Luke Fickell’s third season in Madison is turning into a full-fledged drama.
Wisconsin is 2–5 (0–4 in the Big Ten) after back-to-back home shutouts — 37–0 vs. Iowa and 34–0 vs. No. 1 Ohio State. It’s the first time the Badgers have been blanked in consecutive games since 1977.
Before he took the reins at Wisconsin, Fickell made a name for himself at Cincinnati. As head coach there, he went 57–18 over six seasons, had three 11-win campaigns and a 2021 season that produced an undefeated regular season, an AAC title and the first College Football Playoff berth for a Group of Five program.
He was named head coach of Wisconsin’s football team in November of 2022, but since that time, Badger fans have done nothing but wait to see some on-field results. That hasn’t happened — and calls have amplified for his firing. Despite those calls, Badgers Athletic Director Chris McIntosh just doubled down on his support for Fickell.
Badgers AD Chris McIntosh Makes Statement on Possibility of Firing Head Coach Luke Fickell
GettyHead coach Luke Fickell of the Wisconsin Badgers heard fans chants asking for his firing last weekend.
Here’s what the Badgers have done under Fickell: They went 7–6 in 2023, 5–7 in 2024 (ending the program’s 22-year streak of winning seasons) and 2–5 so far in 2025. That puts him at 14–18 across his three full seasons — 15–18 if you count the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl he was officially credited with upon arrival.
Fans of Wisconsin football are accustomed to seeing a strong run game at the very least, and even that hasn’t happened. Last fall’s 0-5 finish and this season’s slide have only amplified frustrations. Still, Coach Fickell is getting public backing from McIntosh, who released a statement containing the following:
My years as a student-athlete at Wisconsin were among the best of my life; I loved my teammates and coaches, our passionate fans and the joy that Wisconsin Football brings to our campus and entire community. It is with those experiences, along with my love and deep respect for our university, that I share in the disappointment with this football season to date; it has fallen well short of our standards. At Wisconsin, we do not shy away from setting lofty expectations — for our teams, our coaches, and for myself. We embrace them and accept the responsibility of meeting those goals. While our coaches, staff and student-athletes continue to demonstrate the work ethic and values that represent UW Football, the results simply are not where any of us want them to be. Coach Fickell sees the potential in what this team can be, as do I, and he shares the same disappointment and frustration. Our student-athletes continue to stand and fight with character and pride as they battle through this moment of adversity, and they deserve all our support.
Fickell’s Contract May Be Keeping Him in Madison
Contractually, moving on wouldn’t be cheap. Fickell signed a seven-year deal in November of 2022 and received a one-year extension in February, taking him through 2032. He’s set to earn roughly $7.8 million in 2025.
A buyout of his contract would cost the Badgers 80% of the remaining value; if triggered at season’s end, CBS Sports pegs it around $25 million. That math might explain why, despite the dissatisfaction of many fans, Wisconsin has signaled patience (at least for now).
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