After a season full of woes, Wisconsin is faced with another big hit. This time, the Badgers risk losing an important running back to the transfer portal, who was part of Bruce Feldman’s freak list. This development could prove to be detrimental to Wisconsin going into next season.

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Badgers. After finishing the season 15th in the Big Ten conference, they are now losing a marquee player in running back, Cade Yacamelli. While the season did not go the way Wisconsin wanted, the redshirt junior kept up production, with 38 carries for 128 yards. ESPN reporter Max Olson shared the news on X.

“Wisconsin RB Cade Yacamelli plans to enter the transfer portal, his agent @glose_matt told ESPN. Yacamelli has produced 655 total yards and 2 TDs with the Badgers. No. 46 on @BruceFeldmanCFB Freaks List this year,” Olson’s post read.

Yacamelli, along with senior safety Austin Brown, made Bruce Feldman’s annual college football “freaks” list for 2025.

This isn’t the first time Cade Yacamelli has been drawn toward the transfer portal. Last season, he chose the same path, but the staff promised him a bigger role in the offense, which convinced him to return to the program.

“The relationships I’ve built with those guys, I can’t leave that behind,” Yacamelli said. “I’ve got to give hats off to my teammates and Wisconsin. It’s really hard for me to leave this place with the memories and relationships I have with the guys in the locker room.

“I know it’s a cliché, but it’s really true. I love the guys. I’ve been here so long because I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to say goodbye to those relationships I have here.”

He was also a key part of the special teams and appeared on all four units, often mentoring the younger trio of backs. However, after a 4-8 season with no bowl game and finishing 15th in B1G (same as last season), it seems like Cade Yacamelli has finally decided to move on from the Badgers.

How does Cade Yacamelli’s transfer portal affect the Badgers?

Wisconsin has been on a downward trajectory since 2021. The program has seen its record go from 9-4 (2021) to 4-8 this season. A major factor has been the string of injuries that affected the Badgers’ running back depth. Redshirt freshman Dillon Jones suffered a season-ending injury, while fellow redshirt freshman Gideon Ituka missed the final two games. The setbacks continued when sophomore Darrion Dupree was sidelined for two games.

With context in mind, Cade Yacamelli’s departure initially seemed like another significant loss. However, all three injured running backs are expected to return in 2026.

With their return and the addition of Qwantavius Wiggins from Langston Hughes High School, the Badgers appear to move forward without Yacamelli.