Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell Big Ten Media Day - Photo by Sports Illustrated
MADISON, WI (WSAU) — Wisconsin football Coach Luke Fickell has reportedly received a vote of confidence from leadership at the University.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that Fickell will not be fired at the end of the season despite a 2-6 record through eight games and a 0-5 record in conference play. Director of Athletics Chris McIntosh and UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin both said Coach has their support and that they will commit more financial resources to the program.
“Chancellor Mnookin and I are aligned on significantly elevating investment in our program to compete at highest level,” McIntosh told ESPN. “We are willing to make an investment in infrastructure and staff. As important is our ability to retain and recruit players in a revenue share and NIL era.”
Fickell is 15-19 in three seasons in Madison. He was hired in 2022 after the school parted ways with Paul Chryst, and was considered a home-run hire after leading the Cincinnati Bearcats to a 13-1 record in 2021 and an appearance in the four-team College Football Playoff.
Wisconsin was saddled with one of the toughest schedules in the nation, including a non-conference tilt with perennial power Alabama in Tuscaloosa and conference dates with Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana. All of those programs are currently ranked in the CFP Top 25, with the Buckeyes and Hoosiers occupying the top two spots.
The Badgers’ 2026 schedule includes a non-conference date with Notre Dame at Lambeau Field on September 6th. Wisconsin will also host FCS Western Illinois and the Pitt Panthers in non-conference action. Big Ten foes include USC, Michigan State, and Rutgers at home. Road opponents include Penn State, Iowa, and Purdue.
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