University of Wisconsin–Madison

Sports Economics

  • The Collapse of Badger Football Is Not a Football Story

    The Collapse of Badger Football Is Not a Football Story

    It is a budget story. WI competes in markets with a budget model built for a slower world. The state effectively constrains what the university can charge and directly limits what it…

  • NIL and Badger Football’s Decline

    NIL and Badger Football’s Decline

    Wisconsin football posted back-to-back losing seasons (5-7, 4-8) for the first time since 1991-92. We trace the collapse to the NIL era’s structural transformation — and the economic effects are already emerging…

  • The Economic Impact of Badger Football’s Declining Performance

    The Economic Impact of Badger Football’s Declining Performance

    UW-Madison’s Badger Football program serves as a critical revenue engine for the Athletics Department, generating roughly $60 million in annual profits. Yet, its on-field performance has declined sharply.