Early 2026 Badgers’ OL commitment re-opens recruitment amid uncertainty

Wisconsin Badgers’ 2026 Recruiting Class Down to Just 14 Commitments After Maddox Cochrane Departure

Losing Cochrane was something that became more and more a reality over time due to the concerns regarding distance upon his commitment. However, losing Cochrane after watching the play of the offensive line this season in addition to the lack of an abundance of committed talent along the line makes the departure a difficult one.

Wisconsin is now down to 14 commitments within the 2026 recruiting cycle, holding onto the 44th ranked class in college football. The Badgers have plenty of talent within the class despite the ranking, but whether or not the staff can hold onto that talent will be another question moving forward.

The Badgers offensive line has not played well this season between injuries, players not meeting expectations, and multiple players moving into different positions. A more successful season out of the unit will take more than one or two additions.

Wisconsin will need to dump serious time and resources into rebuilding the line properly which also makes losing guaranteed depth hard for the Badgers.

Who Could Exit the 2026 Badgers’ Class Next?

During his interview with Flood, Cochrane noted that his decision is not part of a growing situation going down in Madison or inside of the 2026 class.

Cochrane stated that “everyone is still excited and fighting” when referencing the other Badgers’ commitments with whom he has spoken to. While the offensive tackle can provide his own assurances that potential flips were not entertained, Wisconsin is still fighting to keep a few key commitments such Djidjou Bah and Jayden Petit.

Bah, a three-star defensive lineman, has notably been keeping his options open as scholarships flooded in following his commitment to Wisconsin this past summer. Georgia Tech has made Bah a priority and following his recent unofficial visit, a true official visit is now in the works.

With just one month until National Signing Day, growing concerns regarding the commitment of four-star receiver Petit have become loud. The receiver visited Oklahoma, who has become known as a program that pursues recruits committed to chaotic situations. Louisville and USF are also reportedly close to Petit who is currently the top-ranked commitment for the Badgers.