The Wisconsin Badgers represent the University of Wisconsin–Madison in collegiate athletics, participating in the NCAA's Division I as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Known for their distinctive red and white colors, the teams have a rich history of achievements and a strong tradition of excellence, bolstered by their iconic mascot, Bucky Badger.

Logo Evolution

1913–1930
The first logo introduced a red gothic-style "W" within a square frame with rounded edges, symbolizing strength and tradition.

1930–1936
The logo transitioned to a monochrome illustration of a badger, emphasizing the team’s fierce and competitive nature.

1936–1948
The badger design was refined to include a bold white “W” in a red outline behind the animal, enhancing its visual impact.

1948–1957
A more playful, cartoonish Bucky Badger wearing a sweater with a “W” appeared, paired with another large "W" in the background.

1957–1962
A minimalist red sans-serif “W” was adopted, reflecting a cleaner and more straightforward aesthetic.

1962–1970
The letter “W” was encircled in red, creating a balanced and modern emblem.

1970–1991
The “W” evolved into a square serif style, making it bolder and more powerful.

1991–Present
The current logo features an extra-bold red "W" with a slight wave on its right side and a delicate black shadow, symbolizing motion and energy.

Helmet Design Evolution

The Wisconsin Badgers’ helmet designs have undergone several transformations since the 1960s, maintaining their iconic red and white colors:

• 1967–1969: Solid red helmets featured the Bucky Badger mascot.
• 1970–1974: A white helmet with a bold red “W” replaced the mascot emblem.
• 1975–1977: Red grilles were introduced for added visibility.
• 1978–1987: A large red “W” appeared without a background oval.
• 1991–2017: The helmets featured the modern “W” logo with a thin black shadow and refined red stripes.
• 2017–Present: Updated helmet shapes and modernized contours maintain a bold and progressive appearance.

Facilities

The University of Wisconsin provides state-of-the-art facilities for the Badgers:

• Kohl Center: Opened in 1998, this arena hosts basketball and ice hockey games, with a capacity of 17,300.
• Wisconsin Field House: A historic facility (built in 1930) for volleyball and wrestling, seating 7,500.
• Camp Randall Stadium: Home to the football team, this stadium seats 75,800 and is among the top Big Ten Conference venues.
• LaBahn Arena: The women's hockey team’s base, with a capacity of 2,300, connected to the Kohl Center via a tunnel.

Uniforms

Wisconsin Badgers uniforms are designed for simplicity and strength, leveraging the red and white color palette:

• Basketball: White or red jerseys with complementary accents.
• Football: Red jerseys with white pants for home games, and white jerseys with matching pants for away games.
• Ice Hockey: Long-sleeve jerseys and pants in red or white, with diagonal "Wisconsin" text on home jerseys.
• Soccer: Solid red for home games, with white jerseys and shorts for away games.

Mascot: Bucky Badger

First conceptualized in 1940, Bucky Badger is a caricature of a badger in a red sweater with a white “W.” The papier-mâché version debuted in 1949 and has remained a prominent figure in Wisconsin athletics.

Colors

The official Wisconsin Badgers color palette consists of:

• Badger Red:
  • PANTONE: PMS 200 C
  • HEX: #C5050C
  • RGB: (197, 5, 12)
  • CMYK: (3, 100, 66, 12)
• White:
  • HEX: #FFFFFF
  • RGB: (255, 255, 255)
  • CMYK: (0, 0, 0, 0)