Wisconsin walks with a disastrous 2-5 record at this point. The Badgers’ 34-0 blowout against Ohio State raised some serious questions about Luke Fickell’s future at the program. The game was so bad that the fans started chanting “Fire Fickell” within the first two minutes. It’s not surprising for a coach with a 15-18 record in Madison. Iowa dismantled the Badgers, outgaining them 491–144 yards and shutting them out for the second straight home game after last week’s 37–0 win. It was their first back-to-back shutout in a season since 1977. When you’re historically bad, it’s pretty obvious that your time is running out.

On3’s Pete Thamel provided some fruitful intel on Fickell’s future at Madison. “Serious conversations are being had about Luke Fickell’s future, but Wisconsin does visit Oregon in six days,” Thamel said. “One idea that is being floated, sources have told On3, is the possibility of bringing back Fickell and investing heavily in the transfer portal.” He further added, “A team meeting was held this past week with [Chris] McIntosh addressing Fickell’s future.”

Now, if Fickell’s firing conversations become hotter, his $25M buyout remains a stagnant financial hurdle for the Wisconsin administration. But the question remains the same. How is he still the guy in charge? The numbers tell the story. Wisconsin now holds a dreadful 0-5 in Big Ten play. The Badgers averaged only 6.8 points per game against Power 4 opponents this season. Against Big Ten defenses? Even worse, a measly 5 points per game. The offense has been absolutely toothless. Let’s take the Ohio State game, for example.

The Buckeyes, ranked No. 1 nationally, are still cruising with an unbeatable record. Matt Patricia’s unit holds the 3rd position in their defensive stop rating. The Buckeyes’ secondary held Wisconsin to just nine first downs and 144 total yards. The Badgers didn’t even record a single passing yard in the second half. That’s right, zero. Halftime already saw Wisconsin down 17-0 with just four first downs and 69 yards. The Buckeyes stifled every attempt. After this latest showing, the Badgers are putting up just 6.8 points against Power 4 teams and 5.0 against Big Ten defenses.

Can you imagine Wisconsin’s offensive struggles were so bad that in three Big Ten home games this season, they scored just one touchdown? Against Maryland, it was just Hunter Simmons who entered the end zone just once with 28 seconds remaining for the result. At the end of the game, Simmons racked up a mere 45 yards, completing 1 out of 3 passes. However, the Badgers still seem to believe that Fickell can turn things around. Ahead of Week 9, AD Chris McIntosh took the unusual step of meeting with the team to address the swirling doubts about Fickell’s job security. And it’s safe to say that Fickell is expected back in 2026.

It seems like Fickell really made an impact on the players. “It just gave me more confidence for coach Fick,” the player said. “I was so excited to hear that because I don’t want him to go. Everybody blames him, but it’s not his fault. I believe it’s the team, it’s the players, it’s the whole Wisconsin Athletics as a whole. It’s not just coach Fick. He can’t go.”

Luke Fickell remains a $25M liability if released 

Talk about Luke Fickell’s hot seat heated up but ended quickly after AD Chris McIntosh firmly backed him. But what if things worsen down the road? And if Fickell’s firing conversations heat up again, what will be the coach’s buyout? Wisconsin is already cruising with a combined 122-20 record. Yeah, that bad. But even if Wisconsin decides to pull the plug on Fickell, the buyout price tag is a serious conversation stopper.

The man’s contract, signed back in November 2022, gives him four years and about $31.5 million still left on a seven-year deal. So if the Badgers fire him at season’s end, they owe him a buyout of roughly $25 million. Now that is a major hit to the Wisconsin treasury in these crucial times. But that won’t be the highest buyout in College football history. Texas A&M’s $77.5 million payout for Jimbo Fisher’s firing in 2023 is the sport’s most jaw-dropping.

But in the Big Ten, the record was Indiana’s $16 million buyout for Tom Allen the same year. And kicking all of this out, even Fickell’s $25M, is James Franklin. Penn State fired Franklin and gave him a $50 million goodbye payout! Yeah, you heard that right. So, even with fans screaming “Fire Fickell,” and a team stumbling badly on the field, Wisconsin’s brass faces a huge economic hurdle.