Given the massive names which were fired — and at the moment are accessible — 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 could possibly be the subsequent outstanding coach to get sacked. However it’s not occurring.
Luke Fickell will get not less than yet one more yr at Wisconsin
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh told ESPN on Thursday that Fickell can be again on the Badgers’ sidelines initially of the 2026 season, however with important adjustments round him for this system. These adjustments are more likely to embody new investments within the roster and program as an entire.
Here’s what McIntosh advised ESPN concerning 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 workers. As essential is our capacity to retain and recruit gamers in a income share and NIL period.”
Fickell arrived at Wisconsin in 2022 with important hype. He had beforehand turned Cincinnati into one of many prime packages within the nation, taking the Bearcats as excessive because the No. 2 rating through the 2021 season.
His Wisconsin tenure has not been as profitable. As of Thursday, Wisconsin is 15-19 below Fickell’s watch, and solely 2-6 this season. The Badgers’ solely wins have come in opposition to Miami (Ohio) and Middle Tennessee State, whereas they’ve scored simply 41 factors in six video games in opposition to 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 gradual 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 often within the top-25. The Badgers should not something near that.
So why is Wisconsin sticking with him?
Not eager to pay Fickell’s buyout may actually be a part of it. Or it could possibly be the truth that so many high-profile jobs opening this season may give them considerably extra competitors in the case of 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 proper choice.
