Wisconsin football’s rising star general manager, Max Stienecker, has left the Badgers to join the USC Trojans, as reported by FootballScoop’s John Brice and confirmed by The Athletic’s Jesse Temple. Stienecker was promoted to GM at Wisconsin in July 2024, making him the youngest to hold the title in college football history. He played a key role in the Badgers’ recent recruiting success, helping them land top-ranked classes in 2024 and 2025.
Stienecker’s departure to USC is a significant loss for Wisconsin, as he has been credited with raising the program’s recruiting ceiling during his tenure. USC’s new general manager, Chad Bowden, has hired Stienecker as their executive director of personnel as the Trojans revamp their recruiting department.
With the class of 2026 recruiting cycle underway, Wisconsin will need to find a replacement for Stienecker to continue their recruiting success. The program currently has one player committed in the class, three-star lineman Benjamin Novak. Wisconsin fans and players alike are feeling the impact of Stienecker’s departure, as evidenced by four-star signee Jaylen Williams’ remarks on the news.
For ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, fans can follow @TheBadgersWire on social media for updates and analysis. Stienecker’s move to USC marks a significant change for both programs and will be closely watched as the college football landscape continues to evolve.
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