It's the return of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge talking all things Badgers football on ESPN Madison! Jim sits down with former Badgers and fellow ESPN Wisconsin hosts to discuss the biggest topics and questions surrounding Badgers football each week.
Extra: Wisconsin Football Is Entering a NEW ERA… Are You In?
Wisconsin football is starting to feel different. Are Badgers fans ready to jump back in?
Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch discuss the excitement surrounding Wisconsin football after its recent run of success and whether the Badgers are entering a new era of Wisconsin football.
Riley believes now is the time for Wisconsin fans to jump back in, especially with the Badgers showing they have what it takes to compete and with massive opportunities against UCLA and USC still ahead. He also wants Camp Randall packed when USC comes to Madison in what could be a ranked matchup.
The guys also look ahead to what's next for Wisconsin, including the bye week, getting healthy, improving the running game and giving young players more opportunities.
In this segment:
🦡 Is Wisconsin football entering a new era?
🔥 Why Riley thinks Badgers fans should jump back in
🏟️ Why Wisconsin needs Camp Randall packed for USC
📈 What the Badgers need to improve during the bye week
🏃 Why fixing the running game remains a priority
💪 Getting healthy before the next stretch of the season
🌟 Why the guys are more excited about Wisconsin football than they have been in a long time
🏆 Can the Badgers continue building toward the “glory days”?
The Badgers have already changed the conversation. Now comes the chance to prove this is more than just a hot streak.
Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers football reactions, analysis, interviews and debate from The Jump Around.
1 Oct 2026
Ep. 106: Wisconsin Beat Penn State: Moment or MOVEMENT? + Matt Lepay & Jack Cichy Joins!
Wisconsin shocked No. 13 Penn State 24–20 in Happy Valley. But was it just a moment—or the beginning of a movement?
On this episode of The Jump Around, Jim Rutledge, Riley Jauch, and Matt Lepay react to Wisconsin's massive upset at Penn State and debate whether the Badgers have finally taken a meaningful step forward under Luke Fickell.
The Badgers are now 3–1, and the energy around the program is higher than it has been during the Fickell era. But can Wisconsin build on the Penn State win, or will it ultimately become the peak moment of the 2026 season?
On this episode:
🏈 Moment or Movement?
Was the Penn State win a true turning point?
Did Wisconsin take a legitimate step forward?
Can the Badgers sustain the momentum from Happy Valley?
Is Penn State the beginning of something bigger—or the peak of the season?
🎙️ Matt Lepay Returns
The Wisconsin Hall of Famer and voice of the Badgers returns
His biggest takeaways from the first month of the season
What happened during Wisconsin's 24–20 win at Penn State
What does Wisconsin need to accomplish in October?
🔥 Jack Cichy Joins The Jump Around
What "3-Sack Jack" has been up to
His thoughts on the 2026 Badgers
Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano: Is Wisconsin's next great linebacker duo already here?
What Cichy sees from the current Wisconsin defense
🏆 Week 5 Superlatives
Who will force multiple turnovers against Michigan State?
Who is most likely to help Wisconsin clinch a shutout?
Who will have a "3-Sack Jack" type of performance?
Subscribe to The Jump Around for Wisconsin Badgers football, Big Ten coverage, interviews, game reactions, recruiting, and more from ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.
29 Sept 2026
Extra: Wisconsin Football Just Changed the Narrative… Now What?
Wisconsin football just pulled off one of the biggest wins of the Luke Fickell era. But was the 24-20 comeback over Penn State a turning point — or just a great Saturday?
Jim Rutledge and Riley Jauch react to Wisconsin's incredible comeback against Penn State and break down what the win means for the Badgers moving forward.
Wisconsin trailed by 10 with just over eight minutes remaining before scoring 14 points in the final 3:30 to steal the victory. Colton Joseph struggled for much of the afternoon before catching fire late, while the defense continued to give Wisconsin a chance and the Badgers found a way to win a game that appeared to be over.
But now comes the bigger question: Was Penn State a moment, or is this actually a change in Wisconsin football?
Jim and Riley debate what the Badgers need to prove against Michigan State, why the standard has changed after beating Penn State, and whether Wisconsin can finally learn how to handle success after years of struggling to find it.
In this segment:
🦡 Wisconsin's stunning comeback over Penn State
🔥 Colton Joseph's wild fourth-quarter performance
💪 Darian Dupree's breakout performance
🛡️ Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano continuing to lead the defense
🏈 Why Wisconsin's offensive line deserves major credit
🤔 Was Penn State a moment or a marker of change?
📈 Why the Badgers' standard has changed
🎢 The highs and lows of the Colton Joseph experience
🏃 Why Wisconsin's running game could still determine the team's ceiling
🔥 Can the Badgers handle success against Michigan State?
The Penn State win proved Wisconsin can beat a high-quality opponent. Now the Badgers have to prove they can do it week after week.
Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers football reactions, analysis, interviews and debate from The Jump Around.
Who has been a guest on The Jump Around
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Nick Osen
Alec Ingold
Adam Rittenberg
Rob Wheelwright
Anthony Davis
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
90
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
Contact The Jump Around
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
