LOS ANGELES – Quarterback Nico Iamaleava might not be the only starter UCLA loses from its win over Oregon last week.
According to the Big Ten availability report released Oct. 16, two Bruins starters were downgraded from questionable to doubtful for their game with Wisconsin Oct. 17: left tackle Jordan Davis and cornerback Rodrick Pleasant.
The report also revealed some good news for UCLA. Senior Ashton Sanders, a backup defensive lineman who didn’t play last week, is no longer listed on the report, which means he is cleared to play against UW.
Iamaleava, who suffered a leg injury vs. Oregon, is one of five UCLA players listed as out for the game.
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Out: defensive back Tao Johnson, receiver Mikey Matthews, receiver Jonah Smith, offensive line Sam Yoon, quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
Doubtful: defensive back Rodrick Pleasant, tackle Jordan Davis
Questionable: defensive back CJ Lavender.
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame
Date: Sunday, Sept. 6
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Lambeau Field; Green Bay, Wisconsin
The Badgers open the season with a marquee matchup in a historic NFL venue against a team with unfinished business.
Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish finished 10-2 in 2025 and ended the year on a 10-game winning streak but withdrew from bowl consideration after landing on the outside of the College Football Playoff bracket.
This game is part between the Badgers and Fighting Irish is part of the Shamrock Series that was originally supposed to be played in 2020 at Lambeau Field. But that game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two teams met a year later at Soldier Field.
This is the first college game at Lambeau Field since Wisconsin played LSU in 2016.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Western Illinois is part of the Football Championship Subdivision. The Leathernecks have finished 4-8 in each of the last two years. Before that, they were 0-11 in consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023. The team’s last winning season came in 2017.
Western Illinois, coached by Joe Davis, will play the Big Ten for a second straight season. The Leathernecks lost to Illinois, 52-3, and Northwestern, 42-7, to open the 2025 season.
Pat Fitzgerald has rejoined the Big Ten to take over a struggling Michigan State program.
The Spartans’ last winning season came five years ago. MSU finished 4-8 overall, 1-8 in the Big Ten and winless on the road in 2025.
Fitzgerald spent 17 years at Northwestern from 2006-22, has the 14th most wins all time for a Big Ten coach and earned Coach of the Year in 2018.
(Kamil Krzaczynski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Wisconsin vs. UCLA
Date: Saturday, Oct. 17
Time: TBD
Location: Rose Bowl; Los Angeles, California
After a bye, the Badgers play a third straight opponent that has a head coach in 2026. Bob Chesney comes to UCLA after two years at James Madison. Last season, Chesney was the Sun Belt Coach of the Year and led JMU to the College Football Playoff.
UCLA has finished 3-6 in conference play in each of its first two years in the Big Ten.
Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans are now in Year 3 as members of the Big Ten and look to take the next step in competing for a championship.
USC enters the season ranked 14th in the country after finishing 9-4 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten in 2025.
Wisconsin last played USC in 2024, the Trojans’ first year in the Big Ten. The Trojans scored 28 unanswered second-half points to roll to a 38-21 win over the Badgers.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Wisconsin vs. Iowa
Date: Saturday, Oct. 31
Time: TBD
Location: Kinnick Stadium; Iowa City, Iowa
Wisconsin looks to snap a four-game losing streak in the series against Kirk Ferentz and Iowa in 2026.
The last two matchups have not been competitive, losing 42-10 in 2024 and 37-0 last season. Ferentz, 71, is entering his 28th year as Iowa’s head coach. The Hawkeyes have been the model of consistency, posting 13 straight winning seasons.
The Hawkeyes are coming off a 9-4, 6-3 season with a victory over Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Wisconsin ends the 2026 season on Black Friday as the Badgers renew their rivalry with Minnesota in the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
P.J. Fleck and Minnesota have gotten the better of Wisconsin of late, beating the Badgers the last two years and four of the last five seasons.
Minnesota went 8-5 overall and 5-4 in Big Ten play in each of the last two seasons.
(Mark J. Rebilas, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1 / 12
Wisconsin football schedule 2026, see Badgers’ opponents, game dates
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame
Date: Sunday, Sept. 6
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Lambeau Field; Green Bay, Wisconsin
The Badgers open the season with a marquee matchup in a historic NFL venue against a team with unfinished business.
Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish finished 10-2 in 2025 and ended the year on a 10-game winning streak but withdrew from bowl consideration after landing on the outside of the College Football Playoff bracket.
This game is part between the Badgers and Fighting Irish is part of the Shamrock Series that was originally supposed to be played in 2020 at Lambeau Field. But that game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two teams met a year later at Soldier Field.
This is the first college game at Lambeau Field since Wisconsin played LSU in 2016.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1 / 12
Wisconsin football schedule 2026, see Badgers’ opponents, game dates
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame
Date: Sunday, Sept. 6
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Lambeau Field; Green Bay, Wisconsin
The Badgers open the season with a marquee matchup in a historic NFL venue against a team with unfinished business.
Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish finished 10-2 in 2025 and ended the year on a 10-game winning streak but withdrew from bowl consideration after landing on the outside of the College Football Playoff bracket.
This game is part between the Badgers and Fighting Irish is part of the Shamrock Series that was originally supposed to be played in 2020 at Lambeau Field. But that game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two teams met a year later at Soldier Field.
This is the first college game at Lambeau Field since Wisconsin played LSU in 2016.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
2 / 12
Wisconsin football schedule 2026, see Badgers’ opponents, game dates
Western Illinois is part of the Football Championship Subdivision. The Leathernecks have finished 4-8 in each of the last two years. Before that, they were 0-11 in consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023. The team’s last winning season came in 2017.
Western Illinois, coached by Joe Davis, will play the Big Ten for a second straight season. The Leathernecks lost to Illinois, 52-3, and Northwestern, 42-7, to open the 2025 season.
(Ron Johnson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
3 / 12
Wisconsin football schedule 2026, see Badgers’ opponents, game dates
Pat Fitzgerald has rejoined the Big Ten to take over a struggling Michigan State program.
The Spartans’ last winning season came five years ago. MSU finished 4-8 overall, 1-8 in the Big Ten and winless on the road in 2025.
Fitzgerald spent 17 years at Northwestern from 2006-22, has the 14th most wins all time for a Big Ten coach and earned Coach of the Year in 2018.
(Kamil Krzaczynski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
6 / 12
Wisconsin football schedule 2026, see Badgers’ opponents, game dates
Wisconsin vs. UCLA
Date: Saturday, Oct. 17
Time: TBD
Location: Rose Bowl; Los Angeles, California
After a bye, the Badgers play a third straight opponent that has a head coach in 2026. Bob Chesney comes to UCLA after two years at James Madison. Last season, Chesney was the Sun Belt Coach of the Year and led JMU to the College Football Playoff.
UCLA has finished 3-6 in conference play in each of its first two years in the Big Ten.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
7 / 12
Wisconsin football schedule 2026, see Badgers’ opponents, game dates
Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans are now in Year 3 as members of the Big Ten and look to take the next step in competing for a championship.
USC enters the season ranked 14th in the country after finishing 9-4 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten in 2025.
Wisconsin last played USC in 2024, the Trojans’ first year in the Big Ten. The Trojans scored 28 unanswered second-half points to roll to a 38-21 win over the Badgers.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
8 / 12
Wisconsin football schedule 2026, see Badgers’ opponents, game dates
Wisconsin vs. Iowa
Date: Saturday, Oct. 31
Time: TBD
Location: Kinnick Stadium; Iowa City, Iowa
Wisconsin looks to snap a four-game losing streak in the series against Kirk Ferentz and Iowa in 2026.
The last two matchups have not been competitive, losing 42-10 in 2024 and 37-0 last season. Ferentz, 71, is entering his 28th year as Iowa’s head coach. The Hawkeyes have been the model of consistency, posting 13 straight winning seasons.
The Hawkeyes are coming off a 9-4, 6-3 season with a victory over Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
(Ross Harried, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
9 / 12
Wisconsin football schedule 2026, see Badgers’ opponents, game dates
