A game-by-game look at the Badgers' 2021 football schedule

The Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe against Minnesota moved back to Nov. 27, the last week of the regular season, among other schedule changes. 

“It was me choosing UW,” Jim Leonhard told the State Journal Saturday morning. “I want to stay at UW. I want to be at this level right now. Extremely flattered. Awesome opportunity. But it was not the right time for me to go back to the NFL.”

The policy changes were a result of a joint review by the police department and UW Athletics that was commissioned last September in the wake of a nationwide focus on racial disparities in policing.

Packages for all seven home games start at $378 per ticket and will be limited at first to donors and those who ordered 2020 season ticket packages but weren’t able to use them due to the pandemic. 

Badgers’ head coach Paul Chryst on Monday shared eagerness both for his new group of coaches and for returning to the practice field with his players.

Weight jumps and dips, new numbers and new COVID protocols: Here's what you need to know. 

Whatever happens at the high court, changes seem on the way for how college athletes are compensated.

"I love this group of kids and I want to continue to develop them. And with COVID being the way it was last year, I’d have felt a specific way about myself having left after that season," Leonhard said.

UW quarterbacks say Badgers head coach Paul Chryst's conversational approach is deepening their understanding of system. 

After a bicep tear ended his 2020 season early, UW senior defensive end Matt Henningsen is making his voice heard on and off the field.

Once it was over, Graham Mertz took time to reflect after his first college football season as a starter.

"For Wisconsin football and Wisconsin athletics in general, he's put the ‘W’ on the map.”

“Man, Witt’s a dog,” sophomore Nick Herbig said. “He doesn't always get his job done in the prettiest way, but he gets his job done. No matter what, he’s scrapping, clawing, he's fighting every rep."

Dean Engram and Alexander Smith have earned most of their playing time the past three seasons on special teams units.

“He told us that he wanted corners that played with a dog mentality. He just want dogs out there on the island," Badgers junior Alexander Smith said of  new cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat. 

The Badgers passing offense could be "explosive" if UW's top wide receivers can stay healthy this season. 

State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom for a special episode of the show: UW senior cornerbacks Faion Hicks and Caesar Williams enter the Red Zone!

An advanced planning report recommended that UW replace the Shell with a new indoor football practice facility and outfit the McClain Center as an indoor track and field venue.

"The age of football that we're in with all the spread, all the RPO, you can create some issues," Jim Leonhard said of using his safeties at different positions. 

At least two Wisconsin Badgers have been drafted each year since 1994. 

Defenders and ball-carriers weren’t shy about laying a solid hit on a teammate during 11-on-11 portions of Tuesday's spring practice.

Who made the biggest impressions for the Badgers this spring? Who made the biggest leaps from last fall? What questions remain? State Journal beat reporter Colten Bartholomew breaks it down.

“The first thing when we got back that we talked about was just being a team again,” sophomore quarterback Graham Mertz said.

Loudermilk will have the opportunity to learn from new teammate Cameron Heyward, a two-time first-team All-Pro and four-time pro bowler.

NFL Draft weekend may not have gone as planned for some former Badger football players, but four are getting chances to make the league as undrafted free agents.

UW holds a 2-1 record all-time against Utah.

Isaiahh Loudermilk had a plan for how he wanted his NFL draft moment to happen.

Kickoff times are set against Penn State, Eastern Michigan, Notre Dame, Illinois and Iowa.

The matchup, originally scheduled for last season, had to be moved due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The school's decision comes as COVID-19 case counts decline in Wisconsin and follows a pattern set by the state’s professional teams.

“I’d run through a wall for him,” senior tight end Jake Ferguson said of Badgers coach Paul Chryst.

Fans will need to have masks on in certain areas at Badgers football games. 

Quicker play-call system should give the offense a big advantage this football season.

Under first-year director Shaun Snee, UW players reached new heights in weight room and in speed drills. 

Allen, a four-star recruit from Fond du Lac, likely will see more snaps on special teams than on offense as he learns more about the tailback position. 

Whether you are heading down to Camp Randall or watching from the comfort of your couch, the State Journal has Badgers fans covered with a breakdown of everything they need to know as No. 12 Wisconsin kicks off football season against No. 19 Penn State on Saturday.

Wednesday's signing day will likely be quiet for UW, which had 21 recruits sign with the program in December. 

An NFL source confirmed Packers coach Matt LaFleur was set to talk with Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard about the Packers’ vacant position, though it was unclear when that conversation was going to take place and just how intensely Leonhard was pursuing the opportunity.

Could becoming an NFL defensive coordinator in his home state be the job that draws Jim Leonhard away from UW? 

While some casual observers couldn’t look past Quinn Meinerz’s prominent belly, the lineman from Hartford became the talk of social media for his pancake blocks during practice, moving onto NFL teams' draft radar.

State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin break down the news surrounding the Badgers’ football and men’s basketball programs.

One of the Badgers' top playmakers will be back next season, but a veteran defender will not.

In her yearly address to the UW Athletic Board, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said the Badgers have been "more hesitant to jump in if we think there are any risks than some other teams."

Myles Burkett — a consensus three-star, dual-threat quarterback — held offers from a handful of Group of Five teams and UW was his lone Power Five offer to this point.

"If we're going to spend the time to plan for something, let's plan for bringing a ruckus back into Camp Randall and bringing our fan base back," deputy athletic director Chris McIntosh said.

Gary Brown was the running backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 2013-19 and also spent four seasons as an assistant with the Cleveland Browns.