You're looking for the kickoff time, right? If you are asking what time do the Wisconsin Badgers football play today, the short answer is they don't. Today is Thursday, January 15, 2026, and the Badgers' football season is officially wrapped up.
It's that weird mid-January limbo. The NFL playoffs are heating up, and the College Football Playoff (CFP) is heading toward its massive finale on January 19, but for Luke Fickell and the squad in Madison, the pads have been put away for a few weeks now.
Why Aren't the Badgers Playing Today?
College football has a very specific rhythm. Regular season games happen on Saturdays from late August through November. Then you have the bowl season in December and early January.
Wisconsin's 2025 campaign ended with a 17-7 loss to Minnesota on November 29. Because they finished with a 4-8 record (2-7 in the Big Ten), they didn't qualify for a bowl game this winter. To get to a bowl, a team generally needs six wins. It was a rough year, honestly. Fans are already looking toward the 2026 reboot.
If you see "Wisconsin" on your TV guide today, you're likely seeing the Wisconsin Men's Hockey team. They are actually playing a huge game tonight, January 15, at 8 p.m. CT against Michigan State at the Kohl Center. Or maybe you're seeing the Women's Basketball team, who are taking on Northwestern at 7 p.m.
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But football? That's strictly in "offseason mode."
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Wisconsin Football Schedule
Since today's schedule is empty, the real question is when can we see them back at Camp Randall? The 2026 schedule is already starting to take shape, and it looks pretty wild.
The Badgers open the 2026 season with a massive "neutral site" game. They’ll be heading to Green Bay to face Notre Dame at Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 6, 2026. This is a makeup of sorts for the game originally scheduled years ago that got moved around.
Here is what we know about the early 2026 slate:
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- Sept 6 (Sun): vs. Notre Dame (at Lambeau Field)
- Sept 12 (Sat): vs. Western Illinois (Madison)
- Sept 19 (Sat): vs. Eastern Michigan (Madison)
The Big Ten conference schedule hasn't had every single kickoff time nailed down yet—TV networks usually wait until 6 to 12 days before the game to decide those—but we know who they play. At home in Madison, they'll host Michigan State, Rutgers, Minnesota (the Axe game!), and USC. On the road, they’ll have to travel to Iowa, Maryland, Penn State, Purdue, and UCLA.
The Current State of the Badgers
Even though there's no game today, the news cycle never stops. The transfer portal is currently the "wild west" of college sports. Luke Fickell has been busy trying to patch holes in a roster that struggled to find consistency last year.
Just yesterday, on January 14, freshman Mason Posa earned Freshman All-America honors. That’s a bright spot. He’s one of those guys people hope will lead the defense for the next few seasons.
There's also been a ton of movement in the quarterback room. With the portal open, the coaching staff is basically in a 24/7 recruiting cycle. They’ve recently added guys like Malachi Coleman (a 6-foot-5 receiver) and quarterback Deuce Adams to the mix. It's basically a roster overhaul happening in real-time while the rest of us are just waiting for spring practice to start in March.
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What to Watch While You Wait
If you’ve got that itch for college football and were bummed to find out the Badgers aren't on, there is still some high-level ball left.
The College Football Playoff National Championship is set for Monday, January 19, 2026. It's going to be No. 1 Indiana (who had an absolutely historic undefeated run) against No. 10 Miami. Kickoff for that one is 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Watching Indiana—a fellow Big Ten team—make it to the title game is probably bittersweet for Wisconsin fans. It shows that the "new" Big Ten is wide open, but it also highlights how much work the Badgers have to do to get back to that level.
Actionable Steps for Badger Fans
Since there's no game today, here is how you can stay prepared for the 2026 season:
- Check the Hockey Schedule: If you need a Wisconsin sports fix, the No. 2 ranked Men’s Hockey team plays No. 4 Michigan State tonight at 8 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
- Monitor the Portal: Keep an eye on the 247Sports Transfer Portal tracker. This is where the 2026 season is won or lost.
- Spring Ball Prep: Mark your calendars for late March. That’s usually when the team opens up practice, and we get our first look at the new transfers in red and white.
The wait for football is long, but September 6 at Lambeau will be here before you know it.