Wisconsin Football: Fixing 4 Key Areas for 2026

Wisconsin's football program is targeting significant improvements across four key areas as it heads into the 2026 season. Defensive coordinator Mike Tressel has set an ambitious goal for the defense to force two turnovers per game, a substantial increase from the six forced in the 2025 season, which tied for last nationally.

Tressel also emphasized the importance of dominance in third-and-long defensive situations, aiming to stop opponents on 75% of such downs. This focus comes after the defense allowed opponents to convert 38.3% of third-down attempts in 2025, ranking 59th nationally.

On the offensive side, coordinator Jeff Grimes is prioritizing ball security. The Badgers lost the third-most turnovers in the Big Ten in 2025, with interceptions being a particular issue. Grimes stressed that fumbles are unacceptable due to their carelessness.

Grimes also wants to re-establish a strong rushing attack, a hallmark of Wisconsin football tradition. The team's success in 2025 was strongly linked to outrushing opponents, and former players have reinforced the need to regain physicality at the line of scrimmage.