Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh Reportedly Refused Free NIL Money

Viral video shows Barstool's Big Cat claiming he offered NIL funds to Wisconsin but got no response.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:42am

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of blue, red, and yellow, conceptually representing the disarray and lack of organization in the Wisconsin athletic department.The chaotic state of Wisconsin athletics is reflected in a fragmented, cubist-style illustration of a college sports event.Madison Today

A concerning video has gone viral showing Barstool's Big Cat claiming he reached out to Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris McIntosh to offer free NIL money for the Badgers' athletic programs, but got no response. This has sparked outrage among Wisconsin fans, who are frustrated with the state of the school's athletics under McIntosh's leadership, particularly the struggling football and women's basketball teams.

Why it matters

The ability to capitalize on NIL opportunities is crucial for college athletic departments in the modern era. Wisconsin's apparent refusal to accept free NIL money raises questions about the school's preparation for the changing landscape of college sports and its ability to support its student-athletes.

The details

In the video, Big Cat said he had reached out to McIntosh multiple times to offer NIL money for the Badgers, but never received a response. He expressed frustration that no one from Wisconsin followed up on his offer, even suggesting the school may not respect 'podcast money' compared to other NIL deals. The same issue was reportedly encountered by former Badgers star Frank Kaminsky, one of the program's all-time greats.

  • The video surfaced on April 13, 2026.

The players

Chris McIntosh

The former Wisconsin Athletic Director who recently left to become the Big Ten's first deputy commissioner for strategy.

Big Cat

A personality from the Barstool Sports media company who claims to have offered free NIL money to the Wisconsin athletic department.

Frank Kaminsky

A former star player for the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team who reportedly also tried to offer NIL money to the school but was ignored.

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What they’re saying

“I'm a small piece of uh Wisconsin and all this stuff going on but I've offered to pay NIL money, and no one's followed up with me for like anything. Like multiple times I asked — they just don't have their s**t together.”

— Big Cat, Barstool Sports Personality

What’s next

The Wisconsin athletic department has not yet responded publicly to the claims made in the viral video. Fans will be closely watching to see if the school addresses the situation and outlines any plans to improve its NIL strategy going forward.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges Wisconsin's athletic department has faced in recent years, with the football and women's basketball programs struggling and the school seemingly unable to capitalize on NIL opportunities. It raises serious questions about the leadership and vision of the athletic department under Chris McIntosh's tenure.