Given the large names which were fired — and at the moment are obtainable — across the college football ranks this season, and when mixed with this system’s struggles over the previous three years, it appeared doable that Wisconsin‘s Luke Fickell may very well be the subsequent distinguished coach to get sacked. But it surely’s not occurring.
Luke Fickell will get at the very least another yr at Wisconsin
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh told ESPN on Thursday that Fickell will likely be again on the Badgers’ sidelines in the beginning of the 2026 season, however with vital modifications round him for this system. These modifications are prone to embrace new investments within the roster and program as an entire.
Here’s what McIntosh advised ESPN in regards to the choice.
“Chancellor [Jennifer] Mnookin and I are aligned on considerably elevating funding in our program to compete at highest stage,” McIntosh advised ESPN. “We’re prepared to make an funding in infrastructure and employees. As necessary is our capability to retain and recruit gamers in a income share and NIL period.”
Fickell arrived at Wisconsin in 2022 with vital hype. He had beforehand turned Cincinnati into one of many high packages within the nation, taking the Bearcats as excessive because the No. 2 rating in the course of the 2021 season.
His Wisconsin tenure has not been as profitable. As of Thursday, Wisconsin is 15-19 underneath Fickell’s watch, and solely 2-6 this season. The Badgers’ solely wins have come towards Miami (Ohio) and Middle Tennessee State, whereas they’ve scored simply 41 factors in six video games towards Energy 4 conferences. They’ve simply seven factors over the previous three video games.
It isn’t solely unhealthy, it continues what has been a gentle regression for this system. Only for comparability, by Fickell’s third yr at Cincinnati he was engaged on his second consecutive 11-win season and had this system frequently within the top-25. The Badgers will not be something near that.
So why is Wisconsin sticking with him?
Not desirous to pay Fickell’s buyout might definitely be a part of it. Or it may very well be the truth that so many high-profile jobs opening this season might give them considerably extra competitors relating to touchdown an improve at head coach. Or maybe they really feel consistency and a better monetary funding in this system is what they want.
Time will inform if they’re making the suitable choice.
