The Wisconsin Sportscast

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Packers Luck Out with Jets, and Brewers Go For the Bye Sep 23, 2026

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In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Lucas and Oates are happy the Packers at least have a healthy quarterback.

The Packers took down the Jets in what Oates thought was a game of not good football. Yes, the turf was not great and it was raining, but that doesn’t forgive all of their penalties. The Packers are an undisciplined football team, Oates says, and that goes right up to the top with LaFleur.
The Badgers, on the other hand, had a record setting victory over Eastern Michigan. Sure, it was Eastern Michigan, but Oates saw a lot to love in that game. Saturday’s performance is what the Badgers should look like every week. Colton Joseph won’t be breaking records every game, but if he can find a middle ground between Saturday and his other performances, they have a chance at being a team to really watch.
The Brewers have secured their postseason spot, and as of recording are on the verge of securing a bye in the first round. What should we expect to see different in this year’s postseason? Lucas and Oates agree that if their top two pitchers are dominant, they’ll have a good chance at taking any series. Add in a nice Joey Ortiz homerun, and they might have a shot at it all.

The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. The Wisconsin Sportscast is sponsored by Dupaco Credit Union, Ridge Top Exteriors and Fabiola's Spaghetti House. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Is LaFleur on the Hot Seat? And Badger’s O-Line Still Needs Work Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Lucas and Oates tear down the Packers loss to the Vikings.

The Packers fell 22-39 against the Vikings on Sunday thanks to another collapse in the fourth quarter. The big swing in momentum came when LaFleur decided not to take a field goal after a penalty and instead tried to force a fourth-and-one, which failed. But it’s not all on that one decision, some bad calls and poor performance from Jordan Love after the Vikings struck back was hard to watch.
With that big opening lost, Lucas and Oates have to ask: is LaFleur on the hot seat? Oates thinks so, and it isn’t just because of the stupid decision to remove three points from their score. A team that falls apart consistently in the fourth quarter and an undisciplined team creating penalties makes it harder and harder to defend the head coach.
The Badgers, meanwhile, defeated Western Illinois as they needed to. We were able to learn a lot on Saturday: Lucas learned that quarterback Colton Joseph needs to figure out his accuracy problems, and Oates learned that the offensive line is still a problem. Still, their running backs and wide receivers showed some promise. We’ll learn more this weekend when they take on Eastern Michigan on Saturday.

Badgers Fall to Notre Dame, and Packers Prepare for Vikings Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Lucas and Oates reflect on Wisconsin's loss in Lambeau.

The Badgers fell 41 - 13 to Notre Dame this weekend, showing an impressive first half and a depressive second half. The Badgers looked very physical in the first half, which is exactly what Oates said they needed to do, but couldn’t sustain. This weekend should be a better story as they return to Camp Randall to take on Western Illinois.
Sticking with college football, the MAC wants Western Michigan to be named the winner in their game against Michigan after officials “found” an extra second on the clock that let Michigan win the game. Appealing the results of the game is a bad idea, Lucas and Oates think. Yes, Western Michigan outplayed Michigan and the Big 10 refs had Michigan’s back. But what are they really going to do, take the game into a courtroom?
The Packers are opening their season this Sunday in Minneapolis as they take on Kyler Murray and the Vikings. Oates predicts Matthew Golden will be a big playmaker this week, and will stay a big playmaker the rest of the season. Looking at the season ahead, Oate’s biggest concern still sits at the line of scrimmage. If they can beef that up and get a bit more physical this year, they may have a chance to go further than just one game in the playoffs.

Badger Volleyball’s Trial by Fire, and Badger Football Must Get Physical Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Lucas and Oates are back in the booth after meeting some friends.

Kelly Sheffield and the Badgers Volleyball Team are starting their season with a series of tough matches on the horizon. Good on Sheffield for giving the team a trial by fire to start the year, says Oates. It’ll prepare them for the year to come; more college teams should be following suit and not schedule some easy team to start the year.
Week zero of college football started last weekend, and we got to take a closer look at former Badger quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. as he helped North Carolina take down TCU. He showed some good promise we never saw in Madison, doing exactly what Bill Belichick needed him to do. Oates still isn’t sure if he’s consistent, but he at least showed some promise as a quarterback, something he never had the chance to do in Madison.
The Badgers kick off their football season this Saturday against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field. Oates has the key to at least staying competitive: focus on the defense and keep the score low. The Badgers’ defence showed some promise at the end of last year, and Notre Dame’s defence is impressive. Focus on defence and stay physical on the line, and Oates thinks they can at least stand toe-to-toe.

Welcome to Week Zero, and Badgers Need Depth Aug 26, 2026

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In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, get ready for the beginning of college football.

It’s Week Zero of college football as a handful of teams hit the field across the country and across the globe. One of those teams is North Carolina with former Badger Billy Edwards Jr., who is ready to play after his “injury.” Oates says that some players leave Madison on bad terms, and some on pretty great terms, but with only two games here in Madison it’s hard to say what terms Edwards is leaving Madison on.
The Badgers may not have a game in Week Zero, but Lucas was able to catch their scrimmage this past weekend. His biggest concern this year is their lack of depth on offense, especially on the offensive line. Maybe they can’t afford all the great linemen, or maybe they let too many get away after last season, but just look at the Packers post-season performances in recent years to see what happens when an offensive line is run down.
Speaking of the Packers, they have their final preseason game Friday. It’ll be a LaFleur vs LaFleur matchup against the Cardinals, and Oates says not to hold your breath for seeing Jordan Love play another snap before the regular season. Still, it seems like more injuries are happening during the joint practices than during preseason games. There certainly seem to be more fights…

High School Football Kickoff, and When Will People Stop Doubting the Brewers Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Lucas and Oates take a look at some long-time Wisconsin high school football rivalries.

Wisconsin high school football kicks off for the first time of the season this week. Looking at recent performances, Lucas and Oates ask: why are Madison teams down in recent years? It’s down to the farm system, Oates says, which are lacking in the state capitol. Just look at the Milwaukee suburbs or even the Madison suburbs: programs with a lot of money and a healthy farm system perform well.
In the MLB, Pete Crowe-Armstrong is making all of the headlines these days as he continues his push for MVP. Sure his mouth may get him in some trouble, Oates says, but even Brewers fans have to admit he has a lot of raw talent. With his help, the Cubs are turning the NL Central into a real chase…
Speaking of the Brewers, Lucas and Oates want to know when people will stop being so surprised by them. As of recording they already have 77 wins and they’ve been a very good team for years now. They may not have any five-star players, but they specialize in getting the most out of guys like Jake Bauers and producing results.

Packers Return to the Field, and New Faces Suit Up in Madison Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Lucas and Oates rejoice at the return of football.

The Packers take the field on Thursday in their first preseason game against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. Lucas and Oates agree that we likely won’t see Rodgers actually play, but Oates hopes to see Jordan Love get at least one series in. He could use the practice of playing against actual people before the regular season begins.
The Wisconsin Badgers, meanwhile, put on pads for practice for the first time last week. Lucas got to take a peek at this year’s team, as was impressed by some of the new running backs in Madison. With 33 transfers and a new freshman class, you’d hope to find at least a few exciting new faces in the crowd.
Finally, the Brewers are on the west coast for a week against the Padres and the Dodgers. LA might be in a bit of a slump right now, but don’t worry, they’ll be ready by the post season. The Brewers may be winning games, but their offence has been hot and cold all year. Hopefully enough guys can pull it together come October.

The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Brewers Fail to Make a Splash, While The Cubs Look to Catch Up Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Oates returns to the microphone after some time away to spend with family.

The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and the Brewers have once again failed to make a big splash. Lucas never thought that Tarik Skubal was really on the table, but Oates was hoping for at least one more starting pitcher. That said, Oates doesn’t think that there was any big conspiracy around Skubal throughout the entire league; a rental just isn’t worth some of our top prospects.
One team that did make a few big moves at the deadline was the Cubs. Now that they’re only five and a half games back with a few new pitching arms, do they have a chance to catch the Brewers? They addressed some key needs in their lineup, but the Brewers aren’t exactly an easy team to beat these days. Unless you’re the Pirates.
Meanwhile in college sports, Congress seems to be moving on their Save College Sports Act to address the NIL situation. Both the Big 10 and the SEC are firmly against it, of course, but Oates thinks that something needs to be done. If not, then we can expect college sports to consist of five big spenders at the top every year while everyone else fights for scraps at the bottom.

The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Bill Brophy on UW Madison’s Deep Pockets, and Brewers Need a Trade Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, veteran sports writer Bill Brophy returns to reminisce about the old days.

The Big 10 held their media days in Chicago, and while it looks a lot different than it used to it still gives a lot of insight into the season ahead. Brophy and Lucas remember the days when coaches would sit down at tables with people, but those days are long gone. Not that it’s not a great event now, it’s just a bit more choreographed than it once was.
Speaking of college football, the Badgers are rumored to have a roster worth over $25 million this year. In this modern environment, hopefully they can at least stay competitive with a few of the other big name teams. If not, I guess they’re going to have to find some more patches for their jersey…
The MLB trade deadline is just a few days away now, and the question Brewers fans are asking is: will they make the big move for Tarik Skubal? He’d make a great addition to the roster, but rumor has it the Dodgers are also interested. By next week we should know the full picture, maybe we can settle with Freddy Peralta at least (so long as he’s back to being Milwaukee Freddy).

The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Bill Brophy on the Incomparable Miz and Mark Johnson’s Future Statue Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, veteran sports writer Bill Brophy joins the show to chat about some of his favorite sports.

Brophy’s latest gig is with Rush Media covering many different sports, including high school sports. It’s a tougher gig, he says, because there’s just so little information about these young amateurs. But that also tends to make it exciting, because they put in the work to make a splash and for a lot of them, it’ll be the last time they play in any professional manner.
As of recording, the Brewers hold the best record in baseball, and Brophy says the Miz plays a big role in that. The closest comparison he can think of is maybe Nolan Ryan, but even that’s a stretch. Sure, they might be babying him a little with his innings right now, but that’s just to make sure he can make as big an impact as possible in October.
Finally, as a hockey guy, Brophy says that Mark Johnson deserves a statue in Madison. Not only was he an amazing player, and is an amazing coach, but he’s also humble and able to connect with his players on another level. One day there should be a great book written about his life, just not by Lucas.

The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

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