Episodes

  • Indiana Wins It All, Wisconsin Reloads — Barry Alvarez on the Badgers Road Ahead

    Indiana Wins It All, Wisconsin Reloads — Barry Alvarez on the Badgers Road Ahead
    Jan 21 2026
    The season finale of The Barry Alvarez Show is all about reflection, perspective, and what comes next — as college football officially turns the page to a new era. Barry Alvarez and the crew react to: 🏆 Indiana Hoosiers defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the National Championship, completing one of the most stunning turnarounds in modern college football 🧠 How Curt Cignetti engineered a miraculous two-year rebuild — and what truly made it work 🔍 Whether Indiana’s path to a title is repeatable or a one-of-one anomaly The conversation then shifts home to Madison: 🦡 Wisconsin Badgers’ offseason outlook after finishing their transfer portal haul with 32 incoming players 📋 What Barry sees when evaluating a roster rebuild at this scale 🏈 What still needs to happen this offseason for Wisconsin to take a real step forward 🔮 Barry’s expectations for next season — and what progress should actually look like With Barry’s perspective as a former head coach, athletic director, and CFP committee member, this season finale delivers context over hot takes — separating sustainable success from flash-in-the-pan runs.
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    50 mins
  • Barry Alvarez on Matt LaFleur, ‘F--- the Packers!’, & Why Wisconsin Could Be a Playoff Team

    Barry Alvarez on Matt LaFleur, ‘F--- the Packers!’, & Why Wisconsin Could Be a Playoff Team
    Jan 13 2026
    A jam-packed episode of The Barry Alvarez Show hits both the NFL and college football worlds as major questions swirl around the Green Bay Packers and growing optimism builds in Madison. Barry Alvarez weighs in on: 🟢 The fallout from the Packers’ loss to the Bears and speculation surrounding Matt LaFleur’s future with the Green Bay Packers 🗣 Ben Johnson firing up the rivalry with his viral “F--- the Packers!” comment — and how Barry views that mentality Then, the conversation shifts back to college football, including: 🦡 Barry’s thoughts on Wisconsin’s strong start in the transfer portal and what it signals for the program 🏆 Reactions to Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes advancing in the College Football Playoff — and what their runs say about the evolving landscape 💥 A response to Mason Posa’s appearance on The Jump Around, including his bold declaration that Wisconsin can be a Playoff team next season From NFL pressure to CFP possibility, Barry offers his trademark perspective as a former head coach, athletic director, and Playoff committee member — blending old-school evaluation with the realities of modern football. 📺 Watch live on the ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee YouTube channels 💬 Join the discussion: Is Wisconsin closer to the Playoff than people think? 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for weekly Badgers and football insight
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    48 mins
  • Wisconsin Is COOKING in the Portal: Barry Alvarez Reacts to Badgers’ Top-6 Transfer Class

    Wisconsin Is COOKING in the Portal: Barry Alvarez Reacts to Badgers’ Top-6 Transfer Class
    Jan 6 2026
    The Wisconsin Badgers are on a heater in the transfer portal, and The Barry Alvarez Show breaks it all down. With Wisconsin currently holding the No. 6 transfer portal class in the country (per 247Sports), Barry Alvarez reacts to the Badgers’ aggressive offseason approach and what it means for the future of the program. On tonight’s show, the guys discuss: 🔄 Wisconsin’s hot start in the transfer portal 🏈 New additions including: QB Colton Joseph (Old Dominion) RB Abu Sama III (Iowa State) WR Shamar Rigby (Oklahoma State) 📈 Why this portal class feels different than years past 🧠 What Barry looks for when evaluating portal additions 🧱 How these moves impact roster balance, competition, and culture 🔮 Whether this signals a philosophical shift in how Wisconsin builds its team From quarterback depth to explosive skill position upgrades, Barry offers insight from the lens of a former head coach and athletic director on how portal success translates — or doesn’t — to winning football. 📺 Watch live on the ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee YouTube channels 💬 Join the conversation: Is this the best portal stretch Wisconsin has ever had? 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for weekly Badgers and college football insight.
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    46 mins
  • "Just Play Football!" | Barry Alvarez on NIL Confusion, Portal Moves & Badgers Future

    "Just Play Football!" | Barry Alvarez on NIL Confusion, Portal Moves & Badgers Future
    Dec 23 2025
    The College Football Playoff first round is in the books, and The Barry Alvarez Show is back to break down what it all means for the sport — and for Wisconsin. Barry Alvarez and the crew discuss: 🏈 Reactions to the CFP first round — what stood out, what surprised, and what it says about the expanded Playoff 🔄 Transfer portal fallout, including Badgers like Eugene Hilton Jr. entering the portal 🦡 How portal movement continues to reshape Wisconsin’s roster and offseason priorities 🏆 Bowl games in 2025 — do they still matter in the CFP era, or are they losing relevance? 📖 Best bowl game stories from Barry and the crew — memories, moments, and why bowls once meant everything With Barry’s perspective as a former coach, athletic director, and College Football Playoff committee member, this episode offers both big-picture context and inside-the-room stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
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    48 mins
  • Portal Madness + CFP Secrets: Barry Alvarez on the Future of Wisconsin Football

    Portal Madness + CFP Secrets: Barry Alvarez on the Future of Wisconsin Football
    Dec 16 2025
    This week on The Barry Alvarez Show, the former Wisconsin coach and athletic director dives deep into the two biggest stories in college football: the transfer portal explosion and the newly finalized College Football Playoff field. With more players entering the portal than ever before, Coach Alvarez breaks down: 🔄 How the transfer portal is reshaping rosters nationally 🧭 What Wisconsin must prioritize this offseason 💰 How NIL + portal movement impacts the Badgers’ ability to compete 🧱 Why offensive and defensive line depth matters more than ever ⏳ Whether Wisconsin’s rebuild can accelerate in the portal era As a former College Football Playoff committee member, Barry also shares rare insight into: 🏆 How committees evaluate teams today 📊 How roster turnover affects a program’s CFP chances 🔍 What Wisconsin must do to get back into national contention 🌎 How conference realignment changes the CFP landscape Plus: What teams got the CFP selection right? Who was left out? And how does new playoff seeding connect back to roster construction through the portal? Whether you're a Wisconsin fan tracking every offseason move or a college football diehard following the evolution of the sport, this episode offers unmatched perspective from one of the most influential figures in Badgers history.
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    45 mins
  • How Far Is Wisconsin From the CFP? + Recruiting & Badgers Future - The Barry Alvarez Show

    How Far Is Wisconsin From the CFP? + Recruiting & Badgers Future - The Barry Alvarez Show
    Dec 9 2025
    The Barry Alvarez Show returns with a loaded episode breaking down one of the most dramatic finishes to a college football season in recent memory. With the College Football Playoff field officially set, and Indiana stunning Ohio State to win the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game, Wisconsin fans are asking some big-picture questions about the future of the Badgers’ program. Rose Bowl Champions Derek Engler & Tarek Saleh share insight on: 🏆 The final College Football Playoff field and who has the clearest path to the national title 😳 Indiana’s Big Ten Championship win over Ohio State, how it happened and what it means for the conference 🔴 How far away Wisconsin is from competing for Big Ten titles and CFP spots 🧭 What Wisconsin must fix to return to championship relevance ✍️ Recruiting after National Signing Day, where the Badgers improved and where they still need help 🔄 Transfer portal priorities, positional needs, and program identity 🏈 NFL notes and storylines as the playoff push heats up Even without Barry, his former players provide the perspective only they can: how Wisconsin stacks up in the new Big Ten, whether the Badgers’ rebuilding timeline is realistic, and what it will take to climb back into championship conversations. 📺 Watch live on the ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee YouTube channels 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for weekly Wisconsin football insight, analysis, and exclusive interviews.
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    47 mins
  • Wisconsin’s WORST Season in 30 Years | Barry Alvarez on 4-8 Badgers, Minnesota Loss, Lane Kiffin, and More!

    Wisconsin’s WORST Season in 30 Years | Barry Alvarez on 4-8 Badgers, Minnesota Loss, Lane Kiffin, and More!
    Dec 2 2025
    The Wisconsin Badgers hit a historic low on Saturday, falling 17–7 to Minnesota in the Axe Game and closing the season at 4-8, their worst record since 1995. The loss also puts Minnesota ahead in the all-time series 64-63-8, and the Gophers have now won four of the last five matchups against Wisconsin... On tonight’s edition of The Barry Alvarez Show, the former Wisconsin head coach and athletic director reacts to the state of the program and breaks down what this disappointing season means for the Badgers going forward. We discuss: 🪓 What went wrong vs. Minnesota? 📉 How does Wisconsin rebound from a 4–8 season? 🧭 Where Luke Fickell’s program stands heading into Year 3 ❗ CFP and Lane Kiffin's shocking departure from Ole Miss to LSU 📺 Watch live tonight on the ESPN Madison YouTube channel 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for weekly Badgers discussions and exclusive interviews.
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    57 mins
  • Is Wisconsin Football Back? | Barry Alvarez Reacts to Badgers’ Win Over Illinois + AXE WEEK

    Is Wisconsin Football Back? | Barry Alvarez Reacts to Badgers’ Win Over Illinois + AXE WEEK
    Nov 25 2025
    It's The Barry Alvarez Show after the Wisconsin Badgers’ big win over Illinois! Join Barry Alvarez, Derek Engler, and Jesse Nelson as they break down the bounce-back victory, the growing confidence in Luke Fickell’s team, and how Wisconsin can recapture the Axe this Saturday against Minnesota Tonight’s Topics: 🔴 What changed in the win over Illinois? Offense, toughness, and execution 🔴 How this team can finish strong, regain the Axe, and have positive momentum heading into 2026 🔴 Luke Fickell’s leadership and the culture shift taking hold 🔴 What the victory means for recruiting, alumni, and the future of Wisconsin Football 🎙 Presented by NUTRL Vodka Seltzer
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    48 mins