Ranking Wisconsin Football's Most Important Games in 2026 (#1. Minnesota; "this is the most important game on the schedule.")

[BleedGopher]

Per Borman:

1. Minnesota​

To me, this is the most important game on the schedule. Not because Minnesota is a powerhouse program or that it will make the Badgers a national contender, but before you can get there, you need to win your rivalry games.

This is the longest tenured rivalry in all of college football. That means something.

As of late, the Gophers have gotten the better of the Badgers and Fickell needs to change that. Wisconsin could go 10-2 or 9-3 this season and if one of those losses is to Minnesota (yet again), then this season will still feel incomplete.

Before we can talk about contending for College Football Playoff spots or even the Big Ten Conference, the Badgers need to take back control of the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe.

Ranking the Badgers' Most Important Games in 2026

We are inching closer and closer to the start of the 2026 Wisconsin football season. With it, comes a clean slate and what Badgers fans hope will be the start o

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Go Gophers!!

 

[gopherbadgerman]

Probably for both teams.

 

[upnorthkid]

Does Fickell still have a job come the mn game?

 

[PMWinSTP]

Does Fickell still have a job come the mn game?

Bucky has a very manageable schedule so if he's gone, the wheels came off.

 

[upnorthkid]

Bucky has a very manageable schedule so if he's gone, the wheels came off.

Yeah the schedule is about as easy as you could dream for in the B10 slate.

Has to be a bowl this year which the schedule sets up for. ND is probably the only locked in loss, though usc, Iowa, and PSU are all tough ones.

Season probably hinges on the QB staying healthy and not throwing a billion picks against competent defenses. I’m not optimistic with how much he runs that he’ll stay healthy in the B10

 

[TurfGopher]

I'm assuming Fickle will fail. Yes, he's had terrible luck with QB's, but the O-line looked pretty bad, the running game sucked. I don't get the vibe he's a very motivating coach. Seems like a low energy, clammy handshake guy.

 

[Some guy]

Probably for both teams.

I think for the gophers winning the home game of the Iowa or Wisconsin is always more important

 

[Some guy]

Yeah the schedule is about as easy as you could dream for in the B10 slate.

Has to be a bowl this year which the schedule sets up for. ND is probably the only locked in loss, though usc, Iowa, and PSU are all tough ones.

Season probably hinges on the QB staying healthy and not throwing a billion picks against competent defenses. I’m not optimistic with how much he runs that he’ll stay healthy in the B10

As “easy” as their schedule is drop a game vs Michigan state and they’re 2-3 headed into bye week.

All their easiest games in conference on the road. It’s pretty much the opposite of Minnesotas schedule last year.
High ceiling low floor schedule.

 

[GophEnEspaña]

I hate them but I do feel bad for Wisconsin in a way because their implosion has been completely unnecessary and self-imposed. It's not like "we tried" it's like "let's destroy the one identity that build this program over decades and sent multiple stars to the NFL"

 

[The Deliberate Stranger]

They will lose both rivalry games

 

[Some guy]

I hate them but I do feel bad for Wisconsin in a way because their implosion has been completely unnecessary and self-imposed. It's not like "we tried" it's like "let's destroy the one identity that build this program over decades and sent multiple stars to the NFL"

They went full Nebraska