Wisconsin Badgers
Western Illinois
Badgers set for home opener against Western Illinois
September 10, 2026 | Football
Wisconsin hosts Western Illinois at Camp Randall on Saturday night
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Football opens the 2026 home slate on Saturday, Sept. 12, welcoming Western Illinois back to Camp Randall for the first time since 2014. The game kicks off at 6:15 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
On Sunday, the Badgers fell to No. 4 Notre Dame at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, 41-13. Thanks to a strong defensive effort, Wisconsin trailed just 13-10 at the half, but Notre Dame’s second half showing, including 14 points in the first seven minutes of the third quarter, allowed them to pull ahead. Wisconsin looks to bounce back on Saturday at home, opening a two-game before kicking off Big Ten play at Penn State on Sept. 26.
The surrounding area of Camp Randall Stadium will have a new look on Saturday. With phase one of construction complete on the Kellner Family Athletic Center, Saturday’s game will be the first with UW utilizing the new space adjacent to the stadium. After the official ribbon cutting at the facility on Friday, Sept. 11, pregame festivities on Saturday will be hosted for season ticket holders on the Camp Randall Veterans Memorial Plaza, outside the Kellner Family Athletic Center.
BACK AT CAMP RANDALL
Fans are encouraged to help stripe out Camp Randall on Saturday evening. Click here for more info
Wisconsin has won 101 games at Camp Randall over the last 20 seasons (since 2007). Only 10 FBS programs have more home wins over that span. The Badgers are 87-13 over that stretch against unranked opponents at Camp Randall.
PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
After emerging as a true freshman last fall, LB Mason Posa posted 15 tackles in the season opener, a career high. Posa's 15 tackles are the most for a Big Ten player in a game this season.
COLEMAN COMES IN HOT
A varied cast of receivers coming into the season made it uncertain who would emerge as QB Colton Joseph’s top target. But on Sunday, senior Minnesota transfer WR Malachi Coleman made a pretty convincing argument for himself. He connected with Joseph for a total of 76 yards on four catches, including a 28-yard touchdown pass.
SERIES HISTORY
Wisconsin plays Western Illinois for the first time since 2014, when the Badgers earned a 37-3 victory over the Leathernecks at Camp Randall Stadium. The teams have met just three times, with Wisconsin winning each contest by a combined score of 102-26.
The 2026 home opener marks the 110th season of Wisconsin football at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin has won 28 consecutive home openers against non-conference opponents, dating back to 1995.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - WR MALACHI COLEMAN
Despite the result against Notre Dame, senior wide receiver Malachi Coleman saw encouraging signs from Wisconsin’s offense in the season opener. Coleman pointed to the unit’s ability to create explosive plays as one of the bright spots from Sunday’s game.
“This offense has a lot of explosive ability,” said Coleman.
As the Badgers move forward, Coleman said the offense will continue to build on those positives while working to finish more drives and capitalize in the red zone.
“We are going to continue to build on top of it, we are going to start finishing drives, scoring more touchdowns in the red zone and we are going to have a fun year.”
