Wisconsin’s 24–20 comeback win over Penn State gave head coach Luke Fickell a reprieve from the hot seat, and former college head coach Brian Kelly was quick to step up in his defense. Fickell, who earns $7.8 million annually, entered the game under mounting pressure after back-to-back losing seasons and a drastically increased roster budget.
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Kelly, who understands firsthand the sting of being fired after years of work and ambition, is publicly backing Fickell to keep his job rather than eyeing the Wisconsin opening for himself despite lingering coaching rumors.
Appearing on CBS Sports on September 30, Kelly made a direct public plea to take the pressure off the Badgers’ head coach following Wisconsin’s stunning second-half turnaround. “Well, take Luke Fickell off that hot seat finally, because you go to Penn State, you get a victory, and you come back late and get that victory,” Kelly said. “That sells everything in the locker room too: we’re going in the right direction.”
Kelly’s support stems not from emotion but from Wisconsin’s impressive performance against Penn State. The Badgers were underdogs entering the field, but they are now back in the headlines for good reasons.
Penn State QB Rocco Becht helped the Nittany Lions cruise to a comfortable 17–0 second-quarter lead. However, Wisconsin QB Colton Joseph rushed for a 7-yard touchdown right before halftime to cut the lead to 17–7. Wisconsin scored again in the third quarter following a Charles Perkins interception to make it 17–10, before mounting a dramatic fourth-quarter rally.
With under four minutes remaining, Joseph delivered an 11-yard touchdown strike to Eugene Hilton Jr. to cut the deficit to 20–17. Then, with just 1:13 left, Joseph threw a deep pass into coverage that tight end Jacob Harris hauled in for a game-winning 72-yard touchdown, sealing the 24–20 victory as Wisconsin’s defense shut down Penn State’s final attack.
The Badgers’ comeback proved crucial for Fickell, who faced mounting pressure to deliver under his $7.8 million salary. Ahead of the 2026 season, the university poured more than $25 million into roster funding, more than double the previous year’s budget, drastically escalating the expectations on Fickell to turn those dollars into immediate wins. However, this win provides crucial breathing room.
Furthermore, Kelly made it clear he has no interest in claiming someone else’s job amid rumors connecting his name to potential openings.
“You can imagine, coming from my perspective as a sitting football coach when I was in that position, you hate hearing the rumors because it means somebody’s job is being evaluated,” Kelly said on The Early Read. “It’s uncomfortable for me… I don’t relish my name being mentioned for other jobs. I’m pulling for the guy that’s got that job, and I want to see him do well.”
Now, as Fickell seeks to keep his job safe for the remainder of the season, the Badgers face their next major test when they meet Michigan in their upcoming matchup.