The New Look Badgers - 2023

[Pokerbrat2000]

Interesting as to how high they have gone, considering they were even late coming to the party. They've done well.

Agreed on how late Fickell and his staff started the process. Less than a month and a half ago and during Dec and early January, a time when things shut down a bit for colleges and student athletes.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Well these would be two awesome additions to the 2024 class!

Wisconsin Badgers Hosting Major Four-Star Running Back

The Wisconsin Badgers could be adding yet another weapon to their team. This time it may come in the form of a 2024 four-star running back. The Badgers are

wisportsheroics.com

Badgers finalists for four-star WR

The Wisconsin Badgers have been hot on the recruiting trail ever since Luke Fickell was hired as the Badgers' head coach. The Badgers' coaching staff and

wisportsheroics.com

The staff is still working on a few last minute transfers...

Can Badgers Pull Off Surprise Transfer? | WSH

With the transfer portal nearing a close on Wednesday, January 18th, the Wisconsin Badgers may try to make one final move to solidify their class.

wisportsheroics.com

 

[Krabs]

Well these would be two awesome additions to the 2024 class!

Wisconsin Badgers Hosting Major Four-Star Running Back

The Wisconsin Badgers could be adding yet another weapon to their team. This time it may come in the form of a 2024 four-star running back. The Badgers are

wisportsheroics.com

Badgers finalists for four-star WR

The Wisconsin Badgers have been hot on the recruiting trail ever since Luke Fickell was hired as the Badgers' head coach. The Badgers' coaching staff and

wisportsheroics.com

The staff is still working on a few last minute transfers...

Can Badgers Pull Off Surprise Transfer? | WSH

With the transfer portal nearing a close on Wednesday, January 18th, the Wisconsin Badgers may try to make one final move to solidify their class.

wisportsheroics.com

Yeah, that would be great. It would be pretty cool to land Powell as well. As the article stated, we don't need corners, but that would add some serious depth and experience. Let's go!

 

[Voyageur]

Well these would be two awesome additions to the 2024 class!

Wisconsin Badgers Hosting Major Four-Star Running Back

The Wisconsin Badgers could be adding yet another weapon to their team. This time it may come in the form of a 2024 four-star running back. The Badgers are

wisportsheroics.com

Badgers finalists for four-star WR

The Wisconsin Badgers have been hot on the recruiting trail ever since Luke Fickell was hired as the Badgers' head coach. The Badgers' coaching staff and

wisportsheroics.com

The staff is still working on a few last minute transfers...

Can Badgers Pull Off Surprise Transfer? | WSH

With the transfer portal nearing a close on Wednesday, January 18th, the Wisconsin Badgers may try to make one final move to solidify their class.

wisportsheroics.com

If all those players join the Badgers, it would be amazing. Whether people believe it or not, this may be the first time in history that the Badgers have been so focused on recruiting that they might pull these guys into Madison, instead of losing them to the glitzy programs. Imagine it coming true, and then sit back and watch, because in two years, when the playoff goes to 12 teams, the Badgers might just be one of the teams in the hunt for a national title.

 

[Krabs]

If all those players join the Badgers, it would be amazing. Whether people believe it or not, this may be the first time in history that the Badgers have been so focused on recruiting that they might pull these guys into Madison, instead of losing them to the glitzy programs. Imagine it coming true, and then sit back and watch, because in two years, when the playoff goes to 12 teams, the Badgers might just be one of the teams in the hunt for a national title.

That would be spectacular if they made the 12 team playoffs.

Did they officially change the set up for the B1G? I know there was talk of just getting rid of the two divisions and having the two teams with the best record play in the conference championship.

 

[Voyageur]

That would be spectacular if they made the 12 team playoffs.

Did they officially change the set up for the B1G? I know there was talk of just getting rid of the two divisions and having the two teams with the best record play in the conference championship.

We're two years away from the 12 team playoff for the national title. It would include certain conference champions, and others, based on rankings. It's what should have existed a long time ago. It's going to be interesting watching how teams that nobody though were even in the hunt suddenly find themselves in the middle of things they only dreamed of in the past. The Badgers would be one of those teams. With the right moves, and a couple of good recruiting class, and you just don't know what will happen.

It's a great time to be on board with Bucky!

College Football Playoff to expand to 12 teams starting with the 2024 season

The College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams, made up of six conference champions ranked highest by the CFP and the six highest-ranked teams not among the conference champions.

www.ncaa.com

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Did they officially change the set up for the B1G? I know there was talk of just getting rid of the two divisions and having the two teams with the best record play in the conference championship.

All I have heard/read, is that they are stopping (for now) at expanding to 16 teams (USC and UCLA joining in 2024). I don't think they have made a final decision on how the conference will actually look in 2024. Whether it will be one big division, still East and West or potentially 4 "pods". Personally, I like the 4 pods, kind of like the NFL. I saw this structure being thrown around:

Pod A: Indiana, Maryland, Purdue, Rutgers
Pod B: Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State
Pod C: Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, Wisconsin
Pod D: Minnesota, Nebraska, UCLA, USC

This could expand the Big10 Championship to 3 games. With the top team from each Pod getting in. More money for the Big10.

One thing that seems common, rivalry games will be maintained. So Michigan and OSU would always play, Badgers-Gophers, etc.

 

[Voyageur]

All I have heard/read, is that they are stopping (for now) at expanding to 16 teams (USC and UCLA joining in 2024). I don't think they have made a final decision on how the conference will actually look in 2024. Whether it will be one big division, still East and West or potentially 4 "pods". Personally, I like the 4 pods, kind of like the NFL. I saw this structure being thrown around:

Pod A: Indiana, Maryland, Purdue, Rutgers
Pod B: Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State
Pod C: Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, Wisconsin
Pod D: Minnesota, Nebraska, UCLA, USC

This could expand the Big10 Championship to 3 games. With the top team from each Pod getting in. More money for the Big10.

One thing that seems common, rivalry games will be maintained. So Michigan and OSU would always play, Badgers-Gophers, etc.

I like that approach to the conference.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I like that approach to the conference.

I do as well. Builds up real rivalries like we have with the Bears, Vikings and Lions. Gives more teams the chance to have a sensational season and win their pod. What are the odds of Indiana winning a 16 team division? Seems more muddled with 16 or even 8 in a division.

From what I can gather, they were favoring just 1 big conference and the Pod thing was gaining some steam in likability.

 

[Voyageur]

I do as well. Builds up real rivalries like we have with the Bears, Vikings and Lions. Gives more teams the chance to have a sensational season and win their pod. What are the odds of Indiana winning a 16 team division? Seems more muddled with 16 or even 8 in a division.

From what I can gather, they were favoring just 1 big conference and the Pod thing was gaining some steam in likability.

If you go with the singular alignment, only the top two teams would play for the championship. Having it as the top 4 would be difficult. Too many ties down the line, and the way they are broken would be skewed by the teams they played during the season. Schedules would not be balanced. At least, with this format, teams would have a shot at it.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

If you go with the singular alignment, only the top two teams would play for the championship. Having it as the top 4 would be difficult. Too many ties down the line, and the way they are broken would be skewed by the teams they played during the season. Schedules would not be balanced. At least, with this format, teams would have a shot at it.

Yup and from a fans perspective, more sustained interest. If my team was in 16th place in a 16 team conference, with 3 games to go and it was a bit cold and rainy, I wouldn't go out of my way to buy a ticket or even watch it on TV. However, if my team was in a 4 pod division with the same record and 1 game out, playing the top team in the pod, that stadium would probably be rocking.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Catching up on the Badgers transfer portal haul by the numbers, a fun read.

Wisconsin's transfer haul by the numbers

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin's roster now looks drastically different than it did when Luke Fickell became head coach in November. Fickell and his staff have been

247sports.com

 

[Krabs]

Catching up on the Badgers transfer portal haul by the numbers, a fun read.

Wisconsin's transfer haul by the numbers

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin's roster now looks drastically different than it did when Luke Fickell became head coach in November. Fickell and his staff have been

247sports.com

That is a great article. Thanks for sharing. It breaks everything down nicely. #1 ranked transfer class in the B1G and #8 in the nation. Not the typical way to build a team, but there is now competition at almost every position. With that will come a competitive team.

 

[Krabs]

I'm having way more fun talking about the Badgers. Time for a profile picture change.

 

[Voyageur]

Based on the fact that the Badgers actually got into the portal contact business late, they still rank #8 in catches. That's pretty darned good. Especially since they've been able to not only improve, but fortify such areas as QB, and the defensive secondary, as well as the WR room. Not something easy to do, when you're already behind when you start. Every time I sign on, there's more information about guys being added.

There are some projections that say they're higher, and others lower, but I think this one makes a lot of sense.

2023 Transfer Football Team Rankings

In order to create the most comprehensive Team Recruiting Ranking without any notion of bias, 247Sports Team Recruiting Ranking is solely based on the 247Sports Composite Rating.

247sports.com

 

[Krabs]

Well, we lost one. "After three seasons as a member of the Badgers’ football team, Dean Engram announced Thursday that he is entering the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining."

I think he saw the WR room and knew he wasn't going to get a lot of time. He saw a bit last year. Not a lot and that was with a much less talented group.

You must be logged in to see this image or video!

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Well, we lost one. "After three seasons as a member of the Badgers’ football team, Dean Engram announced Thursday that he is entering the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining."

I think he saw the WR room and knew he wasn't going to get a lot of time. He saw a bit last year. Not a lot and that was with a much less talented group.

You must be logged in to see this image or video!

No major loss, except maybe as a return guy. Guessing it has something to do with his Dad no longer being the OC at Wisconsin as well. As you correctly pointed out as well, the WR room has been substantially upgraded, I doubt he would have seen all that many snaps as WR. I wish him the best of luck.

 

[Voyageur]

I'd imagine he realized he wasn't going to get much time on the field, plus the fact that his Dad, who was a Badgers coach, was let go with the rest. He's going to hook up somewhere, just don't know where yet.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Figured a new thread title was needed, since this is not only a new year, but really what promises to be a completely new look Badger Football team.

Fickell completed his staff today. Pretty impressive group.

Wisconsin Football: Luke Fickell’s entire 2022-2023 coaching staff

Here’s the entire coaching staff for the Badgers in 2023.

www.buckys5thquarter.com

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Very good write up about Chris McIntosh and as the article says, "the stones" he had to go a different way than most expected.

Wisconsin Badgers Athletic Director Chris McIntosh Has Stones

Madison, Wis. – It’s still hard to comprehend that Paul Chryst was the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers three short months ago until a meeting with Chris McIntosh compelled him to make a change. Since then, controlled chaos has ensued in Madison, and the times…they are a changing. Between...

badgernotes.com

 

[Krabs]

Looks like we lost one:

Class of 2024 cornerback decommits from Wisconsin

Austin Alexander, a three-star cornerback from Chicago Heights, Illinois decommitted from the Badgers on Wednesday.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Looks like we lost one:

Class of 2024 cornerback decommits from Wisconsin

Austin Alexander, a three-star cornerback from Chicago Heights, Illinois decommitted from the Badgers on Wednesday.

www.yahoo.com

This says it all and the job that Fickell and his staff are doing:

"With all the additions and hype around the program since Luke Fickell took over as head coach in late November, Alexander may have seen his expected role diminish in front of his eyes."

Being very competitive in both the transfer portal and high school recruiting, should up the level of competition at Wisconsin. I haven't posted any of them, but I keep seeing articles pop up about this 4 star and that 5 star have been offered by Wisconsin for 2024 or 2025.

Most recently, a highly sought after 5 star WR, Jaime Ffrench Jr. was offered by the Badgers. The kid is only a sophomore and he already has received 20 Division 1 offers from schools like Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama.

The Badgers are moving up the pecking pole!

Wisconsin offers five-star class of 2025 wide receiver

The Badgers offered Jaime Ffrench Jr., a five-star wide receiver from Jacksonville, Florida on Tuesday. The sophomore still has two more seasons of football with Mandarin High School before he pote…

badgerswire.usatoday.com

 

[Voyageur]

Alexander is a decent player from what I heard, but just wouldn't be competitive enough in the new Badger offense to draw enough field time. I understand his reason for moving on, because he will get offers from a lot of schools. As for the Badgers, that opens up another scholarship for a high profile guy to fill that role. It's getting more competitive, before they even hit the field.

 

[Krabs]

It is interesting. When I read he was a 3 star I was like, "oh well". Two months ago I would have panicked that we lost a player at all. Now my attitude is that it was just a 3 star guy. Fickell has already changed my expectations.

 

[Voyageur]

It is interesting. When I read he was a 3 star I was like, "oh well". Two months ago I would have panicked that we lost a player at all. Now my attitude is that it was just a 3 star guy. Fickell has already changed my expectations.

Amazing, isn't it? From begging for scraps to shopping at the high priced meat market. Talk about culture change. Yowzer!