Wisconsin Badgers Host Northern Illinois in Key Matchup

Madison, Wisconsin – The No. 24 Wisconsin Badgers will face the Northern Illinois Huskies on Friday night at the Kohl Center. This game marks Wisconsin’s second outing in the 2025-26 basketball season, following a decisive 96-64 victory over the Campbell Fighting Camels earlier this week.

Junior guard John Blackwell was a standout in the season opener, scoring 31 points and hitting a career-high six three-pointers. He aims to fill the void left by All-American wing John Tonje, who is now in the NBA. Blackwell’s performance will be crucial as the season progresses.

Wisconsin currently ranks No. 18 in KenPom metrics, making it the fourth-highest-ranked Big Ten team at this point, trailing Purdue, Illinois, and Michigan. Conversely, Northern Illinois sits lower at No. 299 after also winning their season opener against UL-Monroe with a score of 102-82.

The Badgers have a storied history against the Huskies, leading the all-time series 11-2. However, the two teams haven’t met since 2000. Head coach Greg Gard’s team has consistently opened the home schedule with wins, and this game is expected to be another opportunity for a solid performance.

The game will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT) and will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. Fans can also catch the action via the Badger Radio Network, or stream it through services like Hulu + Live TV or Fubo.

“It’s important for us to maintain our momentum and continue to build on our performance from Monday,” Gard said in a recent press conference. “Northern Illinois presents a challenge, and we’re looking forward to seeing how we respond at home.”

Be sure to tune in for what promises to be an exciting matchup.