Badgers cancel 2027 non conference game, find replacement team

Badgers cancel 2027 non conference game, find replacement team

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Badgers cancel 2027 non conference game, find replacement team
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 6: Wisconsin Head Coach Luke Fickell smiles before the Shamrock Series game between Notre Dame v Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on September 6, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images

In recent years, with conferences increasing the number of conference games and the expansion of the College Football Playoff, there has been a lot of changes with how non-conference games are scheduled. We’ve seen teams cancel longstanding games, while other future changes have been made.

The Wisconsin Badgers have scheduled games out to 2033, booking at least one Power 4 opponent in every non-conference slate through then. After facing Notre Dame this season, Wisconsin will face Pitt in Ireland in 2027, Utah at home in 2028, Cal on the road in 2029, Cal at home in 2030, Virginia Tech in Charlotte in 2031, Virginia Tech at home in 2032, and Utah on the road in 2033.

In addition to Pitt next season, the Badgers were scheduled to host Colorado State as their third non-conference game, adding a PAC-12 opponent to their schedule as well. However, that game is no longer scheduled, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Colorado State and Wisconsin have mutually agreed to cancel their game next season, with Colorado State initiating the conversation, per Thamel. The Rams want to play one more home game next year, which was their reasoning behind the move.

Wisconsin is now expected to replace Colorado State with UMass as another home game. Unfortunately, the Minutemen don’t have the brand of the Rams, but we’ve seen them do damage to a Big Ten team already this season.

UMass upset Rutgers 37-21 in a buy game on the road in Week 0, and that was despite the Scarlet Knights entering the game as a massive 29.5-point favorite. UMass beat Sacred Heart in Week 2, and has started the season 2-0.

The Badgers have regularly scheduled games against MAC opponents over the past few years. This season, they’re facing Eastern Michigan in Week 3. Wisconsin faced Miami (OH) in 2025, Western Michigan in 2024, Buffalo in 2023, Illinois State in 2022, Eastern Michigan in 2021, and Central Michigan in 2019.

They’ll do so again in 2027 with UMass. Now, their first three weeks will consist of Pitt, Southern Illinois, and UMass, with the latter two coming at home.

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