Badgers Football 2025-2026

[Sanguine camper]

Yup and wait until the NCAA declares that players don't have to be meet any academic standards to be there or stay there. An even bigger move would be to declare that athletes can "stay in school" for as long as they want to and compete in athletics for as many years as they are enrolled/employed at the school.

Do all of that and one might ponder the future and have to ask themselves the question. Someday, will it be difficult for the NFL to compete against NIL money AND network money?

Could the "college" teams one day compete with the NFL for the best players? It all depends who has the deepest pockets.

Both the NFL and big-time college sports are big business. It's possible but in the other pro sports like hockey, basketball, baseball and soccer, there's the major league and then professional minor league teams. There aren't two similarly financed leagues fighting it out for players. Football is now very similarly structured.

I think the one thing that will give colleges the edge in playing the AAA minor league roll are the huge stadiums. It would be difficult to start a new league to compete with the colleges as the primary professional minor league.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I think the one thing that will give colleges the edge in playing the AAA minor league roll are the huge stadiums. It would be difficult to start a new league to compete with the colleges as the primary professional minor league.

Add the fanbase of NCAA teams. Minor league Baseball, Basketball and Hockey don't have that.

I only threw that out there as a slow evolving thing. If the NCAA allowed non-students, unlimited years to play in the NCAA, who knows what could happen using money from billionaires like Mark Cuban, Phil Knight, David Booth, Jimmy Haslam, T. Boone Pickens, Gary Condron, Bill Hendrix, etc.

 

[Sanguine camper]

I have to wonder if the typical college football fan will retain the same level of support if players are barely affiliated with the school and are just minor league guys looking to step up?

Using myself as an example, I used to be a huge Badger fan. For multiple reasons, the passion isn't there for me anymore. With the NIL, I don't even know the players anymore.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I have to wonder if the typical college football fan will retain the same level of support if players are barely affiliated with the school and are just minor league guys looking to step up?

Using myself as an example, I used to be a huge Badger fan. For multiple reasons, the passion isn't there for me anymore. With the NIL, I don't even know the players anymore.

I agree but I think it will vary from fan to fan and fanbase to fanbase. For those fans that just want winners, I don't think they really care who is playing. Winning teams will continue to build their fan base as they rack up more wins. The fans and fanbases that will be hit the hardest are the ones that are constantly losing players to the portal and having to rebuild each season. If those fan bases only care about winning, they will find something else to do on Saturdays. If the fans of those teams support the sport, because they support the athletes. They too will probably get sick of only seeing star players for 1 year, before they hit the portal.

Basically, between NIL and the Transfer portal, the divide between the haves and the have-nots, is going to get much bigger than we have ever seen. I think that will also be reflected by half-filled stadiums at a lot of the have-not schools.

 

[milani]

I have to wonder if the typical college football fan will retain the same level of support if players are barely affiliated with the school and are just minor league guys looking to step up?

Using myself as an example, I used to be a huge Badger fan. For multiple reasons, the passion isn't there for me anymore. With the NIL, I don't even know the players anymore.

It will be difficult to maintain the identity and allegiance. The house just is not the same.

 

[Heyjoe4]

A lot of people don't understand it and never will. This includes most doctors to be honest. They think you just take a deep breath and think good thoughts and it's gone. If that don't work, here's a pill, maybe two, or three.... they'll do the trick. "You'll grow out of it!" Another of the gems from people who don't understand. The worst part is that they don't understand and end up being callous about it because they are clueless. To be honest, it's not entirely their fault. Medical science hasn't done enough over the years to educate people on the issue. In the end, we need to find the keys to controlling it. In the end, I found mine in my faith. I wasn't strongly religious but as I moved forward, I found it worked for me. It doesn't mean that's what's needed for everyone, but I do know it worked for me. Even now, when I'm being tested by life, I call on my faith to help guide me through and it works. We all have our own keys.

Well said V. I envy people like you who find comfort in their faith.

Even so I can get outside of myself by concentrating on the philosophy of The Stoics, to name one. Simple stillness is very effective for me. And the most effective tool I have is daily, strenuous cardio work in the gym.

I agree mental health is still poorly understood by a lot of people. Too many.

 

[Thirteen Below]

I have to wonder if the typical college football fan will retain the same level of support if players are barely affiliated with the school and are just minor league guys looking to step up?

Using myself as an example, I used to be a huge Badger fan. For multiple reasons, the passion isn't there for me anymore. With the NIL, I don't even know the players anymore.

I not only don't know the players; I don't even care about them. Why would I? They don't even represent the school; have no loyalty to Wisconsin. Used to be, when a player committed to a college, he committed! It was a big decision, and they took it seriously, because when they signed on they were becoming a part of the program and a part of the school. It was uncommon for a player to change schools, and when they did it often didn't reflect well on them.

Now? They're just passing through, and everyone knows it. Wisconsin and the Badger fans don't mean anything to them, so they don't mean anything to me. I like it when they win (well, the basketball and hockey teams, anyway; I'd like it IF the football team actually won every now and then), but I don't get pumped up about the season the way I used to. I very much doubt I ever will again.

 

[Voyageur]

I not only don't know the players; I don't even care about them. Why would I? They don't even represent the school; have no loyalty to Wisconsin. Used to be, when a player committed to a college, he committed! It was a big decision, and they took it seriously, because when they signed on they were becoming a part of the program and a part of the school. It was uncommon for a player to change schools, and when they did it often didn't reflect well on them.

Now? They're just passing through, and everyone knows it. Wisconsin and the Badger fans don't mean anything to them, so they don't mean anything to me. I like it when they win (well, the basketball and hockey teams, anyway; I'd like it IF the football team actually won every now and then), but I don't get pumped up about the season the way I used to. I very much doubt I ever will again.

I think there's two types of players that end up on teams like the Badgers. A handful are those who see it as a steppingstone to big bucks in NIL elsewhere, and those who come in and seriously want to be a part of something bigger. It's the latter that I like because they're the players that are essentially the core of a team. For years, that was guys that played linebacker on defense, the offensive line, and running backs that were snubbed by programs like Michigan and Ohio State.

They're still the majority of the team but in all honesty, you aren't going to win at this level if you rely on them. That's the sad part and what destroys it all, but it shouldn't.

Paying football players has been a time worn tradition over the years. It's nothing new. It has happened since the early 60s, and before. It's just how it was handled, and of course now the money is huge compared to then. I know about the money from the 60s firsthand. The average yearly income was $5,300 and there were players making up to $7,500 a year in phony jobs and sugar bowl money.

 

[Voyageur]

I have to laugh. Seeing writers who cover the Badgers talking about a 10-win season makes me shake my head. To win 10, they'd have to play out of their mind. In all fairness, they could win 8. If they do it's a successful season, even though we know that figure is kind of a reach. Seven is more realistic, and that's because they play a lot of patsies early on, as usual, except for Notre Dame which is going to school them on just how far they haven't come but think they have.

Face It. This is likely Fickell's last season in Madison if they don't win 8 games. With a new AD, count on him wanting to bring someone in who can win games and make the program succeed. Don't be too surprised if Jimmy's name doesn't come up after this coming season is over. Leonhard, in my opinion, is waiting for this shoe to drop.

 

[milani]

I have to laugh. Seeing writers who cover the Badgers talking about a 10-win season makes me shake my head. To win 10, they'd have to play out of their mind. In all fairness, they could win 8. If they do it's a successful season, even though we know that figure is kind of a reach. Seven is more realistic, and that's because they play a lot of patsies early on, as usual, except for Notre Dame which is going to school them on just how far they haven't come but think they have.

Face It. This is likely Fickell's last season in Madison if they don't win 8 games. With a new AD, count on him wanting to bring someone in who can win games and make the program succeed. Don't be too surprised if Jimmy's name doesn't come up after this coming season is over. Leonhard, in my opinion, is waiting for this shoe to drop.

I have that feeling that 2026 will be quintessential for Badger fans.

 

[Voyageur]

I have that feeling that 2026 will be quintessential for Badger fans.

Good way of putting it. Until NIL money is in house that lets them buy players for millions a year, this will probably be about where they land most seasons. The big question is if Fickell and his staff can even reach that level this season. I don't think the U or Badger nation is going to accept becoming another Northwestern with less than 15,000 attending games. That's way too much money left on the table for ticket sales and everything that goes with it. It's going to be interesting although quite possibly disheartening to a lot of fans who have bought into the hype of winning 10 games.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Good way of putting it. Until NIL money is in house that lets them buy players for millions a year, this will probably be about where they land most seasons. The big question is if Fickell and his staff can even reach that level this season. I don't think the U or Badger nation is going to accept becoming another Northwestern with less than 15,000 attending games. That's way too much money left on the table for ticket sales and everything that goes with it. It's going to be interesting although quite possibly disheartening to a lot of fans who have bought into the hype of winning 10 games.

I sat next to an Ex-Badger Football player from the early 70's on a flight on Saturday. When I brought up NIL money and how it has ruined college sports he laughed and said "Totally". Then he told me how he and his teammates were "paid". Seems they were given a few tickets to Badger Hockey games every season. They then were able to turn around and sell them to Badger Boosters for a few bucks.

 

[milani]

I sat next to an Ex-Badger Football player from the early 70's on a flight on Saturday. When I brought up NIL money and how it has ruined college sports he laughed and said "Totally". Then he told me how he and his teammates were "paid". Seems they were given a few tickets to Badger Hockey games every season. They then were able to turn around and sell them to Badger Boosters for a few bucks.

Bread crumbs. A few bucks to buy a pizza.

 

[Voyageur]

I sat next to an Ex-Badger Football player from the early 70's on a flight on Saturday. When I brought up NIL money and how it has ruined college sports he laughed and said "Totally". Then he told me how he and his teammates were "paid". Seems they were given a few tickets to Badger Hockey games every season. They then were able to turn around and sell them to Badger Boosters for a few bucks.

The average player got a few bucks, but some players got a good chunk of long green for a pair of tickets.

 

[Firethorn1001]

And to think at one time 26 Badger players were suspended for getting shoe discounts.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

And to think at one time 26 Badger players were suspended for getting shoe discounts.

That was just the number of football players. I believe athletes from other sports also received suspensions.

The infamous "Shoegate". I think some of the athletes got 3 game suspensions for that. I remember that well, since The Shoe Box in Black Earth, which was the "culprit", was a place I went to for all of my shoes. The owner, Steve Schmitt was a big time Badger Booster and was giving athletes major discounts and I think "freebies" on shoes to UW athletes. I believe that the NCAA slapped the UW with like a 5 year probation period for that. Schmitt is also the owner of the Madison Mallards.

 

[Sanguine camper]

Badgers used to put out a really great buffet for high school football coaches and the player's parents on football Saturday. That seems quaint compared to today's game.

Barry had a winning strategy in keeping close tabs with the state's high school coaches. He didn't lose many top talents to other schools which was the norm before he turned the program around.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Badgers used to put out a really great buffet for high school football coaches and the player's parents on football Saturday. That seems quaint compared to today's game.

Barry had a winning strategy in keeping close tabs with the state's high school coaches. He didn't lose many top talents to other schools which was the norm before he turned the program around.

Personally, I think talking about "not being able to recruit in state", is a whole lot of noise.

I'm not defending Luke for losing ties with Home Grown talent, but lets be frank here, NIL trumps playing for your home state by a mile. So when someone from OSU comes to the Farm and says, "We can pay off all those tractors and your mortgage, as well as fly your boy home on special occasions", I doubt there are many that are saying "Oh heck no, I'm a home grown Badger through and through, no matter how much money you give me."