As the Big Ten gears up to try and win a third consecutive national championship, there are some coaches among the ranks who have some uneasy footing. Ryan Day (no matter the calls from the Lunatic Fringe™), Dan Lanning, and Curt Cignetti have solid job security. James Franklin and Lincoln Riley have high expectations and, if those expectations are not met, there could be changes. If Riley were let go, there’s a hefty buyout, of course. It’s the same with Kirk Ferentz at Iowa. P.J. Fleck just got an extension with the program’s fourth-best winning percentage since 1900 (and he’s a perfect 6-0 in bowls!).
Sherrone Moore, Jonathan Smith, Mike Locksley, and Matt Rhule are likely two disappointing seasons away, so they’re safe for 2025. The expectations are on the floor for Rutgers, Northwestern, and Purdue, so Greg Schiano, Greg Braun, and Barry Odom are safe. Jedd Fisch and Deshaun Foster are in year two of rebuilds in a new conference, so their leashes are longer. Meanwhile, Bret Bielema looks like he’s righting the ship at Illinois.
That leaves one: Luke Fickell.
Luke Fickell Has The Hottest Seat Among Big Ten Coaches
When Fickell left Cincinnati for Wisconsin, it was almost universally praised. Fickell knows the Big Ten, hailing from Ohio State. He played for the Buckeyes from 1993 through 1996 as a standout nose tackle. After not getting anywhere in the NFL, he rejoined Ohio State as a coach under Jim Tressel. He climbed the ranks from graduate assistant to co-defensive coordinator before essentially being the sacrificial lamb for the infamous 2011 Ohio State season. When Urban Meyer took over, he kept Fickell through the 2016 season as co-defensive coordinator before Cincinnati hired him.
Fickell led the Bearcats for six seasons, culminating in a CFP appearance, something once thought impossible from the Group of 5. Wisconsin poached Fickell after firing Paul Chryst mid-season, and the expectations were high. Wisconsin is one of the better programs in the Big Ten, historically, so the CFP was the goal.
In year one, Fickell led Wisconsin to a 7-6 mark. Last year, the team regressed to 5-7, snapping Wisconsin’s impressive streak of 22 seasons with a bowl appearance. Now, his job may be in jeopardy, barring a significant improvement.
CBS Sports ranked Fickell as the coach with the hottest seat in the Big Ten with a 3.67 rating. For their system, that translates to “pressure is mounting,” so they see a future where Wisconsin moves on, but it may not be imminent. Garrett Searight of “The Daily Huddle” podcast concurs, adding, “you can probably point to the idea that [they’re] going to run the air raid at Wisconsin as the reason it hasn’t worked.” Yes, when you think of Wisconsin, you think of Ron Dayne, Melvin Gordon, and Jonathan Taylor, not throwing it almost 400 times in a season.
Wisconsin’s 2025 Schedule
- August 28: vs. Miami (OH)
- September 6: vs Middle Tennessee State
- September 13: at Alabama
- September 20: vs Maryland
- October 4: at Michigan
- October 11: vs Iowa
- October 18: vs Ohio State
- October 25: at Oregon
- November 8: vs Washington
- November 15: at Indiana
- November 22: vs Illinois
- November 29: at Minnesota
How many wins are in store for the Badgers?
PFF considers this schedule the hardest in college football and only expects five wins. Wisconsin is shifting back to its traditional offensive philosophy this year, led by Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree. Billy Edwards Jr. transferred in from Maryland and has Ohio State transfer Jayden Ballard out wide to take the top off the defense.
The Badgers face an uphill climb. With this schedule, getting to bowl eligibility would be a major win. While 6-6 may not be what Wisconsin is looking for, it would be impressive with this schedule. Would that be enough to keep Fickell on for another year?
Main Photo: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
