Patients with UnitedHealthcare insurance once again have in-network coverage at Ascension Wisconsin hospitals and doctors’ offices.
United and Ascension Wisconsin announced Tuesday that they reached a new multi-year agreement to give United members access to Ascension’s hospitals and providers in Wisconsin.
According to United, the deal is effective immediately and retroactive to Oct. 1, the day the insurer’s members lost coverage when the two sides failed to reach an agreement in a dispute over reimbursement rates.
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According to an Ascension Wisconsin spokesperson, services that patients received from Oct. 1 to Oct. 13 will be covered at in-network rates and patients should not be billed for out-of-network costs.
In a statement, Dustin Hinton, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Wisconsin, said the agreement restores access for people enrolled in United’s commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans.
“Our top priority throughout the negotiation was to reach an agreement that was affordable for consumers and employers, and this agreement helps accomplish that goal,” he said.
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UnitedHealthcare said it is mailing letters out to members to let them know that Ascension Wisconsin is back in-network.
Daniel Jackson, CEO of Ascension Wisconsin, described the agreement as “more than just a contract” in a statement issued Tuesday.
“It is a reaffirmation of our Mission to serve all with dignity and compassion,” Jackson stated. “By securing fair and sustainable reimbursement, we are able to continue supporting our caregivers, strengthening our ministries, and providing high-quality, compassionate care across the communities we serve.”
In its announcement, the health system also said that it was grateful to patients, providers and partners for their patience throughout the negotiation process.
Ascension Wisconsin said it is not providing interviews with health system officials at this time.
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Before reaching a deal Ascension and United had been locked in a months-long contract dispute. Ascension argued United was not offering reimbursement rates that covered rising health care costs, while United argued Ascension was asking for large price hikes that would raise costs for customers and employers.
Other negotiations between Ascension affiliates and UnitedHealthcare had gotten close to the deadline before the dispute in Wisconsin. Ascension Florida had to reach a short-term agreement with United to stay in the network during negotiations earlier this year before both sides came to a multi-year agreement.
Dan Sacks, an associate professor of risk and insurance at the University of Wisconsin School of Business, said contract disputes are a normal part of the negotiation process between health care providers and health insurers.
He said their contracts dictate what insurers pay hospitals and influence how much patients pay. But he also said it’s rare for talks to break down like they did in this case.
“It’s costly for Ascension if patients end up canceling scheduled visits. It’s very costly for patients if their care is disrupted,” Sacks said. “It ends up being costly for United if some people decide that they would rather go to a different insurer.”
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Sacks said both sides reaching a deal is “absolutely good news” for United members and Ascension patients, but it’s not such good news for those who began looking for alternative providers or canceled visits.
“For the patients who arguably did the prudent thing and rescheduled visits or canceled visits and looked for an alternative provider, they really have no recourse,” he said. “They lost a chance to get health care that they thought they were entitled to when they signed up for insurance, and now that care is delayed or it may never happen.”
Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Oct. 13, 2025, results for each game:
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Winning Pick 3 numbers from Oct. 13 drawing
Midday: 6-4-4
Evening: 1-9-2
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Oct. 13 drawing
Midday: 5-7-9-6
Evening: 9-7-5-3
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Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from Oct. 13 drawing
Midday: 01-02-04-05-06-08-13-14-18-19-21
Evening: 01-02-04-05-06-07-08-11-15-16-19
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from Oct. 13 drawing
03-07-12-19-29
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Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from Oct. 13 drawing
02-05-07-11-17-20, Doubler: N
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.
Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?
No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.
When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?
Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **
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WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0) square off against a fellow Big Ten opponent when they visit the Wisconsin Badgers (2-4) on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Camp Randall Stadium.
How to watch Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin odds
Odds provided by BetMGM.
Stats to know
Ohio State has scored 36.8 points per game this season, 14.1 more than Wisconsin has given up.
Wisconsin’s defense has allowed an average of 317 yards per game so far this season, 104.5 yards fewer than the 421.5-yard average from Ohio State’s offense.
Wisconsin scores 15.5 points per game, 8.7 more than Ohio State surrenders (6.8).
Wisconsin averages 63.5 more yards per game (292.5) than Ohio State gives up (229).
This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
Photo: Jonathan Bachman, Tim Warner, Kevin C. Cox, Eakin Howard / Getty Images
There’s no mystery or suspenseful reveal as to which college football team tops this list after Week 7, so let’s just get right into it.
These are the fan bases in the worst shape on Sunday morning after Week 7 of the college football season.
Penn State has gone from a preseason No. 2 ranking to 3-3 and entirely out of the Big Ten race halfway through the season after three straight losses to Oregon and improbably UCLA and Northwestern. The road loss at previously-winless UCLA seemed like it would surely be rock bottom for the Nittany Lions, but then they went and lost 22-21 at home to the middling Wildcats as coach James Franklin stared off into the abyss that has become his team’s season.
“We shouldn’t lose that game,” Franklin said afterward. “It’s 100% on me, and we have to get it fixed, and I will get it fixed.”
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Actually, he won’t. Franklin was fired Sunday morning, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported.
This season started with national championship aspirations, and now it’s not even clear if the Nittany Lions will reach a bowl game, especially with quarterback Drew Allar sustaining a season-ending injury. More to the point, they’re looking at a total reset for the program.
It doesn’t get any more disappointing than that.
Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell after losing the game to the Pittsburgh Panthers at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images / Melina Myers-Imagn Images
There also should be no surprise as to No. 2 on this list.
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Florida State didn’t have the same outside expectations this season as Penn State, but after beating Alabama in the season-opener hopes we’re certainly heightened for the Seminoles.
Instead, they too have now lost three straight, including a crushing 34-31 home loss Saturday to Pittsburgh.
Patience is running very thin for sixth-year coach Mike Norvell, after a 2-10 finish last year and now this.
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell on the sideline in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The general reaction was that Wisconsin made a good hire a few years ago when it landed Luke Fickell as head coach after his successful run at Cincinnati.
Now? It seems only a matter of time before Fickell is fired.
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After going 7-6 and 5-7 in his first two seasons, the Badgers are now 2-4 and have lost all four games against Power Four opponents by at least two touchdowns. However, the worst was Saturday with a 37-0 loss at home to Iowa.
“That’s as low as it can be,” Fickell said afterward. “And I apologize. I apologize to our guys to not be ready, to not have them ready. I’m dumbfounded in a lot of ways.”
So too are the fans as “Fire Fickell” chants broke out in the stadium Saturday. That sure seems inevitable at this point, and for Wisconsin fans it can’t come soon enough
Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images / John Reed-Imagn Images
No matter what happens the rest of this season, Auburn and its fans are going to lament the major what-if from its 20-10 loss at home to No. 10 Georgia on Saturday.
The Tigers were up 10-0 and thought they were about to make it 17-0 late in the second quarter when quarterback Jackson Arnold took the ball on third-and-goal from the 1 and attempted to dive over the pile into the end zone.
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But the ball was poked out and ruled a fumble. A lengthy video review — in which it certainly could have gone either way — upheld the ruling, leaving Auburn coach Hugh Freeze apoplectic on the sideline.
The Tigers never scored again as Georgia reeled off 20 unanswered points to seize the game.
Auburn is now 3-3 and winless in the SEC after losing three straight games.
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) walks off the field following the Red River Rivalry college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorn at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. / SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It was a great story that Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer got himself ready to play less than three weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his throwing hand, willing himself back to action in time for the Red River Shootout against rival Texas on Saturday.
But then the game started …
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Mateer threw three interceptions, and the Sooners looked overmatched in a 23-6 loss to the reeling Longhorns.
It was the first loss for Oklahoma (5-1, 1-1 SEC), but the Sooners dropped eight spots in the AP poll to No. 14 and face arguably the toughest remaining schedule in college football with a road game at South Carolina followed by five straight games against ranked opponents (as the poll currently stands) — vs. No. 5 Ole Miss, at No. 11 Tennessee, at No. 6 Alabama, vs. No. 16 Missouri and vs. No. 10 LSU.
Considering how the Sooners looked Saturday, their fans must be wondering now how many of those remaining games they can win.
Michigan State’s head coach Jonathan Smith walks the sideline during the fourth quarter in the game against UCLA on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. / Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Maybe UCLA isn’t as bad as everyone thought after it started 0-4 and fired head coach DeShaun Foster, but still … Michigan State fans aren’t taking a blowout 38-13 loss at home to the Bruins well.
They especially weren’t happy to hear Smith say after the game, “I’m not pressing a huge panic button here.”
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The Spartans are 3-3 overall but 0-3 in the Big Ten, having lost all three games (to USC, Nebraska, and now the 2-4 Bruins) by double digits. After a 5-7 finish last season, it’s hard to see this as a program going in the right direction.
USC Trojans cornerback Trestin Castro (37) deflects a pass by Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) in the second half at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Michigan fans were eager to believe that the Wolverines were ready to compete for a College Football Playoff spot again, with five-star freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood elevating the offense.
It was a bit disheartening to watch the Wolverines get dominated in a 31-13 loss at USC, which was unranked entering the game.
Underwood certainly wasn’t the main culprit in the loss, though. He passed for 207 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception, but the Wolverines’ defense did the damage in allowing 490 yards, including 158 rushing yards (plus 14 receiving yards) to USC walk-on King Miller after the Trojans’ top two running backs left with injury.
The Wolverines are now 4-2 and have lost their two biggest games (including at Oklahoma last month) and dropped from No. 15 to out of the AP top 25.
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Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley looks onto the field during the first half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at SECU Stadium. Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
It needs to be said first that Maryland (4-2) has exceeded expectations this year while already matching its win total from last season.
But, Terrapins fans have to be feeling some lament at how close this team is to being 6-0.
For the second week in a row, Maryland collapsed in the fourth quarter at home to squander a lead and lose. Last week, the Terps held a 20-0 lead late in the third quarter against Washington only to lose 24-20. On Saturday, they led Nebraska 31-24 in the fourth quarter only to lose 34-31.
Maryland is a fun team that looks to be on the rise with talented freshman quarterback Malik Washington, but it’s hard not to think about what could have been at the midway point of the season.
