It's the return of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge talking all things Badgers football on ESPN Madison! Jim sits down with former Badgers and fellow ESPN Wisconsin hosts to discuss the biggest topics and questions surrounding Badgers football each week.
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Extra: Wisconsin Football Just Changed the Narrative… Now What?
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 • Duration 22:10
Wisconsin football just pulled off one of the biggest wins of the Luke Fickell era. But was the 24-20 comeback over Penn State a turning point — or just a great Saturday?
Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch react to Wisconsin's incredible comeback against Penn State and break down what the win means for the Badgers moving forward.
Wisconsin trailed by 10 with just over eight minutes remaining before scoring 14 points in the final 3:30 to steal the victory. Colton Joseph struggled for much of the afternoon before catching fire late, while the defense continued to give Wisconsin a chance and the Badgers found a way to win a game that appeared to be over.
But now comes the bigger question: Was Penn State a moment, or is this actually a change in Wisconsin football?
Jim and Riley debate what the Badgers need to prove against Michigan State, why the standard has changed after beating Penn State, and whether Wisconsin can finally learn how to handle success after years of struggling to find it.
In this segment:
🦡 Wisconsin's stunning comeback over Penn State
🔥 Colton Joseph's wild fourth-quarter performance
💪 Darian Dupree's breakout performance
🛡️ Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano continuing to lead the defense
🏈 Why Wisconsin's offensive line deserves major credit
🤔 Was Penn State a moment or a marker of change?
📈 Why the Badgers' standard has changed
🎢 The highs and lows of the Colton Joseph experience
🏃 Why Wisconsin's running game could still determine the team's ceiling
🔥 Can the Badgers handle success against Michigan State?
The Penn State win proved Wisconsin can beat a high-quality opponent. Now the Badgers have to prove they can do it week after week.
Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers football reactions, analysis, interviews and debate from The Jump Around.
Ep. 105: Wisconsin vs. Penn State - MUST-WIN for the Badgers? + Matt Bernstein Joins!
Thursday, September 24, 2026 • Duration 01:01:30
Wisconsin football finally enters Big Ten play. Can the Badgers pass their biggest test yet at Penn State?
The non-conference schedule is over, and Wisconsin heads to Happy Valley for its first Big Ten game of the 2026 season. On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch debate how important this game really is and whether the result could change the way we view the Badgers for the rest of the season.
On this episode:
🏈 Wisconsin vs. Penn State
How important is Wisconsin's first Big Ten game?
Is this a must-win for the Badgers?
Will the result determine how Wisconsin is viewed for the rest of the season?
How does Wisconsin compare with Penn State in the NIL era?
🔥 Can Wisconsin's Offense Keep Up?
Wisconsin's surprising wide receiver production
Malachi Coleman and Tyrell Henry emerging as big performers
Can the Badgers' passing game survive against Penn State?
Will Wisconsin finally get its running game going?
Is the lack of rushing holding the offense back?
🏆 Week 4 Superlatives
Who is most likely to break a record?
Who will get the first pick-six?
Who is most likely to gain 100 total yards?
🎙️ Matt Bernstein Returns
Former Wisconsin fullback Matt Bernstein joins The Jump Around to look back at his incredible 2004 performance against Penn State, when he rushed for 123 yards on 27 carries in Wisconsin's 16-3 victory.
📺 Plus:
The debut of The Jump Around Extra: Roommates Edition with Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano
Twitter Portal featuring the latest Wisconsin and college athletics conversations
Subscribe for Wisconsin Badgers football, Penn State coverage, Big Ten football, game previews, interviews, recruiting, and more from The Jump Around on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.
Inside Wisconsin Football With Mason Posa & Cooper Catalano | The Jump Around: Roommate Edition Ep. 1
Thursday, September 24, 2026 • Duration 44:24
Wisconsin Badgers linebackers Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano join Riley Jauch for the debut episode of The Jump Around: Roommates Edition, going inside Badgers football, their life as roommates and everything that happens away from Camp Randall.
Fresh off Wisconsin’s 54-10 win over Eastern Michigan, Posa breaks down his first career interception while Catalano takes us inside his 10-yard scoop-and-score touchdown. The roommates explain how they've grown as linebackers, what they’ve learned from the Wisconsin coaching staff and how they're preparing for Big Ten play at Penn State.
But Roommates Edition goes well beyond football. Mason and Cooper reveal their apartment arguments, golf obsession, Wii golf “Masters,” prank wars, locker-room trash talk, who’s easiest to mess with on the Badgers and why Mason thinks he could beat Luke Fickell in a wrestling match. Plus, they debate Jordan Love vs. Bo Nix and share what life inside the Wisconsin football locker room is actually like.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Welcome to Roommates Edition
0:28 Posa’s INT vs. Catalano’s scoop-and-score
5:14 How Posa & Catalano have grown as linebackers
11:14 Could Mason Posa beat Luke Fickell in wrestling?
14:57 Badgers golf stories & roommate competitions
21:05 What Posa & Catalano are REALLY like as roommates
37:05 Wisconsin’s defense & preparing for Penn State
Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers coverage and exclusive conversations with the players, and listen anytime on the ESPN Wisconsin App.
#WisconsinBadgers #BadgersFootball #WisconsinFootball #MasonPosa #CooperCatalano #TheJumpAround #BigTenFootball #OnWisconsin
Extra: Wisconsin Finally Showed What It Can Be. Now Comes Penn State
Monday, September 21, 2026 • Duration 14:45
Was this the Wisconsin football team we've been waiting to see?
Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch react to the Badgers' 54-10 win over Eastern Michigan, a game that finally gave Wisconsin fans a glimpse of what this team can be.
After a shaky opening quarter, Wisconsin exploded offensively and dominated the rest of the game. Colton Joseph bounced back from an early interception to throw for a huge afternoon, while Tyrell Henry set a Wisconsin single-game record with 14 receptions for 160 yards.
The defense also turned the game around with a flurry of takeaways, including interceptions from Mason Posa and Matt Jung and a fumble recovery touchdown from Cooper Catalano. For the first time this season, Jim and Riley saw the version of the Badgers they've been talking about all offseason.
But does a 54-10 win over Eastern Michigan prove Wisconsin is ready for No. 13 Penn State? Not necessarily. The guys discuss what the victory actually tells us about the Badgers — and why the next game will be the real test.
In this Jump Around Extra:
🦡 What Wisconsin finally showed against Eastern Michigan
💥 Colton Joseph's massive bounce-back performance
🔥 Tyrell Henry's record-setting game
🛡️ Mason Posa, Cooper Catalano and the Badgers' opportunistic defense
🏈 Why the response after a terrible first quarter may matter more than the final score
⚠️ The one major concern: Wisconsin's running game
📈 Why the Badgers now have a “proof of concept”
🏟️ What the Eastern Michigan win means heading into Penn State
The Eastern Michigan game didn't prove that Wisconsin is a good team. But it did prove the Badgers can be a good team.
Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers football reactions, analysis and interviews from The Jump Around.
Ep. 104: Wisconsin Spends $30M on Football… So What Are the Expectations? + Collin Wilder Joins!
Thursday, September 17, 2026 • Duration 51:37
Wisconsin football is reportedly spending around $27–31 million on its roster. So what should Badgers fans expect in return?
On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch break down Wisconsin's place among the Power 4 in roster spending and ask what that investment should mean for the Badgers' 2026 season.
We also welcome former Wisconsin safety Collin Wilder back to the show to discuss the Badgers' start to the season, what gives him hope that this team can be better than outside expectations suggest, and what he's looking for from Wisconsin ahead of the Eastern Michigan game.
On this episode:
🏈 Collin Wilder Returns
His thoughts on Wisconsin's start to the 2026 season
Why he believes the Badgers could be better than many expect
What gives him hope about this Wisconsin team
What he wants to see from Wisconsin against Eastern Michigan
💰 Wisconsin's $30M Roster
The Athletic's college football roster-spending data
Wisconsin's estimated $27–31 million roster
Which Big Ten teams spend the same or less than Wisconsin
UCLA, Maryland, Michigan State, Rutgers, Minnesota, Iowa and Purdue
Are these games Wisconsin NEEDS to win?
What would the results in those games tell us about the Badgers?
🔥 Week 3 Superlatives
Which Wisconsin player will make a SportsCenter Top 10 play?
Which defensive player will have a "3-sack Jack" moment?
Which receiver will post a "Randy Moss" stat line?
Subscribe to The Jump Around for Wisconsin Badgers football, Wisconsin basketball, recruiting, Big Ten coverage, college football analysis, interviews and more from ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.
Extra: The BIGGEST Problem With Luke Fickell at Wisconsin
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 • Duration 26:25
Wisconsin football is 1-1, but The Jump Around crew has some serious questions after the Badgers' uneven performance against Western Illinois.
The defense and special teams deserve plenty of credit, but the biggest concerns are on offense — particularly Colton Joseph, the running game and Wisconsin's ability to find consistency. Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch discuss Joseph's accuracy, his ability to stay healthy while using his legs and why his performance could ultimately define Wisconsin's ceiling this season.
But the bigger conversation is about Luke Fickell and Wisconsin's identity.
Fickell described the Badgers as “arrogant and delusional” when explaining why the team struggled to maintain its early momentum against Western Illinois. The Jump Around crew breaks down what Fickell meant — and whether his mentality and coaching philosophy are actually the right fit for Wisconsin.
They also debate what Wisconsin's identity has historically been, whether the Badgers need more of an underdog mentality and whether Fickell's approach can work in Madison.
Plus, a closer look at Abu Sama, the Wisconsin running back room, the defense, special teams and what the Badgers need to show against Eastern Michigan.
Ep. 103: Montee Ball on Wisconsin Football + Aaron Stecker Previews Western Illinois
Thursday, September 10, 2026 • Duration 54:07
Montee Ball joins The Jump Around to discuss Wisconsin football following the Badgers’ loss to Notre Dame, his thoughts on the 2026 team, areas that need improvement, and which Wisconsin running back he’s most excited to watch.
We’ll also welcome former Wisconsin and Western Illinois running back Aaron Stecker ahead of Saturday’s matchup. Stecker shares his experience playing for both programs and discusses the upcoming game.
Plus, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch reacts to Barry Alvarez’s comments on the Notre Dame loss, play a Wisconsin football superlatives game ahead of Western Illinois, and bring you the latest Wisconsin sports conversation from the Twitter Portal.
In this episode:
🏈 Montee Ball reacts to Wisconsin’s loss to Notre Dame
🏈 What Ball likes about the 2026 Wisconsin Badgers
🏈 Which Wisconsin running back could break out
🏈 Aaron Stecker previews Wisconsin vs. Western Illinois
🏈 Stecker’s experience playing for Wisconsin and Western Illinois
🏈 Reaction to Barry Alvarez’s comments
🏈 Superlatives vs. Western Illinois
Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers football, Wisconsin athletics, recruiting, Big Ten coverage, game previews, reactions, and interviews.
Extra: Can Wisconsin Football Win Back Its Fans?
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 • Duration 30:11
Can Wisconsin football win back its fans?
Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch discuss the Badgers' response to the Notre Dame loss, the pressure on Luke Fickell, and whether Wisconsin can still turn the 2026 season into something fans can believe in.
The guys debate whether the Badgers have shown enough to earn back fan confidence, why the next few weeks matter, and what a strong stretch of football could mean heading into the Penn State game.
In this segment:
🦡 Can Wisconsin football win back its fans?
🏈 Why Riley is still choosing to believe in the Badgers
🤔 Why Jim is skeptical about Wisconsin's ability to climb out of its hole
📈 How a strong stretch of games could change the narrative
💪 Why the Badgers need to respond after Notre Dame
🏟️ What fan attendance and ticket prices might say about confidence in the program
🔥 Whether Wisconsin can build momentum heading into Penn State
🏆 Why the best thing for Wisconsin is still for Luke Fickell to turn the program around
Is Wisconsin football still capable of turning this season around? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers football coverage, analysis, interviews, and debate from The Jump Around.
Ep. 102: Can Wisconsin Pull Off ANOTHER Lambeau Upset vs. Notre Dame? + Matt Lepay & Mike Golic Jr.
Thursday, September 3, 2026 • Duration 01:10:49
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame at Lambeau Field is finally here. Can the Badgers pull off another historic upset?
On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge, Riley Jauch, & Matt Lepay get you ready for Sunday's Wisconsin–Notre Dame season opener with matchup analysis, game superlatives, a flashback to Wisconsin's unforgettable 2016 upset, and insight from former Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr.
We'll debate:
🏈 Notre Dame Superlatives
Who will be the first Badger to perform the Lambeau Leap?
Who is the most important Wisconsin player?
Who could be the unsung hero?
Where is Wisconsin's biggest matchup advantage?
What would qualify as a statement moment?
🏈 2016 Flashback
Looking back at Wisconsin's upset of No. 5 LSU at Lambeau Field
What made that Badgers team so successful?
Can Wisconsin replicate the formula from that 2016 upset?
🏈 Chalk Talk with Lepay
How can Wisconsin keep Notre Dame competitive?
What needs to happen offensively and defensively?
Which players and moments could decide the game?
What's the one thing Wisconsin needs to prove in Week 1?
🏈 Notre Dame Perspective
Marcus Freeman's connection to Luke Fickell from their time at Cincinnati
What Freeman learned from Fickell and has brought to Notre Dame
Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr. joins The Jump Around to preview the matchup and give his perspective on the Fighting Irish
Subscribe to The Jump Around for Wisconsin Badgers football, Notre Dame coverage, Big Ten football, college football analysis, interviews and more from ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.
Ep. 101: Wisconsin's 2026 Schedule: Notre Dame & the Games That Could DEFINE the Season
Thursday, August 27, 2026 • Duration 53:21
Which game could make or break Wisconsin's 2026 football season?
On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch break down the Wisconsin Badgers' 2026 schedule and hand out our biggest game-day superlatives. From the best win and worst loss to the biggest trap game and potential season killer, which matchup will ultimately define Wisconsin's season?
We also discuss:
• Wisconsin's 2026 schedule from top to bottom
• The best win on the Badgers' schedule
• The worst potential loss
• Wisconsin's biggest statement game
• The toughest game of the season
• The biggest trap game
• The must-win matchup
• The most exciting and most underrated games
• The potential season killer
• Which game could become the season-defining matchup
Plus, we dive into the changing economics of college football and what it takes to build a contender:
• Why professional athletes are attempting to return to college football
• Whether college football can now offer more money than an NFL practice squad
• Reports that some college football programs are spending nearly $50 million on their rosters
• Quarterbacks earning $3.5 million or more at numerous Power 4 programs
• Wisconsin reportedly committing around $25-30 million to its roster
• Does Wisconsin's investment make you more confident the Badgers can compete?
And Jim Polzin of BadgerExtra and the Wisconsin State Journal joins The Jump Around to share his biggest observations from Wisconsin fall camp, the position battles to watch, and what he's learned about the 2026 Badgers.
Subscribe for Wisconsin Badgers football, recruiting, Big Ten analysis, NIL and roster spending discussion, fall camp coverage, and more from The Jump Around on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.
