Wisconsin’s 2025 season took another downward turn on Saturday, as the team dropped to 2-5 (0-4 Big Ten) with a 34-0 home loss to Ohio State.
The defeat dropped Luke Fickell’s overall record with the program to 14-18, with a dismal 2-10 mark dating back to last November. Notably, his team has now lost 10 consecutive games against Power Four opponents, nine of which by multiple scores. Just in the last two weeks, the Badgers have been outscored 71-0 in home losses to Iowa and Ohio State, respectively.
Many, especially Wisconsin fans and alumni, are calling for the program to make a change amid its historic downturn. Program legend Barry Alvarez, however, doesn’t sound in favor of that becoming reality.
Speaking with former Badgers Tarek Saleh and Derek Engler on his weekly appearance on ESPN Madison, Alvarez pushed back on the common fan behavior of calling for firings when seasons trend south.
“If you’ve never played, you’ve never coached. The first thing you do when things go south a little bit, ‘fire everybody,'” Alvarez said. “Then what the hell are you going to do? You’re going to bring some knuckleheads in here that don’t know anything about anything. Then you start all over again. Then you’re worse than where you started. So, you hire people, you believe in them and you stick with them. And support them. Until the time comes, if that comes, that you know that they can’t get the job done.”
Alvarez’s comments follow Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh’s recent public vote of confidence in Fickell, as well as a reported team meeting that confirmed the head coach wasn’t close to being dismissed. His tone is in line with McIntosh’s messaging, specifically in sticking with and supporting Fickell as he attempts to turn the program around.
McIntosh’s decision regarding Fickell’s future is more complicated than what is typically seen across college football, especially than the typical scenario that Alvarez laid out. That is due to Fickell’s $27.5 million buyout, which may be prohibitive for a program like Wisconsin, and the athletic director’s job status being somewhat tied to the coach’s success. McIntosh is therefore incentivized to keep Fickell in place and attempt to chart a path forward, which is exactly what he decided to do.
There is a growing question of what point the season must reach for a change to be necessary, at least in McIntosh and Alvarez’s eyes. Wisconsin is barreling toward a 2-10 finish, plus may have some trouble keeping its recruiting class of 2026 together. That status has the fanbase ready for a change. Given the program’s messaging, as well as Alvarez’s comments, one does not appear imminent.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin great Barry Alvarez reacts to Chris McIntosh’s support of coach Luke Fickell
Reporting by Ben Kenney, Badgers Wire / Badgers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
