Upcoming Wisconsin Badgers Football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Wisconsin football in brief: a Big Ten original
The Wisconsin Badgers play home football games at Camp Randall Stadium on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, a 75,822-seat open-air stadium. Home games fall on Saturdays (with some night and late-November kickoffs under the Big Ten's television deals) from late August or early September through late November.
The program fielded its first team in 1889 and has played in the Big Ten since the conference formed in 1896, when Wisconsin won the first league title. It is one of a small group of programs with 700 or more wins, and it has two Heisman Trophy winners: fullback Alan Ameche (1954) and tailback Ron Dayne (1999), who left as the NCAA's career rushing leader. Their numbers, 35 and 33, are retired and displayed on the upper-deck facade.
Modern Wisconsin football dates to Barry Alvarez's hiring before the 1990 season. Under the slogan "From Red Ink to Roses," his teams won the Rose Bowl after the 1993, 1998 and 1999 seasons. The identity that followed has stayed recognizable for three decades: big offensive lines, a power running game (Montee Ball, Melvin Gordon and Jonathan Taylor all rewrote school records) and a steady run of bowl appearances.
Where to sit at Camp Randall Stadium
Camp Randall is the oldest stadium in the Big Ten. The field runs north to south, and the bowl grew in stages: the original 1917 concrete seats sit in the lower east grandstand, the track was removed and nearly 11,000 seats added in 1958, an upper deck went up on the west side in 1966, and suites were added along the east rim in the 2002–2004 project. A 2022 project replaced south end zone bleachers with premium seating, which brought capacity down from 80,321 to 75,822.
Sideline vs. end zone
Sideline seats between the 30-yard lines are the best football view, and the middle rows of the lower bowl are the sweet spot: high enough to see plays develop, close enough to hear the hitting. Front rows on either sideline sit low and the bench area can block part of the field, so row 15 and up is usually the better choice. End zone seats cost less and give a good look at goal-line plays and the running game coming straight at you, but the far end of the field is a long way off.
Sun and shade
Because the field runs north to south, afternoon sun comes from the southwest. As a general rule for a stadium with this orientation, east-side fans face the sun late in the day, while west-side fans have the sun at their backs and the west upper deck shades rows beneath it. That matters more in September than in November, when the bigger concern is cold: late-season night games in Madison can be bitterly cold, so dress in layers.
The student section
Wisconsin Athletics places the student section in the north end zone, with students entering at Gate 5 near Breese Terrace. That end is the loudest part of the stadium and the center of Jump Around. If you want a calmer seat with children, choose the sideline or the south end.
Rivalries and the Badgers home games that sell out
Demand for Camp Randall tickets follows the opponent, the kickoff time and the stakes. The games that draw the most interest:
- Minnesota. The most-played rivalry in major college football, played every year since 1907. The winner takes Paul Bunyan's Axe, a trophy dating to 1948 with every score inscribed on the handle. It is often the season's final regular-season game.
- Iowa. A border series first played in 1894, now for the Heartland Trophy, a bronze bull on a walnut base introduced in 2004.
- Nebraska. Played for the Freedom Trophy since 2014, and remembered in Madison for Wisconsin's 70–31 Big Ten title game win in 2012.
- Big Ten blue bloods. Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State visits draw national television and heavy visiting crowds. Wisconsin's upset of No. 1 Ohio State at Camp Randall on October 16, 2010, set off a famous field rush.
- The 2024 additions. Big Ten expansion brought Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington into the league, and their rare trips to Madison carry novelty value.
Night games and Homecoming push demand up; early-season games against non-conference opponents are usually the easiest and least expensive way into the stadium.
Jump Around, the Fifth Quarter and gameday in Madison
Jump Around happens between the third and fourth quarters, when House of Pain's song plays and the whole stadium jumps. It began unofficially in 1993 and officially at the 1998 Homecoming game against Purdue. When officials canceled it in 2003 during suite construction, students protested until engineers confirmed the stadium could handle it and the chancellor restored it.
The Fifth Quarter is the postgame show by the UW Marching Band, created in 1969 during a long losing streak. Thousands stay for 20 minutes or more after the final whistle for "On, Wisconsin," "You've Said It All" and the alma mater "Varsity." Plan your exit around it, because it is half the experience.
Camp Randall stands on the grounds of a Civil War training camp named for Governor Alexander Randall, and the walk across campus to the gates is part of the day. As of the 2025 season, Wisconsin Athletics said Monroe Street closes five hours before kickoff, and the Bucky Shuttle runs from lots 60, 64 and 76 on home game days. Parking and traffic rules change, so check the Know Before You Go page before you leave.
How Wisconsin football tickets work
Most of Camp Randall goes to season-ticket holders, with the best sideline locations tied to donor giving and priority, as at most Big Ten schools. Students buy through a separate university allocation for the north end zone. The general public gets what remains in single-game sales, which is plentiful for September non-conference games and thin for rivalry games and night games against ranked opponents.
That is why resale is how most fans get into the big games. Season-ticket holders who cannot attend list their seats, and supply rises or falls with the opponent, the team's season and the weather forecast. Prices for the Minnesota, Iowa and marquee Big Ten games tend to firm up early, while a cold late-November game against a weaker opponent can soften in the final days. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
As of the 2025 season, Wisconsin uses digital tickets stored in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet; screenshots are not accepted, and fans pass through metal detectors after scanning. Add tickets to your phone before you reach the gate.
Camp Randall bag policy and entry
University of Wisconsin policy UW-600 sets the carry-in rules. As written, it allows a clear tote no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear plastic storage bag, or a small non-clear bag about 4.5 by 6.5 inches, with medical and diaper bags allowed after inspection. Backpacks, purses, camera bags and fanny packs are not allowed, and there is no bag check at the stadium.
Check the current UW carry-in policy before you go, since stadium rules can change from season to season.
A short history of Badgers football
Wisconsin's first win came in 1890, a 106–0 rout of Whitewater Normal that is still the most lopsided victory in school history. The Badgers won Big Ten titles in 1896, 1897, 1901, 1906 and 1912, then waited 40 years for the next. The 1942 team beat No. 1 Ohio State at Camp Randall and received the Helms Athletic Foundation's national title, a championship the school does not claim. The 1950s "Hard Rocks" defenses took Wisconsin to the Rose Bowl after the 1952 and 1959 seasons, and the 1962 team lost a 42–37 classic to top-ranked USC in Pasadena.
Lean years followed until the Alvarez rebuild. Since then the program has won multiple Big Ten titles, including three straight from 2010 to 2012, and has built one of the longest bowl streaks in the country. Notable later moments include Melvin Gordon's 408-yard game against Nebraska in 2014, the upset of No. 5 LSU at Lambeau Field in 2016 and a 13–1 season capped by the Orange Bowl after the 2017 season.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Wisconsin Badgers play home football games?
Wisconsin plays at Camp Randall Stadium on the UW–Madison campus. The current stadium opened in 1917, and its capacity has been 75,822 since a 2022 renovation.
What is Jump Around at Camp Randall?
Between the third and fourth quarters, the stadium plays House of Pain's "Jump Around" and the crowd jumps in unison. The tradition became official at the 1998 Homecoming game.
Where is the student section at Camp Randall?
Wisconsin Athletics places the student section in the north end zone, with students entering at Gate 5 near Breese Terrace. It is the loudest part of the stadium.
What trophies does Wisconsin play for?
Wisconsin plays Minnesota for Paul Bunyan's Axe, Iowa for the Heartland Trophy and Nebraska for the Freedom Trophy.
What bags are allowed at Camp Randall Stadium?
Under UW policy UW-600, fans may bring a clear tote up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear bag or a small clutch about 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Check the university's current carry-in policy before you go.
Should I stay for the Fifth Quarter?
Yes, if you can. The marching band's postgame show, a tradition since 1969, keeps much of the crowd in the stands for about 20 minutes after the game and also eases the exit traffic.