One Badgers starter from 2025 has found a new home in the Big Ten.
The Wisconsin Badgers will see a revamped offensive line in 2026, as several starters from the 2025 team are heading elsewhere. Left tackle Riley Mahlman is heading to the 2026 NFL Draft, as he’s out of eligibility, while Joe Brunner and Jake Renfro both entered the transfer portal.
Brunner was a recent addition, as he was also mulling entering the draft before returning to school. With one year of eligibility left, he’ll head elsewhere and is expected to be a hot commodity for some top programs.
Renfro, on the other hand, is heading to a seventh year of college football, thanks to a redshirt that wrapped up his third season at Wisconsin. Injuries have been an unfortunate theme of Renfro’s career. He missed the entire 2022 season at Cincinnati due to injury. Then, after transferring to Wisconsin ahead of the 2023 season, where he was projected to start at center, lower-body injuries cost the offensive lineman another season.
He started all 12 games for the Badgers in 2024 at center and looked to come back and have one more year of tape before heading to the pros. Unfortunately, Renfro got hurt during fall camp and never fully looked himself this season, constantly battling injuries before being ruled out for the season. He ended up playing just four games and entered the portal for his seventh year of college football.
Well, Renfro has a new destination: the Illinois Fighting Illini. Illinois is losing four starting offensive linemen this offseason, including center Josh Kreutz, and needs experience up front. Should he be healthy, Renfro could be a plug-and-play starter for the Fighting Illini in 2026.
There are a few connections for Renfro at Illinois, as his father, Rick, played offensive line there from 1982-84. Renfro is also an Illinois native and should be a leader in the room next year.
Wisconsin moved quickly to replace Renfro, landing Oklahoma State center Austin Kawecki in the transfer portal. He should start there in his final year of eligibility.
Category: General Sports
