In-season tournaments and challenges have become increasingly popular in college basketball, offering teams opportunities to refine their skills, experience postseason-like atmospheres, and address scheduling challenges. Recently, I had the opportunity to cover the Cream City Challenge, held at the historic UW-Milwaukee Panthers Arena. Formerly known as The MECCA, this venue boasts a storied basketball history, having served as home court for the Milwaukee Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, and the national champion Marquette Warriors. The arena gained fame for its vibrant court, once painted by artist Robert Indiana, and the untucked jerseys worn by the Warriors during their championship season—designed by Bo Ellis and featured in ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary Untucked. These iconic elements cement the arena's place as a revered landmark in basketball history.

The Cream City Challenge stood out for its round-robin format, where four teams competed over three days, each playing three games. The Milwaukee Panthers dominated, winning all their games, while the other teams finished with a 1-2 record. While attendance did not meet expectations, the event demonstrated the potential of such challenges, particularly when hosted in venues with rich histories capable of evoking nostalgia and enthusiasm.

Events like these have the power to reshape nonconference play in college basketball. They offer a practical way to balance competitive preparation with logistical efficiency, particularly through the use of regional matchups. With geographically close teams, travel time and expenses are reduced—benefits that conferences could also embrace to minimize travel demands on their teams. Furthermore, regional challenges strengthen rivalries and boost community engagement by drawing local fans and fostering a sense of pride.

One unique aspect of the Cream City Challenge was its focus on featuring teams with ties to Wisconsin. Schools with multiple players from the state were prioritized, fostering regional pride and familiarity. With Wisconsin having just four Division I basketball programs—Green Bay, Milwaukee, Marquette, and UW-Madison—a future event showcasing all four teams could generate significant local excitement and draw larger crowds.

Beyond logistical advantages, these challenges provide a postseason-like atmosphere during the regular season. They allow teams to test strategies and adapt to the intensity of playing multiple games in quick succession, mimicking the demands of tournaments like the NCAA or NIT. The structure also addresses scheduling difficulties, offering teams guaranteed games in a competitive environment. For those facing attendance challenges, events like this offer an excellent opportunity to energize local communities and generate buzz.

As college basketball evolves, innovative events like the Cream City Challenge could lead the way in creating meaningful and memorable experiences for teams and fans alike. By embracing regional challenges, programs can inspire excitement, deepen local connections, and prepare for postseason success—all while preserving resources and time. The success of these events points to a promising future, where tournaments and challenges become staples of the regular season, bringing the spirit of competition to new heights.

When Barry Alvarez took over the Wisconsin Badgers football program in 1990, the team had only made three bowl game appearances in the previous 28 years. Alvarez quickly transformed Wisconsin into a consistent force in college football. In just his fourth year, the Badgers achieved a 10-1-1 record and captured a Rose Bowl victory against UCLA. Over the course of his career, Alvarez led the team to three Rose Bowl championships, an impressive 9-4 bowl record, and a 60% win rate with an overall record of 118-75-4.

After retiring from coaching in 2006, Alvarez transitioned to the role of Wisconsin's athletic director. The program then hired Bret Bielema as head coach, who upheld the program’s winning tradition by achieving a 68-24 record. Bielema made a bowl game every year of his tenure, though his bowl record stood at 2-4. Following Bielema, Gary Andersen and Paul Chryst also continued Wisconsin’s bowl streak. Andersen, however, left after two seasons, citing Wisconsin’s high academic standards for student admissions as a challenge. Chryst, who led the team until 2022, retired, leading to the interim appointment of Jim Leonhard, who posted a 4-3 record over seven games.

In 2023, the program hired Luke Fickell, who came with an impressive resume, having led Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff in 2021. Fickell’s philosophy marked a significant departure from Wisconsin’s traditional run-heavy offensive strategy, which had produced legendary running backs such as Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball, Jonathan Taylor, and Ron Dayne. Under offensive coordinator Phil Longo, the Badgers adopted an “Air Raid” system, signaling a dramatic shift in the program’s identity.

While transitions are often difficult, the Badgers still managed a winning record and bowl eligibility during Fickell’s first season. However, the 2024 season brought disappointment as the team finished 5-7, marking its first losing season since 2001. This snapped Wisconsin’s remarkable 22-year streak of winning seasons—the longest in college football before this year.

To put this into perspective, powerhouse programs such as Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, and Georgia, which dominate college football, have experienced losing seasons more recently. Alabama's last losing season was in 2006, Ohio State's was in 2011, and both Clemson and Georgia had losing seasons in 2010. Even Oklahoma State, which had maintained a winning streak since 2006, experienced a losing season this year. For over two decades, Wisconsin stood as a model of consistency, outperforming these storied programs in sustained success—a testament to the enduring excellence fostered under Alvarez and his successors.

Injuries played a significant role in Wisconsin's struggles this season, with starting running back Chez Mellusi and quarterback Tyler Van Dyke sidelined early in the year. While the offense showed potential at times, scoring 52 points against Purdue and 42 against Rutgers, consistency proved elusive. In their last five games, the team scored 13 points or fewer in four contests, culminating in a five-game losing streak to close the season.

Despite the disappointing season, the program's future remains bright. Wisconsin boasts a top-25 recruiting class for 2025, featuring eight four-star recruits and 16 three-star recruits, demonstrating their ability to attract talent even amid challenges.

Fickell’s contract runs through 2031, and the expectations for his tenure are high. The questions now are: How long will it take for the program to return to prominence? When will the fan base see the results they've grown accustomed to? While Fickell has proven himself as a capable coach, the pressure to deliver results is mounting.

Wisconsin fans are eager for a return to the program’s winning ways, and patience will be tested as the team adapts to its new identity. The hope is that the foundations being laid today will lead to success tomorrow, but only time will tell if this transition proves to be a stepping stone or a stumbling block.

Being a sports fan is an experience, with highs and lows that can lead to amazing memories. There are many different factions of sports we can watch, and that being so, there are many elements of what defines fandom. Throughout years of analysis, I find that college football fans provide such an interesting culture, which may not make the most sense, because there are some wild cultures, especially in other countries. But there is one thing that college football provides that I feel makes this thought an interesting one. What is that, you ask? That would be someone's connection.

Connection, you ask? Yes, anyone can be connected to a team through family, where you live, or a player. However, college fans, especially and mainly college football fans, have a strict perspective. I have seen this a lot with college football; the same could potentially also be said about college basketball. But I find that if you are not an alumnus of said school, you cannot call yourself a fan. Now, I can see why some see it this way, and lately, it has made more sense. My experience in college has shown me this.

For my undergrad, I attended a Division III school back home in Massachusetts; the football team was pretty good, but I did not follow as much as I thought I would. It was sort of a while before I mastered being a comfortable college student. Since graduating, it has been an up-and-down road; I jumped into a master's that was not for me and inquired about smaller programs for several-plus schools. I see it as maybe a certificate is better for right now; I just want to enjoy and end my school on a solid note. So, and I promise there is a point here, I look on as I am currently enrolled at a Division 1 FCS school. FCS is right below FBS, which contains your big names like Alabama, Georgia, etc.

So, while FCS is not as major as FBS, it still is pretty good football. It has shown me what people mean when they say you cannot be a fan if you are not connected with the school. Growing up, I loved watching Cam Newton's Auburn highlights, and that gave me such a fascination with the team. But living in Massachusetts, there was not much way to support or root for them, so that was just that. College environments are something else, and that is because of the fans.

Fans make the environment, and these fans happen to be mostly students or alumni. That is what makes college football so special: the fans dictate how their environments affect other teams' performance. Maybe this concept is in my head because of playing a lot of College Football 25, but I've seen it through two lenses now; it is cool to feel that feeling, and now I hope to catch a game while I am in Missouri and near the school. But what makes this concept toxic? Because so far, it is kind of like a brotherhood. But what should determine an invitation to that brotherhood?

This is seeing it from the other side: is it fair to say that someone is not allowed to be a fan of a college team because they have no proper association? Hard to say; anyone is allowed to be a fan of any NFL team. But I suppose that is what makes it a toxic thought process. A lot of fans of these colleges who are associated see it as different things; you shouldn't be a fan at all. But if you are, stop using the word “we.” If you are bragging about a team's success or wins to other people, it kind of seems silly because what makes it yours?

I kind of respect it; sports are beautiful, and so is what makes it. But college football is just so much better when you feel like a part of the bigger picture. Saying this as someone who has been to a CFB game as some random, it feels off. All I know is I would probably never go up to an Auburn fan and act like I am part of that crew because I thought Super Cam was cool back in the day. But honestly, you had to be there in 2015 when he was MVP for the Panthers; he was a killer!

College football is one of the most popular spectator sports in the United States, attracting millions of fans each year. From the iconic rivalry games to the championship playoffs, college football has a unique appeal that sets it apart from other sports. This article will explore the key elements of college football, including its history, traditions, and the impact it has on players and universities.

College football has a rich history dating back to the 19th century. While its origins can be traced to early forms of rugby, the sport evolved into its modern form in American universities. The development of the forward pass and the establishment of rules and regulations helped shape college football into the popular sport it is today.

College football coaches play a crucial role in shaping the success of a program. Their ability to recruit top talent, develop players, and devise effective strategies is essential. Players who excel at the college level have the opportunity to showcase their skills to professional scouts and potentially pursue careers in the NFL.

As college football continues to evolve, there are ongoing discussions about player compensation, academic standards, and the future of the sport. While challenges and controversies exist, the enduring popularity of college football suggests that it will remain a dominant force in American sports for years to come.