It’s a new week and a new opportunity for the Wisconsin football team to notch the first win of the 2026 season.
After falling apart in the second half and failing to cover the 20.5-point spread, that game went about as well as we expected.
The Badgers (0-1) now turn their focus to Western Illinois (1-1), an FCS-level opponent that comes to Camp Randall after being dismantled by Illinois State, the No. 4 FCS team in the nation, a week ago.
This is a game the Badgers should, for all intents and purposes, dominate.
Here are the BadgerNotes staff predictions for Week 2.
Staff predictions
Dillon Graff
Season record: 1-0
Wisconsin gets exactly the kind of game it needs after what happened against Notre Dame in Week 1.
The Badgers were competitive for a half at Lambeau Field. Then they weren’t. Notre Dame outscored Wisconsin 28-3 after halftime, turning a 13-10 game into a 41-13 reminder that whatever progress Luke Fickell believes this program made during the offseason still has to show up for four quarters.
Western Illinois isn’t Notre Dame. It isn’t close.
This is an FCS program coming off a 4-8 season that just allowed nearly 500 yards in a 41-10 loss to Illinois State. Wisconsin should have significant advantages everywhere that matters, particularly along both lines of scrimmage. Remember, the Badgers are the heaviest team in the FBS and have a lot more playable depth on both sides of the ball.
So I’m not particularly interested in whether Wisconsin wins Saturday. They should win handily. I’m more interested in what it looks like.
Can the Badgers establish the run without needing Colton Joseph to manufacture everything himself? Can the offensive line control an opponent that it should physically overwhelm? Can Joseph and the offense play clean football after turnovers helped Notre Dame turn last week’s game sideways? And can Wisconsin put away an inferior opponent without letting this become uncomfortable?
Bigger measuring sticks await. This isn’t one of them.
Wisconsin doesn’t need to prove it has closed the gap with the Big Ten’s best on Saturday. It needs to look like a Big Ten team playing an overmatched FCS opponent. That’s something Fickell’s teams haven’t always done well enough. Too often, this coaching staff has lacked that killer mindset, failing to keep its foot on the gas and put away opponents that should be beneath them.
This is a game the Badgers should control early and never let get interesting, but at this point, nothing Wisconsin does would surprise me.
Prediction: Wisconsin 38, Western Illinois 10
Christian Borman
Season record: 1-0
After scheduling one of the toughest opponents possible in Week 1, the Badgers will get a nice get-right game against an FCS opponent in their home opener on Saturday night when they face off with Western Illinois.
The Leathernecks are coming off a 4-8 season in 2025, and after their 41-10 loss to Illinois State last week, things don’t seem to be improving.
I think there is some frustration on the Badgers’ side after the game against Notre Dame, where, in one half, they looked like they belonged on the field with one of the best teams in the country. Then, all of a sudden, in the second half, they looked completely helpless, leading to a blowout loss.
Maybe this is more what I want to see from them, but a complete beatdown of a program they should be able to handle could be in the cards. The defense could be out to prove they are closer to the unit we saw in the first half against the Irish than the second.
I’m looking for the offense to put its foot on the gas and not let up.
The Leathernecks gave up 239 yards on the ground to Illinois State. I want to see the Badgers really get their running game going, whether it’s Abu Sama, Colton Joseph, or Darrion Dupree. The Badgers should produce their first 100-yard rusher in 2026 this weekend; anything else would be a major disappointment.
Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I’ve got the defense clamping down, the offense running free, and Wisconsin winning big — finally.
Prediction: Wisconsin 42 - Western Illinois 6
Seamus Rohrer
Season record: 1-0
Western Illinois is overmatched at every position in this game. I expect the talent, size, and speed disparity to be readily apparent very quickly Saturday night in Madison. It’ll be interesting to see how the Badgers go from being big underdogs to massive favorites, but Wisconsin really shouldn’t struggle at all in this one — I expect wire-to-wire domination.
Still, there are a few key things I’ll be watching for.
Can the Badgers’ offensive line dominate against a much weaker opponent? Can Colton Joseph continue to make mostly good decisions with the football? At which positions do the Badgers feel most comfortable deploying their depth options? The final score, and whether or not Wisconsin covers the spread, is of little concern to me.
Prediction: Wisconsin 42 - Western Illinois 6
Charlie Pietz
Season record: 1-0
It’s rare to see Luke Fickell’s teams beat up inferior non-conference opponents, even FCS teams (27-13 vs. South Dakota). I think that story is different against the Leathernecks, who are 12-63 since 2019!
Colton Joseph and company rush for 300+ yards on the ground, and the offensive line looks impressive. Defense forces 3+ turnovers. Fickell picks up his largest margin of victory as head coach of the Badgers.
Want to talk through the game with other Badgers fans? Join Bucky’s Burrow for our free game-day chat and be part of the conversation.
Prediction: Wisconsin 56 - Western Illinois 3
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