Mailbag: Wisconsin football conspiracy theory, staff changes, and transfer portal spending
Has Wisconsin increased its transfer portal spending? Which coaching staff changes matter most? Plus, a Badgers "conspiracy theory."
Another batch of Wisconsin football mailbag questions rolled in, and it’s clear that readers are ready to zoom out a bit on this offseason — not just reacting to what happened during the 2025 campaign, but trying to read between the lines of what’s happening now and where they’re headed.
This mailbag starts with an offseason curveball: a Wisconsin “conspiracy theory” that might sound far-fetched on the surface, but gets a lot more interesting when you line it up with how the last few months have unfolded. From there, we dig into whether the Badgers have actually increased their investment in the transfer portal, or if that narrative is getting a little bit overblown. And finally, we look at the coaching and support staff changes made this offseason and which move stands out.
Let’s get into it.
Q: It’s the offseason and things are quiet, so let’s throw in a curveball. What’s one half-baked “conspiracy theory” you actually think could be plausible with Wisconsin football, based on everything that’s happened this offseason, even if nobody would ever admit to it?
-Jake in Madison
