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Report: Wisconsin Badgers spent less on football recruiting last year than most Big Ten schools

More money spent doesn't always equal better recruiting, but the Wisconsin Badgers didn't invest as much in recruiting expenses than most other Big Ten schools in 2024.
Lorin Cox|
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell watches a drill during fall training camp at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell watches a drill during fall training camp at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. | Mike De Sisti / The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Wisconsin Badgers

In the modern age of college football, every dollar spent by the Wisconsin Badgers will be under scrutiny to make sure they're doing everything they can to succeed.

They can't afford to spend as much as some of the largest programs in the country, but one area where they're spending less than their peers stands out.

On3's Pete Nakos got every public university's financial records for 2024 and tracked how much each school spent on recruiting efforts.

Wisconsin came in below many of its Big Ten rivals, ranking 36th overall.

The recruiting budget is not NIL spending, but it includes paying for travel, hotels, food, official visits and more.

Big Ten schools averaged $1.8 million in these expenses in 2024. The Badgers spent $1.3 million last year.

13 schools in the conference spent more than Wisconsin on these recruiting costs last year, including Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska and Purdue.

Budget data was not available for the two private schools in the conference, USC and Northwestern.

This doesn't automatically imply that more money spent produces better recruiting.

Some schools have greater distances to travel to meet with recruits, which could drive costs up. And some programs might prioritize their funding to support the football team in other ways.

Still, it's surprising to see the Badgers below so many of their peers. The only public Big Ten schools that spent less were Iowa and Indiana, who made it to the College Football Playoff regardless.

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Lorin Cox
LORIN COX

Lorin Cox is the managing editor of Wisconsin Badgers on SI. He has been covering Badgers sports since 2014, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. He previously wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal, NBC Sports Chicago and USA Today Sports Media Group, and he is a former analyst for Pro Football Focus.

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