Ep. 94 Shawn Eichorst Compared Wisconsin to Texas… Was He Right? + Ben Brust Joins!

Ep. 94 Shawn Eichorst Compared Wisconsin to Texas… Was He Right? + Ben Brust Joins!

Shawn Eichorst has officially taken over as Wisconsin's athletic director — and his first public comments are already generating debate. On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch react to Eichorst's introductory press conference, including his comparison of Wisconsin to Texas and what his vision could mean for the future of Badger athletics. In this episode: Shawn Eichorst's introductory press conference Why he compared Wisconsin to Texas Is that comparison inspiring or unrealistic? What Eichorst's leadership style could mean for Wisconsin football, basketball, and the entire athletic department Should football be the top priority, or can Wisconsin continue supporting all of its successful programs? Eichorst's "talk is cheap" comments and whether he'll back them up Twitter Portal featuring the latest Wisconsin Badgers conversations Former Wisconsin standout Ben Brust joins the show to discuss what Eichorst's arrival means for Wisconsin basketball and the future of UW athletics Subscribe for Wisconsin Badgers football, basketball, recruiting, NIL, Big Ten news, and weekly live coverage from The Jump Around on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.

Ep. 93 Wisconsin Officially Hires Shawn Eichorst… Good Move or Big Mistake? + Jim Polzin Joins!

Wisconsin has officially named Shawn Eichorst as its next athletic director. Was this the right move for the future of Badger athletics? On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch react to Wisconsin's biggest offseason decision and discuss what the hire means for football, basketball, NIL, and the future of the athletic department. In this episode: Our reaction to Wisconsin officially hiring Shawn Eichorst Why the fan reaction has been so mixed What Eichorst's track record says about his leadership and NIL strategy How Wisconsin compares to Eichorst's previous stops The domino effect this hire could have on Luke Fickell, Marcus Sedberry, and the rest of the athletic department Whether fans place too much importance on the athletic director position Lane Grindle's perspective after working with Eichorst at Nebraska Twitter Portal featuring the latest Wisconsin Badgers discussions Jim Polzin joins the show to explain how Wisconsin's athletic director search unfolded, why Eichorst was chosen, and what comes next for UW athletics Subscribe for Wisconsin Badgers football, basketball, recruiting, NIL, and Big Ten coverage from The Jump Around on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.

EXTRA: Wisconsin Hiring Shawn Eichorst! | New Badgers Director of Athletics REACTION

The Jump Around is LIVE on ESPN Madison reacting to reports that Shawn Eichorst is expected to become Wisconsin's next Director of Athletics. Jim Rutledge & Riley Jauch are on the air! What does the reported hire mean for the future of Wisconsin football, Luke Fickell, Badgers basketball, NIL, revenue sharing, and the direction of the athletic department? Eichorst is a Wisconsin native and former Badgers deputy athletic director under Barry Alvarez who later served as athletic director at Miami and Nebraska before returning to a senior leadership role at Texas. Reports indicate Wisconsin is set to bring him back to Madison to replace Chris McIntosh as the Badgers' athletic director. On today's LIVE show: Immediate reaction to the reports Why Wisconsin reportedly chose Shawn Eichorst What this means for Luke Fickell and Badgers football How the hire could impact NIL, fundraising, and revenue sharing Biggest opportunities and concerns for Wisconsin Athletics Your live reactions and questions Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers coverage, and listen live or on demand anytime on the ESPN Wisconsin App.

Ep. 92 🏈 Will Notre Dame Make or Break Wisconsin’s 2026 Season? | The Jump Around

The Wisconsin Badgers open the 2026 season with one of their biggest challenges in years: a showdown against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field for the 2026 Shamrock Series. On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch break down whether the Shamrock Series matchup could set the tone for Wisconsin’s entire season and what the Badgers need to show against a national title contender to leave fans optimistic. We also discuss: Why Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame is such a pivotal opener Whether Luke Fickell’s team can build momentum with a strong performance What would make Badger fans feel confident, win or lose Dusty May’s surprising departure from Michigan and what it could mean for Greg Gard Whether Greg Gard would ever leave Wisconsin for another coaching opportunity Luke Fickell’s latest comments on the changing landscape of college football Twitter Portal featuring the biggest conversations in Wisconsin athletics Voice of the Wisconsin Badgers, Matt Lepay, joins the show to discuss the Badgers If you love Wisconsin Badgers football, basketball, recruiting, and Big Ten analysis, subscribe for more live coverage and discussion from The Jump Around on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.

Ep. 91 BOLD Badgers Predictions -- Is Wisconsin Primed For A HUGE Season?? + Jake Kocorowski Joins!

Can Wisconsin football exceed expectations in 2026? On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch react to Phil Steele’s latest preseason preview and discuss why he believes the Badgers are poised for a major improvement this season. From projected offensive production to quarterback Colton Joseph’s outlook, we break down whether Wisconsin fans should share that optimism. In this episode: Phil Steele’s predictions for Wisconsin football Whether averaging around 27 points per game would be enough for the Badgers If Wisconsin’s success would come from internal growth or a favorable schedule Our top instant-impact players for the 2026 season The importance of transfers and first-year contributors in today’s college football landscape Bradie Ewing’s role in reconnecting Wisconsin football alumni with the program Twitter Portal featuring the latest Badgers and college football conversations Jake Kocorowski joins the show to share his insights on Wisconsin football and react to Phil Steele’s projections If you’re a Wisconsin Badgers fan looking for football analysis, recruiting discussion, transfer portal talk, and Big Ten coverage, subscribe for more content from The Jump Around on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.