Badgers Football 2025-2026

[Firethorn1001]

That's not what is happening.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

That's not what is happening.

No it isn't, you are correct. However, I think, at least for me, the over exaggeration is just the venting of frustration with the Badgers, as well as the current state of the Transfer Portal and NIL.

The Badgers are still viewed as a top 50 program, so yes, they will land some players that will get fans excited. However, I haven't seen a player announced yet, that I would be getting equally excited about if I was a Michigan or USC fan. Add to that the disappointment of the players already lost from the Badger Football program through the portal or decommitments and many of us are still seeing a ball rolling downhill faster than we would like to see it.

 

[Firethorn1001]

The Badgers are still viewed as a top 50 program, so yes, they will land some players that will get fans excited. However, I haven't seen a player announced yet, that I would be getting equally excited about if I was a Michigan or USC fan.

Understood. I just don't think even in their prime the Badgers landed many players that would excite the elites. From a personnel standpoint seems like they have blunted the ball rolling downhill and are at least net neutral. Is it going to translate to more success on the field? I'm not sure. I'm massively anti-pessimistic on the entire Luke Fickell experiment, but at least in my eyes from a roster perspective seems like they've managed.

Trying (desperately? foolishly?) to find some slight positivity towards the garbage fest the last few years.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Understood. I just don't think even in their prime the Badgers landed many players that would excite the elites. From a personnel standpoint seems like they have blunted the ball rolling downhill and are at least net neutral. Is it going to translate to more success on the field? I'm not sure. I'm massively anti-pessimistic on the entire Luke Fickell experiment, but at least in my eyes from a roster perspective seems like they've managed.

Trying (desperately? foolishly?) to find some slight positivity towards the garbage fest the last few years.

I get it and I respect you for that. I still love all the Badger Teams and hope they all have successful programs in the future. I disagreed with McIntosh hanging on to Fickell, but understand the money issue, as well as there really isn't a quick fix to what is going on with the Badger Football Program. My issue and frustrations are more with the current state of the NCAA in regards to the transfer portal, as well as NIL.

 

[Voyageur]

Understood. I just don't think even in their prime the Badgers landed many players that would excite the elites. From a personnel standpoint seems like they have blunted the ball rolling downhill and are at least net neutral. Is it going to translate to more success on the field? I'm not sure. I'm massively anti-pessimistic on the entire Luke Fickell experiment, but at least in my eyes from a roster perspective seems like they've managed.

Trying (desperately? foolishly?) to find some slight positivity towards the garbage fest the last few years.

You're right. They didn't land those 4+ & 5 star players prior to Fickell, but what they did do well was get a bunch of farm kids who were big, strong, and could play in the offensive line, and usually without leaving the state of Wisconsin. They also were able to get a lot of 'tweeners who were 3-star rated because they came from small schools and the walk-ons Wisconsin has had has turned into a who's who in the NFL after excelling as Badgers.

What happened is that Fickell turned his back on these kids as if there weren't any good players unless they came from out East, and the central area of talent was in Ohio. Fickell ended up losing the high school pipelines that have existed for the Badgers since Alvarez got those doors opened during his time as head coach.

As far as the players being brought in, nobody said they aren't good. I just said they aren't in the top group at each position because those guys are getting NIL deals that compare to what a guy gets going into the NFL as an early pick.

Even if the "collective money" appears to be even between Ohio State and Wisconsin, that's not even scratching the surface as to what else is paid in NIL money. You want to see how it works? Meet some of the people I know down here in Texas who are associated with the Longhorns program. For guys who are contributing, but not even necessarily first-string players, there will be upwards of $500k in money beyond the collective headed in their direction for meet and greets, and often more. Money is no object.

Something very interesting here. Easily verified. The following top 25 teams from this past season based on the rankings. Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Texas, Houston, and North Texas. All six are being super funded beyond the collective from wealthy oil magnates. That's a lot of top teams for the entire nation from a small area. The top 3 in the rankings. Indiana, Ohio State, and Georgia. Check out their NIL funding beyond their collectives. It's enough to choke a horse and you'll never wade through all of it because it's considered private enterprise therefore not necessary to be divulged.

I'm a realist. When you're bringing in guys who didn't start for a 2nd or 3rd tier NCAA team and thinking he's the best thing since sliced white bread I become skeptical. I don't fall for hype. I want to see that so called "potential" play out on the field.

To me, if the Badgers win as many as they lose this coming season it's going to be like Indiana going unbeaten all the way through to win a Natty this year.

 

[Firethorn1001]

I'm a realist. When you're bringing in guys who didn't start for a 2nd or 3rd tier NCAA team and thinking he's the best thing since sliced white bread I become skeptical. I don't fall for hype. I want to see that so called "potential" play out on the field.

Snipped out a bunch of stuff I generally agree with and don't dispute.

However... please don't put words in my mouth or convey my position differently than my intent. I didn't say or imply that these guys are best thing since sliced bread, I'm not saying they are in line for a playoff spot, hell.. I'm not even suggesting they will have a winning record. Merely stated that they seem to be doing a decent job of at least looking like they are net neutral at a minimum on rebuilding the roster (rankings out there suggest this) and it isn't bottom of the barrel guys that they are bringing in.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

You're right. They didn't land those 4+ & 5 star players prior to Fickell, but what they did do well was get a bunch of farm kids who were big, strong, and could play in the offensive line, and usually without leaving the state of Wisconsin. They also were able to get a lot of 'tweeners who were 3-star rated because they came from small schools and the walk-ons Wisconsin has had has turned into a who's who in the NFL after excelling as Badgers.

What happened is that Fickell turned his back on these kids as if there weren't any good players unless they came from out East, and the central area of talent was in Ohio. Fickell ended up losing the high school pipelines that have existed for the Badgers since Alvarez got those doors opened during his time as head coach.

As far as the players being brought in, nobody said they aren't good. I just said they aren't in the top group at each position because those guys are getting NIL deals that compare to what a guy gets going into the NFL as an early pick.

Even if the "collective money" appears to be even between Ohio State and Wisconsin, that's not even scratching the surface as to what else is paid in NIL money. You want to see how it works? Meet some of the people I know down here in Texas who are associated with the Longhorns program. For guys who are contributing, but not even necessarily first-string players, there will be upwards of $500k in money beyond the collective headed in their direction for meet and greets, and often more. Money is no object.

Something very interesting here. Easily verified. The following top 25 teams from this past season based on the rankings. Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Texas, Houston, and North Texas. All six are being super funded beyond the collective from wealthy oil magnates. That's a lot of top teams for the entire nation from a small area. The top 3 in the rankings. Indiana, Ohio State, and Georgia. Check out their NIL funding beyond their collectives. It's enough to choke a horse and you'll never wade through all of it because it's considered private enterprise therefore not necessary to be divulged.

I'm a realist. When you're bringing in guys who didn't start for a 2nd or 3rd tier NCAA team and thinking he's the best thing since sliced white bread I become skeptical. I don't fall for hype. I want to see that so called "potential" play out on the field.

To me, if the Badgers win as many as they lose this coming season it's going to be like Indiana going unbeaten all the way through to win a Natty this year.

Good breakdown and opinion, thank you.

My heart wants to pull for Indiana to win tonight, as well as win the whole thing. What a story for a perennial doormat in Football! However, I know enough about Mark Cuban and how his unspecified amount of money (he simply said "it is a "big number"") given directly to the Football program staring in 2024, has changed everything for the Hoosiers. Knowing that has me wanting to see IU fall on their rich assess. Then again, how much money does Oregon have pumping into the Football program?

Bottom line, the transfer portal needs to be tamped way down and a limit needs to be set on how many players a team can get from the portal. After that, go tackle the NIL money issues. Otherwise college sports is just another professional league, with no contracts or salary cap.

 

[Voyageur]

Snipped out a bunch of stuff I generally agree with and don't dispute.

However... please don't put words in my mouth or convey my position differently than my intent. I didn't say or imply that these guys are best thing since sliced bread, I'm not saying they are in line for a playoff spot, hell.. I'm not even suggesting they will have a winning record. Merely stated that they seem to be doing a decent job of at least looking like they are net neutral at a minimum on rebuilding the roster (rankings out there suggest this) and it isn't bottom of the barrel guys that they are bringing in.

I went back over what I said, and I never implied anything about what you said. Why would I? You voiced your opinion, I voiced mine. Expect that when you post something. Like I said, I don't buy into the hype on any of it. I'm very pragmatic. What you see is what you get. Words of praise don't mean squat to me. Results do.

I learned, in Vietnam, that there were talkers and there were doers. After being there several months, we'd get replacements. Some came in quiet and meek, and would listen. Others came in talking about how they were going to kill them some of them g**ks. They could hardly wait. The first time we were under fire, mortar rounds coming onto our base, and sappers trying to get through the wire and we were trying to stop them, the big mouths were the ones who lay behind sandbags wetting their pants and crying for their mommy because they were all talk and no action. So, excuse me if I'm pragmatic. I'm saying it again. We're buying beer not top shelf liquor or wine because of NIL.

 

[Firethorn1001]

I went back over what I said, and I never implied anything about what you said. Why would I? You voiced your opinion, I voiced mine.

My fault. When you had stated greatest thing since sliced bread then I incorrectly thought you were stating I thought that, but yours was a more general comment.


In other news, the Indiana Mark Cubans have soundly defeat the Oregon Phil Knights. Seeing Cuban on the field ya.. I'll root for Miami.