Reading the Schedule Tea Leaves + Another NIL Line Gets Crossed

The Bucky Report · Jan 29, 2026 · 21m

First, a quick reaction to Wisconsin basketball’s win over Minnesota — an insane game that ended up in a win??

Then, the Wisconsin football schedule is officially out. I walk through the slate, talk about where the swing games are, and give a way-too-early floor and ceiling for the Badgers based on how this schedule sets up. Some optimism, some realism — and a little schedule-reading tea-leaf action.

Finally, we dive into the Darian Mensah situation, with Duke Blue Devils reaching a settlement that allows him to move on. What does this mean for NIL enforcement, player leverage, and how close…