Former Wisconsin tight end alludes to Badgers before Rose Bowl Game

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Former Wisconsin and current Indiana tight end Riley Nowakowski spoke to the media on Tuesday ahead of the Hoosiers’ College Football Playoff contest on Jan. 1.

Nowakowski, who played at Wisconsin from 2020-24 before transferring to Indiana, was asked whether the Hoosiers saw something in him that previous coaching staffs did not.

"Yeah, definitely," Nowakowski said. "They definitely saw a lot more in me than a lot of other staffs. Personally, I feel like maybe the staff at my old school didn't see a whole ton in me…[Indiana] told me I was going to be involved in the pass game. That was a big thing for me coming out of Wisconsin."

Through 13 games with IU, Nowakowski has accumulated 25 receptions for 316 receiving yards and two touchdowns, all career-high marks for the former Badger. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native arrived in Bloomington after entering the transfer portal on Dec. 10, 2024. He officially transferred to Indiana on Dec. 18, and he suited up as the Hoosiers' No. 1 tight end throughout the 2025 slate.

His most impressive receiving output arrived against the Badgers on Nov. 15. In Indiana's 31-7 victory, he reeled in four receptions for 65 yards and one score.

In five years at Wisconsin, Nowakowski logged 18 catches for 131 yards and one receiving score across 39 games. His most prolific season arrived in 2024, as he finished with 11 receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown in 12 games as a captain.

Nowakowski and Indiana will now take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl Game with an opportunity to advance to the College Football Semifinals.

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football Riley Nowakowski comments on Indiana transfer

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