The Bucky Report

In our new show, each week, we hand out our Badger Helmet Stickers to the Wisconsin players who stood out the most. Big plays, big performances, and the guys who made the biggest impact — see who earned a sticker this week when the Badgers beat Penn State in Happy Valley, on The Bucky Report!

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Wisconsin just pulled off a massive road upset, stunning Penn State 24–20 in Happy Valley after falling behind 17–0. On today’s show, Rajeev and Justin break down how the Badgers found a way to win, Colton Joseph’s wild fourth-quarter response, the defense’s huge performance, Jacob Harris’ game-winning touchdown, and what this victory means for Luke Fickell and the direction of the Wisconsin football program. Was this simply a huge win — or did Wisconsin just change the entire outlook of its season? We’ll discuss the biggest turning points, what impressed us most, what still needs work, and whether this was the kin...

The Wisconsin Badgers face a massive challenge as they head to Happy Valley to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions! Can Luke Fickell and the Badgers pull off a statement upset against one of the Big Ten's toughest opponents? On this episode of Badger Blueprint, Rajeev and Justin break down the three biggest keys to the game, critical matchups, and our official game predictions. Can quarterback Colton Joseph and the Wisconsin offense find success against the Penn State defense? What will it take for the Badgers to slow down the Nittany Lions? And can Wisconsin put together four...

Wisconsin Football finally EXPLODES! The Badgers put up 54 points in a dominant 54-10 victory over Eastern Michigan, delivering their most explosive offensive performance of the season. But was this the breakthrough Wisconsin fans have been waiting for, or simply a big win against an overmatched opponent? On today's episode of The Bucky Report, Rajeev and Justin break down Wisconsin's blowout victory, including quarterback Colton Joseph's record-setting first half, Tyrell Henry's historic 14-reception performance, and a Badgers defense that forced three turnovers and found the end zone. We'll discuss what stood out in Wisconsin's most complete performance of the season...

Wisconsin gets another opportunity to show growth as the Badgers prepare to take on Eastern Michigan. On this episode of Badger Blueprint, we break down the 3 biggest things Wisconsin needs to do to take care of business, what we want to see from Colton Joseph and the offense, and where Luke Fickell’s team still needs to show improvement before Big Ten play ramps up. We’ll also give our game predictions and talk through the matchups that could decide whether Wisconsin controls this one from start to finish. Follow The Bucky Report: X: @TheBuckyReport Rajeev: @RajeevBadgers Justin: @BuckyReportJJ TikT...

Wisconsin got the win over Western Illinois, 36-9 — but did the performance leave us with more concerns than confidence? On today’s show, we break down everything that stood out from the Badgers’ home opener. We’ll talk about Colton Joseph and the passing game, Abu Sama and the running backs, the offensive line, Wisconsin’s defensive performance, Luke Fickell and the coaching staff, and why a comfortable final score didn’t necessarily feel like a comfortable win. Plus, we go position by position through the Wisconsin roster identifying the things we feel like we can already say with confidence...

Wisconsin Badgers football is back at Camp Randall as Wisconsin takes on Western Illinois. On this episode of Badger Blueprint, we break down the biggest keys to the game, what we need to see from quarterback Colton Joseph and the Badgers offense, areas Luke Fickell’s team needs to improve, and our predictions for Saturday. Can Wisconsin clean up the mistakes from Week 1, dominate an overmatched opponent, and build momentum before the Big Ten schedule gets underway? We preview Wisconsin vs. Western Illinois and everything Badgers fans should be watching. Follow The Bucky Report: X: @TheBuckyReport Rajeev: @RajeevBadgers Justin: @Bu...

Wisconsin gave fans a real reason to believe for one half against Notre Dame, trailing just 13-10 at halftime before the game turned into an all-too-familiar second-half beatdown. On today’s show, we break down what we learned about Colton Joseph, the new-look Wisconsin offense, and Luke Fickell’s team after facing one of the best teams in the country. There were legitimate positives to take away, especially with so many new pieces in key roles, but there were also familiar issues that have followed this program for years: costly mistakes, questionable coaching decisions, and a team that seemed to l...

It’s finally game week. Wisconsin gets a massive early-season test against Notre Dame, and on this episode we break down exactly what the Badgers need to do to give themselves a chance to pull the upset. We dive into our 3 biggest keys to the game, the matchups that could decide it, where Wisconsin may have an advantage, and the biggest concerns heading into Saturday. Plus, we give our final predictions for Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame. Can the Badgers make an early statement and knock off the Irish? We break it all down. Be sure to like, subscribe, and fo...

The 2026 Wisconsin Badgers football season is here, and it’s time for our full season preview and prediction show. We’re going game by game through Wisconsin’s entire schedule, giving our win/loss picks, breaking down the toughest matchups, and predicting the Badgers’ final record. We’ll also share our biggest concern heading into the season, what gives us the most confidence, and the players and storylines that could define the year. Plus, we make our predictions for the Big Ten Champion, College Football Playoff, and National Champion. How many games will Wisconsin win in 2026? Can the Badgers surprise p...

We wrap up our final Know Your Foe of the season with a full look at the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Special guest Curt from the Ski U Pod joins us to break down Minnesota’s biggest storylines, key players, and what Wisconsin fans should expect when the Badgers and Gophers meet this season. FOLLOW OUR GUEST: @SkiUPod1 Follow The Bucky Report on X: @TheBuckyReport Rajeev: @RajeevBadgers Justin: @BuckyReportJJ TikTok & Instagram: @thebuckyreport

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Wisconsin football season is almost here, so it’s time to hand out our 2026 Preseason Awards! We’re making our picks for team MVP, breakout player, biggest X-factor, most important newcomer, defensive star, and plenty more as we predict which Badgers will define the season. We’ll also hit on the latest from fall camp and what we’ve learned about Luke Fickell’s team as Wisconsin gets ready for kickoff. Follow The Bucky Report: X: @TheBuckyReport Rajeev: @RajeevBadgers Justin: @BuckyReportJJ TikTok & Instagram: @thebuckyreport Keywords: Wisconsin Badgers, Wisconsin football, Badgers football, Luke Fickell, 2026 Wisconsin football, Wisconsin preseason awards, Wisconsin fall camp...

On this edition of Know Your Foe, we’re joined by Joel Kraushaar from the 12 Saturdays Podcast to break down the Iowa Hawkeyes heading into the 2026 season.

We dive into Iowa’s quarterback competition, what the offense could look like this fall, and why the Hawkeyes continue to be one of the most reliable teams in the Big Ten when it comes to winning in the trenches. Plus, what does Wisconsin need to do to avoid another rough afternoon against its longtime rival?

Wisconsin fall camp is heating up, and we’re taking stock of where things stand. Which Badgers have helped themselves the most over the last few weeks, and who may be trending in the wrong direction? We break down the biggest risers and fallers from camp, the position battles starting to take shape, and what these developments could mean as Wisconsin gets closer to Week 1. Follow The Bucky Report on X: @TheBuckyReport TikTok & Instagram: @thebuckyreport

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Wisconsin fall camp is underway, and we’re breaking down everything we’ve seen, heard and learned through the first week. We’ll be joined by insiders who have been at practice to discuss the early standouts, key position battles, players making a move, areas of strength and any concerns starting to emerge. Who’s generating buzz? Which position groups look deeper than expected? And what are we learning about Luke Fickell’s 2026 Badgers? Topics include: Wisconsin football fall camp, Luke Fickell, early camp standouts, position battles, depth chart developments and more. Follow The Bucky Report: X/Twitter: @TheBuckyReport Rajeev: @R...

Can Pat Fitzgerald turn Michigan State around? We preview Wisconsin’s matchup with the Spartans, breaking down MSU’s biggest storylines, key players and what the Badgers should expect. Special guest Jacob Cotsonika of the Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast joins us to provide the inside perspective.

Follow Jacob on X: @jacobcotsonika

Follow The Bucky Report on X: @TheBuckyReport Rajeev: @RajeevBadgers | Justin: @BuckyReportJJ TikTok & Instagram: @thebuckyreport

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Fall camp has officially arrived, and we're breaking down everything we learned from Big Ten Media Days before the Wisconsin Badgers hit the practice field. We discuss the biggest takeaways from Luke Fickell and the players who represented Wisconsin in Chicago, the position battles we'll be watching throughout camp, which players we're most excited to see, and the biggest storylines that could shape Wisconsin's 2026 season. With practice set to begin, what questions need answers? Who's ready for a breakout season? And what should Badger fans be paying the closest attention to over the next few weeks? We cover it...

How dangerous is UCLA in 2026? Zaid from Bruin Source joins us to break down the Bruins, the start of the Bob Chesney era, and what Luke Fickell’s Wisconsin Badgers will face at the Rose Bowl in October It’s the latest edition of Know Your Foe on The Bucky Report!

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Rajeev: @RajeevBadgers

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Rajeev catches up with Badger247’s Nick Osen for a quick conversation from Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. They break down the latest Wisconsin football storylines, key takeaways from Luke Fickell and what to watch as the Badgers prepare for the 2026 season.

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The Wisconsin Badgers’ 2026 season is almost here—and it’s time to set the lines. On this episode of The Bucky Report, Rajeev and Justin make their picks on 24 Wisconsin football over/unders, including: Will the Badgers win more than 6.5 games? Can Colton Joseph transform the offense? Will Wisconsin average more than 4.7 yards per carry? How many turnovers will the defense force? Can the Badgers get Paul Bunyan’s Axe and the Heartland Trophy back in the cabinet? How many receiving touchdowns will Wisconsin’s tight ends produce? We debate the offense, defense, key players, season expectations and several fun rapid...

It’s time to Know Your Foe as we take a deep dive into the USC Trojans ahead of their trip to Madison to face the Wisconsin Badgers in 2026.

Ryan Dyrud from the USC LAFB Podcast joins the show to break down everything Badger fans need to know about Lincoln Riley’s team. We discuss USC’s biggest offseason additions and departures, the state of the Trojans’ roster, expectations for the offense and defense, and whether this could finally be the season USC emerges as a legitimate Big Ten contender.

Plus, where does USC have the bigg...

Can Wisconsin’s offense finally take off in 2026?

In this full Wisconsin football offensive preview, Rajeev and Justin break down Jeff Grimes’ system, what the Badgers’ offensive identity should look like, and whether Colton Joseph can unlock the version of this offense Wisconsin fans have been waiting to see.

We project the depth chart at quarterback, offensive line, running back, wide receiver and tight end—identifying the biggest strength and concern at every position. Plus, we hand out offensive superlatives, predict the run-pass split, name potential breakout players and debate who may be ove...

The Bucky Report continues the Wisconsin Football 2026 Know Your Foe series with a deep dive into the Penn State Nittany Lions!

We’re joined by Andrew and Vince from the Nittany Blues Podcast to preview Penn State Football heading into the 2026 college football season. After a stunningly disappointing 2025 season and the end of the James Franklin era, Penn State enters a new chapter under head coach Matt Campbell with major roster turnover and plenty of questions surrounding one of the Big Ten’s biggest programs.

What went wrong for Penn State in 2025? Can Matt...

Can Wisconsin’s defense become the backbone of the Badgers in 2026?

Nick Osen from 247 Sports joins The Bucky Report for a complete Wisconsin Badgers football 2026 defensive preview.

We break down Mike Tressel’s defensive identity, the projected Wisconsin football depth chart, the biggest strengths and concerns at every level of the defense, and the players most likely to emerge as breakout stars. We also discuss the most important defenders on the roster, potential defensive MVP candidates and whether the Badgers have enough talent, depth and playmaking ability to compete in the Big Ten.

Wisconsin football opens the 2026 season with a massive matchup against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field, and we’re kicking off our Know Your Foe series by breaking down everything Badger fans need to know about the Fighting Irish.

Rajeev and Justin are joined by Tyler Wojciak from the Locked On Irish podcast to preview Notre Dame’s roster, key players, biggest strengths, and the questions still surrounding Marcus Freeman’s team. Tyler explains why this Notre Dame roster is absolutely loaded heading into 2026, but also dives into the issues the Irish have had in September in recent...

On today’s episode of The Bucky Report, Rajeev and Justin break down the biggest Wisconsin Badgers football pressure points heading into the season. With new athletic director Shawn Eichorst now in Madison, Luke Fickell entering a critical prove-it year, Jeff Grimes needing to establish an offensive identity, and Colton Joseph stepping in as QB1, there are plenty of major questions around the program.

We’ll discuss what could relieve the pressure, what could make it explode, and which areas matter most for Wisconsin to take a real step forward in 2026.

Then we shif...

This week on The Bucky Report, we react to Baboucarr Ann's commitment to Greg Gard and discuss why Wisconsin basketball recruiting is on one of its best runs in years. Then we shift to football for our annual 2026 Hot Takes Show, where we make bold predictions we'll be held accountable for all season—including why Luke Fickell could be the 2026 Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Some of these takes may sound crazy today... but by December, they might not.

Do you agree with our predictions? Drop your hottest Wisconsin Badgers take in th...

Wisconsin football has plenty of skeptics heading into 2026, but there are also some very real reasons for optimism.

In this episode of The Bucky Report, we break down the latest recruiting momentum surrounding Luke Fickell's program, including the recent commitment from Brody Pfannenstiel. We discuss where the 2027 class stands, who could be next to commit, and why recruiting feels different right now in Madison.

Then we dive into our main event: 5 Reasons to Believe. From coaching changes and roster improvements to recruiting wins and increased investment across the program, we examine why 2026 could...

Wisconsin football is entering a pivotal season under Luke Fickell, but there are still some massive questions surrounding the future of the program. On today's episode of The Bucky Report, we tackle 10 tough under-the-radar questions that could determine whether Wisconsin is truly turning the corner.

Can Luke Fickell finally establish an identity? Has he become the CEO-type head coach Wisconsin hired him to be? Has the coaching staff learned from past mistakes? Is the program mentally tough enough to handle adversity? And most importantly… is rock bottom officially in the rearview mirror for Wisconsin football?

Brendan Sorsby placed over 9,000 bets totaling nearly $90,000, including wagers involving his own team… and he’s still allowed to play college football. How did we get here?

On this episode of Rajeev’s Corner, I dive into one of the most shocking NCAA controversies in recent memory. The NCAA ruled Sorsby permanently ineligible after its gambling investigation, but a court injunction has allowed the Texas Tech quarterback to suit up in 2026.

This isn’t just about Brendan Sorsby. It’s about the future of college football, the integrity of the game, and whether any rules...

Wisconsin Recruiting Surge: Two Big Wins... More Commits Next?

Wisconsin recruiting is on a roll.

On today's show, we break down a massive weekend for the Badgers as Luke Fickell and Greg Gard both land major recruiting victories. We'll dive into what Wisconsin is getting from its newest football commitment, what the latest basketball addition means for the future of the program, and why the momentum may not be slowing down anytime soon.

With Official Visit Weekend finishing up in Madison, several top targets remain on campus and more decisions...

Official Visit Weekend 2 is here, and Wisconsin has another huge opportunity to build on the momentum that's been growing throughout the 2027 recruiting cycle.

On this episode of The Bucky Report, we're breaking down every major prospect expected in Madison this weekend, where the Badgers stand with each recruit, and which players could be the next dominoes to fall for Luke Fickell and his staff.

We'll take a closer look at:

🏈 Chuck Alexander

🏈 Steele Harris

🏈 Brody Pfannenstiel

🏈 James Roberson

🏈 Yahzeen Zion

🏈 Alijah Shaw

Official visit season is officially underway, and Wisconsin made a major statement with its first big recruiting weekend of the summer. On today's show, we're breaking down everything we learned from OV Weekend 1 including WHO COMMITTED, which recruits helped themselves the most, which visitors look closest to committing next, and what it all means for the future of the 2027 class. We'll also preview OV Weekend 2 and examine where Luke Fickell and his staff still need to add talent before signing day.

We'll discuss the weekend visits from Mekhi Williams, Royalton Allen, Darin Graham, Nathan Jones, Tavares...

Official visit season is officially HERE — and Wisconsin’s first massive OV weekend could shape the future of the 2027 class. On today’s show, we break down every major storyline surrounding Luke Fickell’s huge recruiting weekend in Madison. We are joined by good friend Nick Osen from 247 Sports!

We dive into the top uncommitted visitors expected on campus, including Mekhi Williams, Royalton Allen, Jai Jones, Tavares Powell, Darin Graham, and linebacker Nathan Jones — one of the most intriguing names on the board right now. We’ll also discuss why this weekend is so important for Wisconsin as...

Wisconsin’s 2027 defensive recruiting board is starting to come into focus — and the message is clear: SPEED. LENGTH. VERSATILITY

On today’s episode of The Bucky Report, we break down the Badgers’ top defensive targets in the 2027 class, including Nathan Jones, Mekhi Williams, Darin Graham, Darryl Flemister, Evan Via, Royalton Allen, Yahzeen Zion, and more. We dive into the loaded official visit weekends coming to Madison and discuss what Luke Fickell and Mike Tressel appear to be building defensively for the future of Wisconsin football.

We’ll analyze:

🏈 Official visit weekends

🏈 Film b...

Is a 24-team College Football Playoff really that crazy… or is it exactly what this sport needs?!

On this episode of Rajeev’s Corner, we dive deep into the growing debate around expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams and why the idea may actually make more sense than people want to admit.

We also discuss:

🏈 Why the current playoff format still leaves too many teams out

🏈 The biggest arguments AGAINST a 24-team playoff

🏈 Why parity and national interest could actually improve

Do you want a 24-tea...

Wisconsin football recruiting is heating up in a BIG way as Luke Fickell and the Badgers continue building momentum in the 2027 recruiting class. On today’s episode of The Bucky Report, we break down the FIVE newest Wisconsin commits and dive into what makes this class feel different from previous years.

We take a detailed look at new Badgers commits Jack Sorgi, DJ Davis, David Hill, Will Zaccagnino, and Keaton Wollan — including film breakdowns, recruiting rankings, and what each player could bring to Wisconsin football in the future.

We also watch film on 4 wide...

Wisconsin is searching for its next Athletic Director, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the future of Badger athletics. On today’s episode of Rajeev's Corner, we break down everything surrounding the Wisconsin AD search — from the role of the search committee, to the biggest challenges facing the program in the NIL and transfer portal era, to the type of leader the Badgers absolutely need to hire.

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On today’s episode of The Bucky Report, we dive into our biggest concerns surrounding Wisconsin football, basketball, and the future of the athletic department. From the ongoing athletic director search, to fears about another overhyped football offseason, to concerns about whether the Badgers are truly keeping pace in the modern era of college sports — nothing is off limits.

Is this just fan anxiety…or are there real warning signs that Wisconsin fans should be paying attention to?

Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers football and basketball coverage, recruiting talk, transfer portal analysis, and weekly...

On this episode of Rajeev’s Corner, we dive into one of the biggest problems facing the NBA today: flopping. Has the league become too dependent on foul baiting and officiating manipulation? Why are so many fans frustrated with the current product, and what can actually be done to fix it?

We also break down the growing conversation around NCAA Tournament expansion. Why expanding March Madness could actually be good for college basketball… but also why the current proposal has one massive flaw that could seriously hurt the sport if it isn’t fixed.

Plus...