Luke Fickell was thrown from the Cincinnati frying pan right into the Big Ten fire, and the Wisconsin Badgers are the ones who got burned.
Instead of lifting the program as promised, Fickell has been stuck at a 23-25 start since Week 11 of 2026 with the Badgers. With back-to-back losing seasons, the program has hit a low point it hasn’t seen since Barry Alvarez’s 2001 team.
For 22 consecutive seasons, Wisconsin football was defined by winning records, Big Ten titles and annual bowl trips.
The NIL may have reshaped college football, but that’s no excuse to abandon Wisconsin’s football identity. Fickell’s transition hasn’t just been difficult; The back-to-back losing seasons mark a drought the program hasn’t experienced since the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
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This is the current state of Wisconsin football under Fickell. Given his complete lack of results, his seat is very hot heading into a new season for the Badgers.
An expanded roster budget only increases the pressure on Fickell and his coaching staff to show clear progress. If not, this could be his last season in Madison.
With new athletic director Shawn Eichorst now at the helm, leaving Fickell is far less financially complicated than it was a year ago.
What is Luke Fickell Salary 2026?
Fickell is under contract through 2032 and will make $7.8 million this season, ranking him in the top 25 nationally, according to USA TODAY college football coaching salary database. But sitting right in the middle of the Big Ten’s payroll is a far cry from his actual on-field production.
How much is Fickell’s buyout after this season?
According to the report from AthleticsFickell’s buyout drops to $19.2 million after this season. While that remains a steep price for Eichorst to navigate, it’s a manageable feat for a program of Wisconsin’s size if Fickell can’t turn things around in Madison.
Can Fickell earn a bonus this season?
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If Fickell can turn things around in Madison, he stands to benefit financially. According to USA TODAY college football coaching salary databasehe could earn up to $1.45 million in incentives if Wisconsin qualifies for the College Football Playoff and makes a deep postseason run.
What are the substitute training options in Wisconsin?
If Wisconsin decides to fire Fickell at some point, it won’t have to look far for replacements. Many realistic options have deep ties to Madison, including three current FBS coaches who would be a good fit for the program.
Topping the list is former Badger Jason Eck. After making his mark at Idaho, he took over last season at New Mexico and promptly posted a 9-4 record, nearly propelling the Lobos to the Mountain West Conference championship game.
If Eck continues his winning ways in New Mexico, he could be a natural target for the Badgers. A native of La Crosse, Eck played offensive line for Wisconsin under Alvarez from 1995 to 1998 before beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the program in 1999.
Dickert may be comfortable with the Demon Deacons, but the Badgers could be intriguing enough to lure him away from the ACC. After an impressive 9-4 first season, Dickert’s stock continues to rise.
Not only does Dickert have the coaching resume to back up a move to the Big Ten, but his deep roots in the state are hard to ignore. Growing up in Oconto, Wisconsin and playing college football at UW-Stevens Point, local recruiting won’t be a problem.
After leaving Washington State for Wake Forest, speculation quickly began as to when Dickert might make another jump to the Big Ten or even the SEC. He has excelled at every stop, and if Wisconsin wants to take a chance, he could be a natural fit.
With North Dakota State officially making the jump to the Mountain West after two decades of FCS dominance, the Bison are finally in the FBS. Coach Tim Polasek has prepared the program to prove that it belongs from day one.
Polasek has posted a 27-3 record with the Bison since taking over from Matt Entz, who faced an FCS national championship in his first season. If Wisconsin ever wanted to take a non-traditional route and look for a hidden gem, getting a native Badger State product like Polasek could make a lot of sense.
It also helps that Polasek also has deep ties to Wisconsin.
He grew up in Iola, Wisconsin and played quarterback for Concordia University Wisconsin, and coached at Wisconsin–Stevens Point from 2003 to 2005. If he ever leaves the Bison, an opportunity in Madison could be hard to pass up.
