After a slow start, Wisconsin's 2026 recruiting class has begun to take shape following a monster weekend. The Badgers landed two of their three highest rated recruits of the class over the past two days, and now are trending towards another top-25 class under head coach Luke Fickell. But with some work still left to do, where does the class currently rank in the nation?
Following the huge commitments of four-star wide receiver Jayden Petit, and the much anticipated running back Amari Latimer, Wisconsin's 2026 class now sits at 37th in the country according to 247Sports' rankings. Just last week, the class was ranked as low as 51st, a far cry from the program standard, but has now skyrocketed up the ranks thanks to the new dynamic duo.
Can Luke Fickell and the Badgers repeat their recruiting success again in 2026?
While the new ranking is nice boost, the Badgers still just have the 13th ranked class in the conference. After a 5-7 season that saw Wisconsin miss a bowl game for the first time in decades, Luke Fickell has now found himself in a precarious position. Both his 2024 and 2025 class were ranked in the top 30, but the great recruiting has yet to translate to success on the field. And while the 2026 class is still in the works, its tracking to be his lowest ranked class of his tenure.
Fickell's recruiting has always been his best trait since coming to Wisconsin. In the years prior to his arrival, it was rare to have a class even sniff the top-25. But unfortunately due to transfers, injuries and poor play, Fickell's highly touted recruiting classes haven't panned out as fans' had hoped.
The additions of Petit and Latimer are a lifeboat to a class that has largely been underwhelming compared to Fickell's usual recruiting prowess. Both players are top-30 in the respective positions, and have completely changed the narrative around the class over just two days. After a down season, and one of the toughest schedules in the country ahead, getting a few huge recruiting wins are exactly what the doctor ordered for Badger football.