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· collected 2026-08-18 · by Steve Megargee The Associated Press
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh invested in the team's roster, adding 34 transfers, including 27 from Bowl Subdivision programs, to help the Badgers recover from two straight losing seasons. The team had a Power Four-leading 22 consecutive winning seasons before this downturn. Wisconsin opens against No. 4 Notre Dame and has a lighter schedule compared to last year, which may aid their return to bowl eligibility. The Badgers' linebackers Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano are considered a strong point, having made an impact in the previous season.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Here is a summary of the article:
Wisconsin's 2025 football team is looking to rebound from two straight losing seasons with a revamped roster. The Badgers have added 34 transfers, including 27 players from other Bowl Subdivision programs, in an effort to turn their season around. Last year was a rare down year for Wisconsin, which had previously experienced 22 consecutive winning seasons before the recent decline. Despite facing a tough opener against No. 4 Notre Dame, Wisconsin's coaches believe that their new roster and lighter schedule will help them return to bowl eligibility this year. One reason for optimism is the emergence of young linebackers Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano, who showed promise late in their freshman seasons last year. By sticking with coach Luke Fickell, athletic director Chris McIntosh hoped that a bigger budget would be enough to turn Wisconsin's fortunes around.
Written for “Wisconsin Football Season Hopes” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 1105 · logged 2026-08-25
Wisconsin believes its increased investment in roster construction can help the Badgers bounce back from back-to-back losing seasons.
asserted
Badgers → believe → seasons
Before departing as athletic director to take a job in the Big Ten office, Chris McIntosh decided to stick with Luke Fickell rather than making a coaching change.
asserted
McIntosh → depart → change
McIntosh believed Fickell could win at Wisconsin if he got more financial support.
uncertain
he → believe → support
Wisconsin then added 34 transfers, including 27 from other Bowl Subdivision programs.
asserted
Wisconsin → add → programs
Wisconsin had a Power Four-leading 22 straight winning seasons before this recent downturn.
asserted
Wisconsin → have → downturn
An improved roster and a lighter schedule ought to help the Badgers return to bowl eligibility this season.
asserted
Badgers → help → eligibility
Wisconsin opens against No. 4 Notre Dame, but the conference schedule doesn’t include any of the three Big Ten teams that made last year’s College Football Playoff (Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon).
asserted
that → open → Playoff
Strengths include young linebackers
asserted
Strengths → include → linebackers
The linebacker duo of Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano gives Wisconsin reason for hope.
asserted
duo → give → hope
Both moved into the starting lineup late in their freshman seasons and provided a spark in victories over Washington and Illinois last year.
asserted
Both → move → Washington
Posa made such an impact that he earned third-team all-Big Ten honors from the league’s coaches despite starting just five games.
asserted
he → make → games
Weaknesses include issues on offense
Wisconsin ranked next-to-last among all FBS programs last year – ahead of only UMass – in yards per game and yards per play.
asserted
Wisconsin → include → play
The Badgers did plenty of work to upgrade their talent base on that side of the ball in the offseason.
asserted
Badgers → do → offseason
There’s no doubt Wisconsin’s offense will be better this season than it was a year ago.
asserted
it → ’ → ?
But there was such a long way to go that simply getting back to respectability would be a major step forward.
asserted
getting → be → respectability
New faces
S Marvin Burks Jr. started 26 straight games for Missouri from 2024-25.
asserted
Jr. → start → 2024
He had 66 tackles in 2024 and 49 last season.
asserted
He → have → 2024
QB Colton Joseph comes over from Old Dominion to become the fourth straight transfer to open a season as Wisconsin’s starter at this position.
asserted
Joseph → come → position
He threw for 2,624 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 1,007 yards and 13 more scores last year to help Old Dominion go 9-3 in the regular season.
asserted
Dominion → throw → season
CB Javan Robinson made 26 straight starts at Arizona State from 2024-25.
asserted
Robinson → make → 2024
RB Abu Sama III rushed for 1,933 yards at Iowa State the last three seasons.
asserted
III → rush → State
He ran fot 732 yards and gained 5.2 yards per carry last year.
asserted
He → run → carry
OT PJ Wilkins has a good chance of opening the season as Wisconsin’s starting left tackle.
asserted
Wilkins → have → tackle
He primarily played guard at his two previous schools: Charlotte (2024) and Mississippi (2025).
asserted
He → play → schools
