Wisconsin football had one player included in CBS Sports’ ranking of college football’s top 100 players of 2024: cornerback Ricardo Hallman.
He slotted in at No. 41 overall.
Ranking Wisconsin football’s incoming transfers by expected impact in 2024 season
The leader of the Badgers secondary recorded seven interceptions in 2023 in addition to 34 tackles, three tackles-for-loss and five passes defended. He and Hunter Wohler are Wisconsin’s clear leaders in the secondary, and could both hear their names called in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Here’s what CBS said about the Wisconsin cornerback:
“Hallman was a ballhawk for the Badgers last year, picking off seven balls (and dropping another two). Hallman is excellent at matching routes in zone and undercutting a ball thrown late. He plays almost like a free safety and can read the quarterback’s eyes as well as anyone. Hallman has excellent speed and can take it to the house if he has some green grass ahead of him.”
College Football Top 100 Players of 2024: SEC crowds top 10, Colorado star at No. 1 in spring rankingshttps://t.co/HLKZaLCfxq
Wisconsin notably does not have any offensive players on the list.
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Add CBS Sports to the growing list national outlets that are decidedly low on Wisconsin football heading into the 2026 season.
In the website’s updated full 1-through-138 offseason rankings, the Badgers check in at a dismal 61st nationally and 15th in the Big Ten.
Here’s how the outlet ranks the entire Big Ten:
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Program
National Rank
Ohio State
No. 1
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Oregon
No. 3
Indiana
No. 6
USC
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No. 14
Michigan
No. 16
Penn State
No. 18
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Washington
No. 19
Iowa
No. 23
Illinois
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No. 28
Nebraska
No. 35
Minnesota
No. 40
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Northwestern
No. 48
UCLA
No. 49
Maryland
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No. 51
Wisconsin
No. 61
Rutgers
No. 64
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Michigan State
No. 66
Purdue
No. 99
Yes, Wisconsin is coming off its worst season since the early 1990s. Yes, the Badgers are running it back with head coach Luke Fickell, who has a losing record through three seasons in Madison.
But whenever the national media has ranked the Badgers this offseason, it feels like they’re ranking their 2025 squad in the context of the upcoming campaign. It may not seem like it to an outsider (or, ahem, the national media), but a lot has changed in Madison since the worst football season in over 30 years.
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Wisconsin is lower than who??
Again, I understand why the Badgers are ranked low on this list. They haven’t inspired any sort of confidence in at least two seasons. But some of the teams ranked above them are…extremely questionable.
Maryland man-handled Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium last fall, but the Terps proceeded to go 1-8 in Big Ten play. Folks are high on their offense with sophomore quarterback Malik Washington, but placing the Terps a full 10 spots ahead of Wisconsin seems a little excessive.
How about UCLA? The Bruins went 3-9 last fall. Sure, they’ve vastly upgraded their coaching staff and flipped almost half their team, but that means their entire roster is essentially projection.
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What about Northwestern? Sure, the Wildcats won seven games last season, but how excited are we about new quarterback Aidan Chiles, who’s struggled through three combined years at Oregon State and Michigan State?
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How about some of the non-Big Ten teams ranked higher than Wisconsin? The UTSA Roadrunners are ranked above the Badgers. Though it’s only by two spots, that in particular might be the biggest slap in the face.
Even a team like Virginia Tech, ranked No. 37 (24 spots higher than the Badgers) is puzzling. Sure, there’s signs of life under new head coach James Franklin, but the Hokies went 3-9 last fall.
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Wisconsin’s offseason remains slept on
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
What rankings like these, especially the teams ranked higher than Wisconsin tell us, is that the national media is still sleeping on the Badgers’ offseason. Clearly, other programs (like Virginia Tech coming off a 3-9 campaign) were thought to have improved drastically. Wisconsin, on the other hand? Not so much.
The Badgers didn’t have the flashiest transfer portal haul, but they did address every position of need and sign a handful of plug-and-play starers at key spots. Every position on offense appears to be deeper and more talented after a dismal 2025, while the same looks true on defense except potentially at defensive line and outside linebacker.
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Yes, Wisconsin was terrible last year. Everybody knows that. But the national media remains skeptical the Badgers did much to change that this offseason, which, in my eyes, is a grave miscalculaiton.
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.
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Here’s a look at May 14, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 14 drawing
Midday: 7-0-9
Evening: 0-3-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 14 drawing
Midday: 6-9-2-4
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Evening: 2-4-2-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from May 14 drawing
Midday: 01-03-06-07-08-11-12-14-15-16-18
Evening: 02-04-05-07-11-12-15-16-19-21-22
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
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Winning Badger 5 numbers from May 14 drawing
01-14-24-25-28
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from May 14 drawing
04-10-18-26-33-36, Doubler: Y
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
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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 **
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.
BRILLION (WLUK) — Ariens Nordic Center announced it hired Northeast Wisconsin Olympian Paul Schommer as an employee.
Schommer recently retired from the U.S. Biathlon Team. He competed in the sport at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games. Ariens sponsored the U.S. Biathlon team.
USA’s Paul Schommer competes in the Biathlon Mixed Relay 4x6km (W+M) event on February 05, 2022 at the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Centre during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP) (Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)
Ariens says in his new role, Schommer will play a part in developing and supporting programming at the Nordic Center. Though his expertises are biathlon and Nordic skiing, Schommer will work with youth of all ages on many outdoor sports and recreational activities.
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“We are thrilled to officially welcome Paul to the Ariens Nordic Center team,” said Sr. Director of Ariens Nordic Center Monica Ariens. “His Olympic experience, passion for outdoor sports, and commitment to youth in our community will make him an incredible asset. Paul’s presence will elevate our programming and inspire kids in our community for years to come.”
Ariens Nordic Center near Brillion, December 19, 2022 (WLUK/Eric Peterson)
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Ariens Nordic Center says Schommer can be reached by emailing the site’s main inbox.
