The Wisconsin to Indiana transfer pipeline continues.
Indiana has added Wisconsin transfer offensive lineman Joe Brunner from the portal according to multiple Wednesday reports.
The 6-foot-5 and 317-pound Brunner has been a starter at left guard for the Badgers each of the last two seasons.
Brunner has one year of eligibility remaining.
Brunner earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors after starting all 12 games on the Badger offensive line in 2025. Brunner posted four consecutive games with PFF pass blocking grades above 80.0 during Big Ten play, all against ranked teams (Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Indiana).
In 2024 he started all 12 games and logged a 77.8 PFF pass block grade, the third highest among Big Ten guards. He was part of a Badger offensive line that allowed only 13.0 sacks, the fewest in the Big Ten.
Brunner played in 11 games, mostly on special teams in 2023, and four games on the offensive line and on special teams in 2022.
Since hiring Bob Bostad as offensive line coach IU has added several Wisconsin transfers on offense, including Trey Wedig, Drew Evans, Riley Nowakowski, and now Brunner. Indiana also added safety Preston Zachman this cycle from the Badgers.
Although his experience is at guard, Brunner will enter an offensive line room with needs at center and the tackle spots.
The Hoosiers are set to lose center Pat Coogan at center after this season. Right tackles Khalil Benson and Zen Michalski are also out of eligibility. Left tackle Carter Smith has a year of eligibility remaining but could enter the NFL Draft.
More transfer portal information:
- Portal tracker: More IU prospects and players coming and going.
- Position-by-position look at Indiana in 2026.
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