Currently three games under .500 with the Wisconsin Badgers, Luke Fickell has a lot to prove in 2026.
Not only is a new athletic director coming to town, but Wisconsin has an extremely favorable schedule, one that could help get this program back on track.
Looking at his overall 80-45 record as a college football head coach, Fickell has somehow managed to tank a Wisconsin football program that once dominated in nearly every aspect.
NIL and the transfer portal certainly haven’t helped, but one thing never changes, and that’s recruiting.
It’s taken a few years for Fickell to find his footing, but his class of 2027 is undoubtedly his best yet. If there was ever a reason to believe he’ll be sticking around for a few more years, that recruiting class proves it.
Fresh off flipping Florida State’s four-star safety, Mekhi Williams, Fickell proved by beating Nebraska and LSU that he isn’t here to mess around. Wisconsin has a top 20 recruiting class, one no one would’ve expected at this time last year.
Recruiting doesn’t mean everything, but it shows he’s building a culture, and people want to come play for him. Fickell has seen far more criticism than praise during his time in Madison, but things are starting to change, and it seems like he’s secured a few extra years of job security.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: How Luke Fickell’s recruiting bought him a few more years at Wisconsin
Reporting by Jordon Lawrenz, Badgers Wire / Badgers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jordon Lawrenz, Badgers Wire | USA TODAY Network
