Wisconsin won’t be searching for a new football coach this year, as the athletic director confirmed Luke Fickell will return to lead the Badgers in 2026.
Athletic director Chris McIntosh confirmed Fickell’s status to ESPN on Thursday, Nov. 6 and informed the team of the decision.
The decision comes weeks after McIntosh voiced his support for Fickell to finish what has been a disastrous year for the Badgers. Wisconsin is currently 2-6 with six consecutive losses, and one of four Big Ten teams without a conference victory. It has come while playing one of the hardest schedules in the country that includes five teams currently ranked in US LBM coaches poll, with three in the top 10.
With Washington and Indiana still left on the schedule, It’s on pace to be the worst season for Wisconsin since 1990, Barry Alvarez’s first season in Madison. Fans have voiced displeasure with Fickell and attendance has been down at Camp Randall Stadium, which is on pace to be its lowest since 1992.
‘This season has caused us all to have to look from within,’ McIntosh said. ‘Luke has had to do that. I’ve had to do that. He has a willingness to be better. So do I, and so does Wisconsin from an institutional perspective.’
The athletic director added the university is increasing its investment into the program and roster that will hopefully put the team back on track to achieve the success it sustained in the 2010s.
‘Chancellor (Jennifer) Mnookin and I are aligned on significantly elevating investment in our program to compete at highest level,’ McIntosh said. ‘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 in his third season with Wisconsin after a successful tenure at Cincinnati, where he led the Bearcats to be the first Group of Five team the reach the four-team College Football Playoff in 2021.
Since he was hired in 2022, Fickell is 15-19 with an 8-15 mark in the Big Ten play. After going 7-6 in his first season with an appearance at ReliaQuest Bowl, Wisconsin finished 5-7 in 2024, ending its streak of 22 consecutive seasons with a bowl appearance.
Fickell’s contract runs through the 2031 season. By retaining him for the 2026 season, Wisconsin avoids having to pay buyout of $27.1 million if he was fired before Dec. 1. In 2026, Wisconsin will open the season with a game against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field then home contests against Western Illinois and Pittsburgh.
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