Dispatch from the Badger State (and a Modest Proposal for College Football)

The University of Wisconsin's football program is undergoing significant changes as it adapts to a new era in college sports characterized by increased commercialization. The Badgers, historically successful under coaches like Barry Alvarez and Paul Chryst, recently replaced interim coach Jim Leonhard with Cincinnati's Luke Fickell. This move reflects a shift towards embracing the transfer portal and national recruiting, diverging from their traditional regional focus. Despite Fickell's reputation for success at Cincinnati, the Badgers have experienced consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the early 1990s, and attendance has declined.

These developments occur against the backdrop of broader changes in college athletics, including conference realignment and the monetization of athletes' name, image, and likeness (NIL). The shift towards a more professionalized model is prompting debate about the impact on college sports' traditional values, such as education, community, and sportsmanship.

In response, various reforms have been proposed to restore the foundational aspects of college football. These include