Badgers host Michigan State for Homecoming
September 30, 2026 | Football
Wisconsin plays Michigan State at Camp Randall on Saturday
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin football team (3-1, 1-0 B1G) is set to play the Michigan State Spartans (2-2, 0-1 B1G) on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Camp Randall. Homecoming kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. CT and the game will air on Big Ten Network.
Last Saturday, Wisconsin upset No. 13 Penn State in its first conference game of the season. The Badgers’comeback from down 17-0 was powered by a second half rally that included an interception by DL Charles Perkins and two touchdown passes from QB Colton Joseph.
The Spartans are currently ranked 10th in the Big Ten but struggled in their first conference game of the season, losing at home to Nebraska, 31-13, on Sept. 26. Their two wins came in the first two weeks of the season, over Toledo and Eastern Michigan.
COMEBACK COMPLETE
The Badgers come into the weekend riding the high of their largest comeback win since 2006, after overcoming a 17-point deficit to beat Penn State in Happy Valley. It was their greatest road comeback since beating Ohio State in Columbus in 2001, 20-17. Saturday’s victory also marked Wisconsin’s first time beating Penn State in State College since 2003.
HOME SWEET HOME
Saturday’s game is the final culmination of a slate of festivities planned for Wisconsin’s 118th Homecoming week as past and present Badgers prepare to reunite at Camp Randall. Fans are being encouraged to wear their Wisconsin red for the theme Red Out.
HARRIS TO THE HOUSE
TE Jacob Harris had a standout game against Penn State, highlighted by five receptions and 105 total yards, including a 72-yard touchdown pass to give the Badgers their first lead late in the fourth quarter. In his first season as a Badger, the senior transfer from Bowling Green is already leaving his mark.
SERIES HISTORY
Wisconsin is 24-31-0 in the all-time series with Michigan State. The two squads last met in 2022 when the Spartans earned a 34-28 victory in overtime. When playing in Madison, the all-time record is 14-14 between the two teams. The last contest at Camp Randall occurred in 2019 when Wisconsin earned a dominant, 38-0, win over MSU.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - LB COOPER CATALANO
For Wisconsin native Cooper Catalano, playing for the Badgers has been a lifelong dream. The Germantown native grew up attending games at Camp Randall and watching the players he hoped to one day join on the field.
“Oh yeah, this has always been a dream of mine,” said Catalano. “I came to a lot of games when I was little, and I always dreamed of playing on this field and idolized a lot of the guys I saw playing here.”
Catalano’s connection to Wisconsin began well before he arrived in Madison. He played football in Germantown from a young age and credits the coaches he worked with throughout his youth and high school career for helping prepare him for the next level.
“I think my coaches in high school did a great job setting me up for my future,” Catalano said. “I think along the way, even in youth programs in Germantown, I had great coaches coming up in elementary school, middle school, and then high school.”
Now, Catalano is part of a Wisconsin defense that is coming off a strong performance against Penn State, holding an offense that was averaging more than 40 points per game to 13 points on Saturday. For Catalano, representing Wisconsin means carrying on the tradition of the program he grew up watching.
“Obviously, I’m in-state with a lot of pride for the W, and a lot of pride for the people who have played here and who have made this place so special and so great,” Catalano said. “I think just trying to build it back to what it is, and I think we’re on the way to doing that.”
