The Wisconsin Badgers were really hoping to find a way to keep linebacker Christian Alliegro in the program this offseason, but he ultimately decided to enter the transfer portal and immediately received interest from some of the top schools in the country.
Pushing the hardest for a commitment in that group were the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes, who both received visits from Alliegro. Ultimately, the linebacker committed to play his senior season for the Buckeyes, who got their top target at the position in the transfer portal.
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Ohio State was in big need of linebackers after losing stars Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles to the NFL Draft. In 2025, Alliegro had 53 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and four sacks for the Badgers. Standing 6’4, 245 pounds, he has the ability to play the MIKE and rush off the edge or as a blitzer, similarly to how the Buckeyes used Reese this year.
According to PFF, Alliegro had a stellar 24.3 percent win rate as a pass rusher this year, so the Buckeyes could look to tap into that. But, they now have an experienced linebacker for their promising young group, and Alliegro will look to boost his NFL stock even more in his final year of college football.
The Badgers will move forward with freshman tandem Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano at linebacker. Both players impressed for Wisconsin after getting playing time late in the season, with Posa even making the All-Big Ten third team despite seeing significant snaps for only half the year.
Behind them, Wisconsin added some players in the transfer portal, landing commitments from Taylor Schaefer and Jon Jon Kamara, who should compete for two-deep roles behind the entrenched starters.
