Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh has announced that football coach Luke Fickell will return to the Badgers in 2026, the university confirmed to The Athletic.
At 2-6 this season and 0-5 in the Big Ten, there has been considerable speculation about Fickell’s job status in the midst of his third season with the program. McIntosh’s decision to officially retain Fickell for 2026 comes less than three weeks after the AD sent a letter to Wisconsin fans expressing “disappointment” with the team’s performance but indicating support for Fickell and increased investment in the football program.
Said McIntoch in a statement: “We all recognize that we have fallen short of expectations. I am disappointed and frustrated with how our season has gone, just like our players, coaches and fans. We have evaluated every aspect of the program, and we’re prepared to execute a plan that brings us back to meeting our goals, standards, and expectations. Chancellor Mnookin and I are aligned on that plan and are committed to having Wisconsin Football compete at the highest level.
“We will get this right and will not shy away from making any necessary changes.”
Wisconsin has lost six games in a row and is 15-19 overall and 8-15 in Big Ten play under Fickell.
His buyout, had he been fired after the 2025 season, would have been north of $25 million. When asked about his job status for 2026 on Oct. 20, in the wake of McIntosh’s letter to fans, Fickell could not confirm then that he would be back next season but spoke about his relationship with McIntosh and the support from the AD.
“There’s never been a waver here … knowing who’s got your back …We all have the same expectations,” Fickell told reporters. “Chris McIntosh and I can talk honestly and openly about where we are, where we’ve made mistakes. And for me, that’s probably the healthiest thing I’ve got going.”
Fickell, 52, was hired by McIntosh in November 2022, signing a seven-year contract with the Badgers. He received a one-year extension in February 2025 through the 2031 season and will earn $7.825 million this season. Prior to Wisconsin, Fickell went 57-18 in six seasons at Cincinnati, which was competing in the American Athletic Conference at the time, including a pair of conference championships and a trip to the four-team College Football Playoff in 2021 — a first for a Group of 5 program.
After a 7-6 finish in 2023, the Badgers went 5-7 in 2024, recording their first losing season since 2001 and snapping the program’s streak of 22 consecutive bowl appearances.
Wisconsin has been hampered by injuries during Fickell’s tenure, particularly at quarterback, including the 2025 season. Billy Edwards Jr., who transferred from Maryland last offseason and started the season-opening win over Miami (Ohio), has thrown a total of 16 passes over just two games, and has not played since Sept. 20.
The Badgers are averaging 12.5 points per game this season, lowest in the Big Ten and 134th out of 136 FBS programs. Last month, the team suffered back-to-back shutout losses, a first for the program since 1977.
Enhanced investments in the football program in 2026, with Fickell at the helm, was at the core of McIntosh’s message on Thursday.
“Our intention is to be, in terms of our investment, on par with those that we intend to compete with,” McIntosh told ESPN. “Our expectations are to compete at the highest level in the Big Ten and beyond.”
Wisconsin hosts No. 23 Washington on Saturday, then finishes the regular season at No. 2 Indiana, vs. Illinois and at Minnesota.