WEEK 11 · Nov 14 · SECU STADIUM · 54 DAYS SP+ '25 -4.4 · #85

Wisconsin

Hot-seat Year 4 for Fickell: program-record 30+ portal adds, offense rebuilt around dual-threat Joseph, Posa-led defense — market says 6.5 wins on a soft schedule.

2025 · 4-8; Fickell on the hot seat entering year 4

Scout dashboard Advance report Last season's leaders → Roster breakdown Depth chart Official roster ↗ ← All opponents

THE MARYLAND ANGLE

Maryland handled them 27-10 in Madison last September, but that offense is gone — Nov 14 at SECU it's Joseph's QB-run game, so the prep is option-fit discipline and forcing him to throw on schedule. Their defense travels (top-15 vs run, top-20 sack rate) but took the ball away at a 134th-national rate and was ordinary on third down: protect the ball, win money downs, and the math holds.

Offense

SCHEMEGrimes (2nd year as OC) run-game-rooted offense, retooled in 2026 around the QB-run/dual-threat element Joseph brings — a structural bet on his legs after a bottom-five national scoring season (12.8 ppg, 135th).

QBColton Joseph, the fourth-year Old Dominion transfer, is the confirmed starter — an Aug 16 camp depth-chart update settled it (Badgers on SI). Louisville transfer Deuce Adams has pulled ahead of true freshman Ryan Hopkins for the backup job. Danny O'Neil is practicing again off his November Achilles.

RETURNDarrion Dupree, RB — led team in rushing in 2025, faces portal competition · Kevin Heywood, OT — back from ACL, locked in at RT · Tyrell Henry, WR — set as slot, one of the only holdover receiver contributors · Emerson Mandell, OG — starting RG · Chris Brooks Jr., WR — in the mix for targets

ADDSColton Joseph, QB (Old Dominion) · Abu Sama III, RB (Iowa State) — 732 rush yds in 2025 · PJ Wilkins, OT (Ole Miss) — starting LT · Austin Kawecki, C (Oklahoma State) — 10 starts at center in 2025 · Jaylon Domingeaux, WR (Southeastern Louisiana) · Shamar Rigby, WR (Oklahoma State)

Near-total rebuild of the worst Power 4 offense of 2025. OL settled out of spring (Wilkins-Cubberly-Kawecki-Mandell-Heywood), but no alpha receiver emerged and the whole structure leans on Joseph staying healthy and cleaning up the accuracy/INT issues. If Joseph goes down, beat writers see a full structural breakdown — Adams/Hopkins behind him are unproven. Camp availability, mid-Aug: starting RT Kevin Heywood is day-to-day after an injury at practice No. 2 with no timeline, and G Emerson Mandell has missed all of camp rehabbing; WR Eugene Hilton Jr. has taken the starting slot job per Badgernotes (Aug 15).

Defense

SCHEMETressel (4th year as DC) multiple odd-front defense, expanding 3-down packages with two OLBs on the edge in 2026, plus three-ILB looks to get Kamara on the field with Posa and Catalano.

RETURNMason Posa, LB — All-Big Ten as a true freshman, led team in tackles, 4 sacks, 2 FF; retained over portal interest · Cooper Catalano, LB — Posa's running mate, 117 combined stops between them · Sebastian Cheeks, OLB — pass-rush flashes in spring · Tyreese Fearbry, OLB — pass-rush flashes in spring · Aaron Witt, DE — back for a seventh season

ADDSBryce West, CB (Ohio State) · Javan Robinson, CB (Arizona State) — stood out in spring · Cai Bates, CB (Florida State) · Eric Fletcher, CB (Oklahoma State) · Jon Jon Kamara, LB (Kansas) — STAR/third-ILB role

The 2025 unit was the roster's strength — top 15 vs the run, top 20 sack rate, top 25 total defense — but ranked 134th in takeaways and outside the top 50 on third down, and almost everyone around Posa/Catalano graduated or transferred. Secondary fully rebuilt via the portal; depth chart battles everywhere except inside linebacker. Tressel's stated priorities: takeaways and dominance on third-and-long.

Coaching

HCLuke Fickell · 4th year

OCJeff Grimes

DCMike Tressel

CHANGESBob Ligashesky hired as special teams coordinator (March 2026) · Ari Confesor hired as WR coach; Letton adds assistant HC title, Mitchell adds associate HC title; OC Grimes and DC Tressel both retained

Fickell is 17-21 at Wisconsin with consecutive losing seasons (4-8 in 2025) and made ESPN's top-5 hot-seat list; AD McIntosh publicly retained him for 2026 with increased financial investment. Coordinators held over — this is a roster reboot, not a scheme reboot, and the staff knows the leash is short.

Roster Changes

Colton Joseph, QB (Old Dominion)
Abu Sama III, RB (Iowa State)
PJ Wilkins, OT (Ole Miss)
Austin Kawecki, C (Oklahoma State)
Bryce West, CB (Ohio State)

OUT

Billy Edwards Jr., QB (North Carolina)
Dilin Jones, RB (LSU)
Trech Kekahuna, WR (North Carolina)
Christian Alliegro, LB (Ohio State)
Joe Brunner, OL (destination unverified)

30+ incoming transfers — the largest portal class in program history — against roughly 23 departures, with the key retention being Posa. Wisconsin lost its 2025 QB1, RB1, and most experienced OL/secondary pieces but bought an entirely new offense and cornerback room; the two-deep is deeper, but cohesion is the open question. The summer roster release (Jul 27) shows 2025 signees Jahmare Washington (CB) and Torin Pettaway (DL) off the roster.

Special Teams

New ST coordinator Ligashesky hired in March. Lahm (final year, redshirted 2025) is the favorite for placekicks and kickoffs; West returns at punter after a 47.7-yd average with 14 punts of 50+, with UW-La Crosse transfer Tranel added behind him. Bertrams transferred to UCF.

Vegas

6.5WIN TOTAL · FanDuel (BetMGM also 6.5, over -135/under -105)

As of Aug 17: Market and media both see a fringe bowl team: the win total sits 6.5 at BetMGM and FanDuel, and the Cleveland.com media poll has them 12th of 18 (Jul 27). No line is posted for the Nov 14 game at our place, and kick and TV are unannounced. The Daily Cardinal reported Fickell declined a contract extension after 2025 — bounce-back-or-bust is the frame around the program.

Key Players

Colton JosephQB

Whole offense is built on his run threat — 1,007 rush yds at ODU; accuracy (59.7%) and 10 INTs are the swing variable.

Mason PosaLB

Best player on the roster — led team in tackles as a true freshman with 4 sacks; retained over portal money.

Cooper CatalanoLB

Other half of arguably the Big Ten's best young ILB duo; run fits go through him and Posa.

Kevin HeywoodOT

Back from ACL and locked in at tackle; the anchor of a rebuilt, portal-heavy starting five.

Darrion DupreeRB

Returning leading rusher in a crowded portal backfield; the inside complement to Joseph's keepers.

Bryce WestCB

Ohio State transfer headlining a fully rebuilt corner room — first real test comes against vertical passing games.

Researched 2026-06-09 · ESPN, Wisconsin On SI (si.com), Bucky's 5th Quarter, BadgerNotes, 247Sports, UWBadgers.com, BetMGM/FanDuel win-total coverage · 25 sources on file