* The addition of teams on the West Coast significantly increases travel distances, impacting student-athlete recovery and academic performance.
* This is a large point of concern for the athletic department, and the schools fans.
* Shifting Competitive Landscape:
* The influx of new teams alters the conference’s competitive balance, requiring the Badgers to adapt their strategies and recruiting efforts.
* The new teams bring with them new playing styles, and new recruiting foot prints.
* NIL Challenges:
* Like many programs, the Badgers are grappling with the complexities of NIL, seeking to balance competitive advantage with adherence to evolving regulations.
* The large media markets of some of the new big ten teams, create an uneven playing field for NIL deals.
The Wisconsin athletic department has released a statement acknowledging Baker’s address and reaffirming its commitment to working with the NCAA and the Big Ten to navigate these
challenges. They also emphasized their commitment to the well being of their student athletes, and ensuring that they are able to succeed both on, and off the
field. The coming months will be critical as the NCAA, conferences, and individual programs like Wisconsin adapt to the evolving land
