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:

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.

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.

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?

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.

Wisconsin’s offseason remains slept on

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.

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.

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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.

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.

“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)

Ariens Nordic Center says Schommer can be reached by emailing the site’s main inbox.