacamelli #25 RB 6'0" 219 Redshirt Junior Trafford, PA Miami (OH) [13]
Antarron Turner #28 LB 6'2" 241 Redshirt Junior Ocala, FL Colorado State [14]
Remington Moss #32 S 6'1" 194 Freshman Dumfries, VA Elon [15]
Angel Toombs #36 LB 6'5" 200 Redshirt Sophomore Milwaukee, WI Jacksonville State [16]
Atticus Bertrams #49 P 6'3" 233 Junior Sydney, Australia UCF [17]
Joe Brunner #56 G 6'5" 317 Redshirt Junior Whitefish Bay, WI Indiana [18]
Cody Raymond #56 LB 6'4" 234 Redshirt Freshman Shelby, MI Ohio [19]
Jake Renfro #57 C 6'4" 313 Graduate Student Mokena, IL Illinois [20]
Leyton Nelson #66 G 6'6" 311 Redshirt Junior Orlando, FL
Jamel Howard Jr. #91 DL 6'2" 311 Redshirt Sophomore Chicago, IL UConn [21]
Ernest Willor Jr. #93 DL 6'4" 250 Redshirt Freshman Baltimore, MD James Madison [22]

Incoming

Wisconsin incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous team Source
Liam Danitz #0 LB 6'5 232 Graduate Student West Branch, MI Hope College [23]
Colton Joseph #1 QB 6'2 200 Redshirt Junior Newport Beach, CA Old Dominion [23]
Justus Boone #1 LB 6'4 275 Graduate Student Sumter, SC Arkansas [23]
Eric Fletcher #1 CB 6'1 180 Redshirt Sophomore Fort Myers, FL Oklahoma State [23]
Marvin Burks Jr. #1 S 6'1 200 Senior St. Louis, MO Missouri [23]
Deuce Adams #2 QB 6'2 190 Sophomore Austin, TX Louisville [23]
Cai Bates #2 CB 6'2 190 Redshirt Sophomore Orlando, FL Florida State [23]
Javan Robinson #2 CB 5'11 180 Redshirt Senior Winter Garden, FL Arizona State [23]
Bryan Jackson #2 RB 6'0 230 Junior McKinney, TX USC [23]
Abu Sama #3 RB 5'11 210 Senior Des Moines, IA Iowa State [23]
Zion Kearney #4 WR 6'1 207 Junior Fresno, TX Oklahoma [23]
DeNigel Cooper #5 DL 6'3 260 Redshirt Sophomore Kingsland, GA Appalachian State [23]
Jayden Loftin #6 LB 6'4 255 Redshirt Freshman Somerville, NJ Tennessee [23]
Shamar Rigby #7 WR 6'3 190 Junior St. Petersburg, FL Oklahoma State [23]
Nate Palmer #7 RB 6'0 195 Redshirt Sophomore Decatur, TX TCU [23]
Jon Jon Kamara #8 LB 6'4 230 Redshirt Sophomore Goodyear, AZ Kansas [23]
Jaylon Domingeaux #11 WR 6'2 210 Senior Lafayette, LA Southeastern Louisiana [23]
Carson Van Dinter #11 S 6'3 210 Redshirt Sophomore Kaukauna, WI Iowa State [23]
Bryce West #12 CB 5'11 200 Redshirt Sophomore Cleveland, OH Ohio State [23]
Malachi Coleman #16 WR 6'4 200 Redshirt Junior Lincoln, NE Minnesota [23]
Taylor Schaefer #33 LB 6'4 230 Redshirt Junior Sturgeon Bay, WI Iowa Central Community College [23]
James Roe #40 LS 5'11 195 Junior Kennesaw, GA Toldeo [23]
Ethan Tranel #43 P 6'2 200 Junior Blue Mounds, WI Wisconsin–La Crosse [23]
Eli Adams #44 WR 6'0 190 Redshirt Sophomore Austin, TX Louisville [23]
Austin Kawecki #61 OL 6'4 300 Redshirt Senior Frisco, TX Oklahoma State [23]
Blake Cherry #70 OL 6'5 315 Sophomore Claremore, OK Arkansas [23]
Stylz Blackmon #77 OL 6'4 300 Junior Grain Valley, MO Augustana (SD) [23]
P.J. Wilkins #77 OL 6'5 340 Redshirt Junior Atlanta, GA Ole Miss [23]
Lucas Simmons #79 OL 6'8 308 Redshirt Junior Stockholm, Sweden Florida State [23]
Ryan Schwendeman #83 TE 6'5 245 Senior O'Fallon, MO Southern Illinois [23]
Jake Anderson #87 DL 6'5 295 Redshirt Senior Davis, IL Illinois State [23]
Jacob Harris #88 TE 6'4 225 Redshirt Junior Westerville, OH Bowling Green [23]
Junior Poyser #97 DL 6'1 310 Redshirt Junior Brampton, ON Buffalo [23]
Hammond Russell IV #99 DL 6'3 312 Graduate Student Columbus, OH West Virginia [23]

Recruiting class

Main article: 2026 college football recruiting class
College recruiting information (2026)
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Jack Sievers
TE 		Everett, Washington Archbishop Murphy High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jun 2, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (80)
Ryan Hopkins
QB 		San Juan Capistrano, California Mater Dei High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Apr 13, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (80)
Keeyshawn Tabuteau
WR 		Chattanooga, Tennessee The McCallie School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Dec 1, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (79)
Yahya Gaad
DE 		Medina, Tennessee South Gibson County High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 260 lb (120 kg) Oct 12, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (79)
Brady Bekkenhuis
IOL 		Arlington, Massachusetts Arlington (MA) High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 285 lb (129 kg) Nov 26, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (78)
Donovan Dunmore
CB 		Fresno, California Buchanan (CA) High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Sep 22, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (77)
Zion Legree
ATH 		Niceville, Florida Choctawhatchee High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jun 15, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (77)
Ben Wenzel
LB 		Appleton, Wisconsin Appleton North High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jun 1, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (77)
Taylor Schaefer
DE 		Brussels, Wisconsin Southern Door High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 240 lb (110 kg) Nov 30, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (76)
Djidjou Bah
DT 		Germantown, Tennessee Germantown (TN) High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 275 lb (125 kg) Aug 1, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (76)
Qwantavius Wiggins
RB 		Fairburn, Georgia Langston Hughes High School 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 181 lb (82 kg) Nov 11, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (76)
Arthur Scott
DT 		Streetsboro, Ohio Streetsboro High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 310 lb (140 kg) Jun 1, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (76)
Carsen Eloms
CB 		Fishers, Indiana Fishers High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Apr 8, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (75)
Kah'ni Watts
S 		Rosharon, Texas Iowa Colony High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Dec 4, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (75)
Kash Brock
WR 		Chandler, Arizona Basha High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jan 1, 2026 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (74)
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: 58    247Sports: 64    ESPN: —
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2025 Wisconsin Football Commitment List". Rivals. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  • "2025 Wisconsin Football Commitment List". ESPN. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  • "2025 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  • "Wisconsin 2025 Football Commits". 247Sports. Retrieved January 13, 2026.

Recruiting class rankings

Website National rank Conference rank 5 star recruits 4 star recruits 3 star recruits Total
247Sports[24] 64 17 0 0 15 15
ESPN[25] — — 0 2 13 15
Rivals[26] 58 14 0 0 15 15

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteTVResult
September 6vs. Notre Dame*
NBC/Peacock
September 12Western Illinois*
September 19Eastern Michigan*
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
September 26at Penn State
October 3Michigan State
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
October 17at UCLATBA[note 1]
October 24USC
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
October 31at Iowa
November 7Rutgers
  • Camp Randall Stadium
  • Madison, WI
November 14at Maryland
November 21at Purdue
November 28Minnesota
  • *Non-conference game

Sources: [28][29]

Notes

  1. ^ UCLA currently has a lease until 2043 at the Rose Bowl, however, there are credible reports that they are expected to move their home games to SoFi Stadium from 2026 onwards.[27] It is unclear at this stage where the game will be played.

References

  1. ^ @OhioStateFB (January 9, 2026). "𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗛𝗘, @ChristianAllie7 📝🌰" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ @WVUfootball (January 9, 2026). "Welcome to West Virginia ✍️ Let's Go @LatimerGeimere!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ @UNCFootball (January 11, 2026). "Welcome to Chapel Hill @ @trechkekahuna!🐏 The Tar Heels have signed Wide Receiver Trech Kekahuna" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ @UCF_Football (January 6, 2026). "Welcome to UCF, @curtis_tackett ⚔️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ Turner, Bryson (January 6, 2026). "UCF Reportedly Adds Linebacker In Transfer Portal". si.com. Sports Illustrated.
  6. ^ @UVAFootball (January 17, 2026). "Welcome to Virginia. 10 games played as Redshirt Freshman, @OmillioA is here to shut down opposing wideouts #GoHoos 🔶⚔️🔷" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ @LSUFootball (January 14, 2026). "Committed to The Boot Welcome to Baton Rouge @DilinJones" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ @UNCFootball (January 9, 2026). "Welcome to Chapel Hill @Billy_Edwards4!🐏 The Tar Heels have signed Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ @uscfb (January 15, 2026). "Tucker Ashcraft has signed with the USC Trojans" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ @Joegogetit2 (January 17, 2026). "ZOO ANIMAL #commited @UMassFootball" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Osterman, Zack (January 4, 2026). "Indiana football lands 7th-year safety in transfer portal. Meet him". indystar.com. The Indianapolis Star.
  12. ^ @berry_kyan (January 11, 2026). "Committed" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Beckner, Bill. "Penn-Trafford graduate, former Wisconsin RB Cade Yacamelli transfers to Miami (Ohio)". triblive.com. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  14. ^ @AntarronTurner (January 9, 2026). "#CSURams #Committed 🟢🐏 @CSUFootball" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ @ElonFootball (January 9, 2026). "Got Moss'd. #PhoenixRising #AED" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ @angel_toombs (January 11, 2026). "If you want to change things in a big way, then you gotta make some big changes💯" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ^ @UCF_Football (January 8, 2026). "Welcome to UCF, @BertramsAtticus ⚔️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Stewart, Mark (January 14, 2026). "Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Brunner commits to Indiana". jsonline.com. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  19. ^ @OhioFootball (January 9, 2026). "𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀, 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝘆 😼 LB" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ @IlliniFootball (January 5, 2026). "Welcome to the FamILLy, @JakeRenfro_" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Guerrera, Jarrett (January 13, 2026). "UConn Football lands Wisconsin defensive lineman Jamel Howard Jr". on3.com. On3.
  22. ^ @ernestwillorjr (January 23, 2026). "#committed #godukes @RealCoach_Ted3 @jirehwilson3 @coach_bnapier" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah "Wisconsin Football 2026 Transfer Additions". uwbadgers.com. Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  24. ^ "Wisconsin 2026 Football Commits". 247Sports. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  25. ^ "2026 Wisconsin Football Commitment List". Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  26. ^ "2026 Wisconsin Football Commitment List". Rivals. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  27. ^ Bolch, Ben (November 10, 2025). "Rose Bowl seeks temporary restraining order in attempt to block UCLA move to SoFi Stadium". latimes.com. Los Angeles Times.
  28. ^ "2026 Football Schedule". Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  29. ^ "2026 Wisconsin Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
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