In 2025, Iowa football embarrassed its biggest Big Ten rivals in addition to defeating them. After taking turns attempting to slow down the Hawkeyes, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska all suffered crushing defeats. One of the season’s pivotal narratives was Iowa’s victory over those three, which established a clear benchmark for 2026. However, those same competitors are not wasting any time in attempting to close the gap as the transfer portal heats up and the calendar flips.
Wisconsin, in particular, appears determined to rewrite the script.
The Badgers acquired one of the most productive quarterbacks available, making it one of the most important early moves of the transfer portal cycle. Former Old Dominion standout Colton Joseph, a proven dual-threat quarterback, has committed to Wisconsin, marking a significant change in course for an offense that had a terrible season.
It might be a stretch to describe Wisconsin’s 2025 offense as lackluster. The Badgers finished 135th out of 136 teams in the country with an average of just 12.8 points per game. For a program with Wisconsin’s resources and history, that is an astounding figure. In particular, the passing game never got off the ground. Wisconsin only completed 57.7% of its passes and averaged just 136 passing yards per game. Even more worrisome, the Badgers finished the season with 13 interceptions as opposed to just nine touchdown passes.
Those numbers made it clear that something had to change and fast.
Here comes Joseph, a quarterback who offers Madison explosiveness and experience. Joseph made 21 appearances and produced video game-like content during his two seasons at Old Dominion. He threw for 4,251 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He was equally dangerous on the ground, running for 1,654 yards and scoring 24 more touchdowns. Wisconsin has been lacking precisely that kind of balance.
Joseph had a particularly outstanding season in 2025. He became one of the Group of Five’s most dynamic players and guided the Monarchs to a 9–3 record. He exceeded the 1,000-yard threshold as a rusher and threw for 2,624 yards and 21 touchdowns during the season. His ability to punish defenses that overcommit to stopping him through the air was demonstrated by his 13 rushing touchdowns. Joseph is a symbol of hope and perhaps even urgency for a Wisconsin offense that frequently appeared to be stuck in neutral.
For Iowa supporters, the timing of the move is especially intriguing. Recently, the Hawkeyes have dominated the rivalry, controlling games from beginning to end and physically enforcing their will. The fact that Wisconsin decided to pursue a quarterback like Joseph indicates that the Badgers recognize that small gains won’t be sufficient. They will need a quarterback who can prolong plays, put pressure on defenses, and generate offense when things go wrong if they want to defeat Iowa in 2026.
Joseph fits that description.
His path has been anything but conventional up to this point. Joseph, the No. 103 quarterback in the 2023 class and a three-star recruit, graduated from Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach, California. Prior to selecting Old Dominion, he had scholarship opportunities from the Air Force, Army, and Navy rather than being overtaken by Power Five offers. His game was shaped by that path, which emphasized toughness, discipline, and adaptability.
Those traits showed up on Saturdays.
Joseph was more than just a stat compiler at Old Dominion. Every week, he was the focal point of the team’s offensive strategy. The ball was in his hands when it mattered most, whether it was a deep throw off play-action or a planned quarterback run on third and short. A Wisconsin team looking for leadership under center should benefit greatly from that kind of responsibility.
Success with the transfer portal isn’t assured, of course. The defenses Joseph faced on a weekly basis in the Sun Belt were far less forgiving, faster, and deeper than those in the Big Ten. In particular, Iowa’s defense has a tendency to overwhelm quarterbacks who aren’t entirely ready for the league’s speed and complexity. Instead of forcing Joseph into a rigid system, Wisconsin should develop an offense that plays to his strengths. Joseph will need time to adjust.
Still, it’s hard to ignore the upside.
This action is both a warning and a compliment to Iowa. Rivals don’t make big additions unless they think the gap is genuine and worthwhile. Wisconsin is aware that it cannot continue to play the Hawkeyes with an offense that finds it difficult to get into the end zone and expect different outcomes. A quarterback such as Joseph is a sign that the Big Ten West has set its own standards. The question now is whether Joseph can fulfill Wisconsin’s expectations of being a catalyst. One thing is certain as the 2026 season draws near: the arms race is underway, and Iowa’s rivals are reloading. Even though the Hawkeyes are still the team to beat, actions like this guarantee that things won’t be simple come fall.
