The Wisconsin Badgers reportedly are cutting a big, fat million-and-a-half-dollar check and sending it postmarked Ft. Collins, Colorado, if America’s own college football insider Brett McMurphy has his sources straight. 

The Badgers are going to have six years to save it all up in their little Badger Bank before breaking it open and pushing the pile over to the Rams out of the Mountain West Conference in order to get up a little football game out Madison way in 2026. 

The 2020 Badgers finished the season 4-3 (3-3 B1G) and put a 48-28 spanking on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte the end of September. 

Wisconsin’s senior quarterback, Jack Coan, broke his feet during preseason practice and missed the entirety of the year. After being replaced by freshman Graham Metz, who played well and cemented himself as the quarterback of the future, Coan announced he was transferring to Notre Dame where he will be eligible to start immediately next season.

It just so happens that next season the Badgers are playing the Fighting Irish in a special neutral site game at Soldier Field in Chicago, where Coan will get a quick turnaround shot at his own program. No, it’s not 2026 and Colorado State, but who can wait that long?