Three Takeaways from Wisconsin Basketball’s 2026-27 Opponent Reveal

Wisconsin basketball is still in the process of building its schedule for 2026-27, but after a flurry of announcements, it’s rapidly coming together.

Tuesday, the Badgers announced an out-of-conference tilt with Auburn in Nashville on Dec. 19, and now, the Big Ten has officially dropped the home, away and doubled-up opponents for each program in 2026-27.

The full schedule has yet to be announced, but with Wisconsin’s opponents and locations finally confirmed, there’s plenty to glean from the Badgers’ 2026-27 slate already. Here’s three takeaways from Wisconsin’s opponent reveal:

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1. Badgers Draw Tough Home/Away Slate

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Last season, the three teams Wisconsin had to play twice were Minnesota (which will remain the case every year), Ohio State and Purdue. The Badgers bested the Gophers both times, but split the season series with the Buckeyes and Boilermakers.

Purdue is a tough team to draw twice any season, and Ohio State obviously gave Wisconsin some problems in that February meeting when the Badgers lost by 17 in Columbus. But in 2026-27, the teams Wisconsin has to face twice gets considerably more challenging.

The Badgers draw Illinois and Iowa in addition to Minnesota for Big Ten teams they’ll face twice. Illinois is likely going to be a preseason top-five team after a run to the Final Four and a tremendous offseason, while new head coach Ben McCollum just took Iowa to the Elite Eight his first year in Iowa City. Those are both tough teams to have to face at all, let alone twice in the regular season.

2. Wisconsin avoids intimidating road venues

Michigan fans at the Crisler Center. | Ryan Garza / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Wisconsin will have to play in the State Farm Center in Champaign, and that’s certainly a raucous environment. Still, the Badgers snapped their losing streak in that building last season, and otherwise, their road slate looks largely manageable.

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Publish date : 2026-05-12 18:30:00

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