Luke Fickell is ready to face the nation’s top team in week 12, a challenge that might land him in the national spotlight. Wisconsin Badgers’ $7.2 million head coach is the man steering the Badgers into a promising era. After a stellar stint at Cincinnati, he took the Wisconsin reins in late 2022, capping his debut with a Guaranteed Rate Bowl win. 2023 wasn’t all smooth sailing—thin injuries and rough November waters—but Fickell’s crew rallied with rivalry wins over Nebraska and Minnesota, keeping the program’s 22-season winning streak alive.

The former Buckeyes Nose Guard lives a happy life with his wife Amy and their six children, Landon, Luca, Aydon, Ashton, Laykon, and Lucian. But who exactly is the man calling the shots for the Badgers? Before Wisconsin, Fickell was the architect of one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history at the University of Cincinnati. Over six seasons, he led the Bearcats to a 57-18 record and turned them from middle-of-the-pack hopefuls into genuine playoff contenders. Cincinnati under Fickell didn’t just win; they dominated, posting three 11-win seasons and earning the program’s first-ever College Football Playoff berth in 2021. “We believed we could compete with the big dogs,” Fickell said back then. And they did.

But rebuilding the Badger land hasn’t been all smooth sailing. After stepping in as the school’s 31st head coach in November 2022, Fickell faced a baptism of fire. Despite leading the team to a Guaranteed Rate Bowl victory in 2022, his first full season in 2023 tested his mettle. Injuries plagued the roster, and a rough November start had fans clutching their foam cheese hats in frustration. However, Fickell rallied the team for back-to-back rivalry wins over Nebraska and Minnesota, snatching Paul Bunyan’s Axe in the process. Not bad for a guy who had to learn to pronounce “bratwurst” correctly on the fly.

The numbers might not jump off the page just yet—Wisconsin finished 7-6 in 2023—but the trends are undeniable. Fickell’s coaching DNA is built on resilience and adaptation—qualities that served him well at Cincinnati and are now being infused into the Badgers’ bloodstream. Now fresh off with a 5-5 overall record in the Big Ten in their best display against the Ducks, he’s at the helm of things.

A bowl game still in sight for Luke Fickell and Wisconsin

No. 1 Oregon held off Wisconsin for a 16-13 win on Saturday night at Camp Randall Stadium. The potential national champions were tied 13-13 until the final minute, when Oregon’s Sappington kicked a 24-yard field goal to win the game.

It’s déjà vu for Wisconsin, much like last year when the Badgers took down the Cornhuskers and Gophers to snag a spot in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Well, only to fall short against LSU! Coach Fickell has frequently mentioned this season that his team is scaling a colossal mountain, given the brutal schedule and the team’s current state. Although the Badgers aren’t exactly where they hoped to be by the end of his second season, a bowl game is still within their grasp. It’s like chasing a glimmer of hope in a foggy landscape, but they’re still pushing forward.

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But displays like these explain why Luke Fcikell is one of the highest-earning coaches.