Wisconsin Badgers eye All-Big Ten resurgence as new talent emerges for 2026
After a turbulent stretch under coach Luke Fickell, Wisconsin has added over 30 transfers and hopes several young players can earn All-Big Ten honors in 2026.
Wisconsin’s football program, struggling under head coach Luke Fickell and adapting to the NIL era, has undergone a major roster revamp, adding more than thirty players through the transfer portal ahead of the 2026 campaign. The team has not produced an All-Big Ten first-team player or an NFL draft selection since 1990, and its last first-round picks were T.J. Watt and Ryan Ramczyk in 2017.
One outlet’s preseason All-Big Ten projections listed only two Badgers on the third team: linebacker Mason Posa and punter Sean West. Analysts highlight several underclassmen—Mason Posa, Cooper Catalano, offensive lineman Austin Kawecki, safety Marvin Burks and the already-impressive Sean West—as candidates to break into higher honors. Restoring a pipeline of conference-level talent is seen as essential for Wisconsin to reclaim its status as a Big Ten powerhouse.
Why it matters
Wisconsin’s ability to develop All-Big Ten talent will affect its competitiveness and future NFL prospects.
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