Updated July 28, 2026, 4:58 p.m. CT
The Wisconsin Badgers brought in Luke Fickell thinking he would take them to the College Football Playoffs.
After leading Cincinnati to the promised land, Fickell hasn’t brought that success to Madison.
In fact, it has been the opposite. Fickell is 17-21 overall and 10-17 in Big Ten play heading into his fourth season with the Badgers.
A buyout has certainly been on everyone’s mind, especially with so many major schools not hesitating to fire their struggling coaches.
Heading into the 2026 season, The Athletic‘s Justin Williams revealed the 52-year-old is under contract through March 2032. Should the Badgers decide to move on from Fickell at this point, the buyout is still close to $20 million.
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New athletic director Shawn Eichorst has a big decision ahead of him, but he doesn’t seem to be rushing to replace Fickell. This is a coach who is destined for a make-or-break season, one that will undoubtedly make Eichorst’s decision for him.
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