I recently had the opportunity to chat at length with new Wisconsin Badgers offensive line coach Eric Mateos and learned several things about him that make me even more confident than I was before
that he’s going to be an outstanding fit in Madison.Here are five fun facts about Mateos, who is excited to take over the most historic position group for the Badgers.
Iowa and Minnesota are the two games he’s most looking forward to
Although Wisconsin’s 2026 schedule is far more manageable than its insanely
tough 2025 slate, there are still some big-time games, including Notre Dame and Penn State. But Mateos was clear to point out that the two contests he has circled are vs Iowa and Minnesota.
“I’m a big believer in rivalry and the tradition of rivalry.”
He was raised in Miami as a Hurricanes fan
This one surprised me, as I’d somehow missed it. Given how Wisconsin has owned the Canes in football since the 2000s started, and some of the spice surrounding the Xavier Lucas situation/lawsuit, it’s fair to say that Miami is officially a Badger rival.
I suspect there probably isn’t a team that would be more fun for Mateos to play and beat.
There’s a Jordan Love connection
Mateos and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, while at BYU, played against Jordan Love and his Utah State squad in 2019, with the Cougars blowing out Love’s Aggies, 42-14. Love didn’t have a banner day, tossing three interceptions to one TD in the beatdown, although he threw for a robust 394 yards.
He shovels snow in short sleeves: While this rough winter in Madison wasn’t his first rodeo with the cold (he’s spent time in both Provo, Utah, and Lawrence, Kansas), he brought an edge to his shoveling game when he tried it in short sleeves recently, no doubt earning the ex-Miami guy some respect on his block.
Finds Luke Fickell to be a ‘breath of fresh air’
Yes, a newly hired assistant isn’t prone to toss shade at the head guy, but Mateos sounded genuinely excited to be coaching under Fickell.
“He’s a breath of fresh air,” Mateos told me.
It seems Fickell’s non-nonsense, ex-lineman vibe is particularly appealing to Mateos, who even noted that he’s looking forward to his first “ass chewing” from Fick.
