The Wisconsin Badgers are heading into 2026 with fresh enthusiasm, a stronger squad, and a more defined strategy. It also helps that the Badgers are not facing the toughest schedule in the country, or at least anything close to it, as they did last season. Now the Badgers have one of the weakest schedules. In 2025, Wisconsin challenged almost all of the top Big Ten schools; now, the Badgers are mostly facing the bottom tier.
However, there is a significant flaw with Wisconsin’s schedule. The very first game, which Wisconsin desperately needs as a morale boost, a get things together, and a find chemistry game, is not going to be. In fact, if Luke Fickell does not approach it properly, the reverse might be true. The Badgers will face Notre Dame in Week 1, with the Irish currently ranked No. 2 in terms of chances of winning a national title in 2026 (+700, trailing just Ohio State at +650).
We are now 100 days away from the start of the college football season, and Ohio State is the current favorite to win the CFP.
Wisconsin will face the No. 2 team in Vegas odds in Week 1, which is not ideal.
Badger supporters have identified a limited number of contests on the schedule that they expect to lose. Notre Dame is one of them, and USC may be the only other. Sure, the Badgers will drop additional games, but the rest of the schedule appears feasible. Starting with Notre Dame may be harmful for the rest of the season, since it sets the wrong tone for the rest of the year.
However, if Luke Fickell approaches his squad with the possibility and enthusiasm of putting this newly assembled squad up against Notre Dame’s litmus test, it might be a tremendous home run. If Wisconsin somehow manages the upset, the schedule becomes considerably simpler.
Even if the Badgers stay in the game and gain some actual traction, even in defeat, it would be a significant victory. Fickell cannot allow the squad to be boatraced. This is an opportunity to genuinely set the program up for the future, or to fail miserably once more. The Badgers must be ready for the biggest issue in 2026, which is right out of the gate.
