Luke Fickell will return as Wisconsin Badgers football head coach in 2026, Athletics Director Chris McIntosh confirmed to ESPN this afternoon.
The move comes after McIntosh issued a public letter to fans on Oct. 20, defending Fickell and pledging “more Athletics-funded investments” amid a disappointing 2-6 record. McIntosh also promised more resources in recruitment and overall program performance with a continued analysis of how Badger football can return to its winning identity.
“Chancellor [Jennifer] Mnookin and I are aligned on significantly elevating investment in our program to compete at the highest level,” McIntosh told ESPN. “We are willing to make an investment in infrastructure and staff. As important, is our ability to retain and recruit players in a revenue share and NIL era.”
In three seasons at Wisconsin, Fickell has a losing record of 15-19, and the Badgers aren’t favored in any of their remaining four games. Fickell’s tenure has been defined by major injuries — specifically at the quarterback position — and the Badgers missing a bowl game for the first time in 22 years.
“This season has caused us all to have to look from within. Luke has had to do that. I’ve had to do that. He has a willingness to be better. So do I, and so does Wisconsin from an institutional perspective,” McIntosh told ESPN. “If Wisconsin is going to be as competitive as we expect, the support has to be as competitive. There’s no getting around it. Our people, our fans are passionate about Wisconsin football. I’d have it no other way. A successful football program is important to the university, the state and our lettermen.”
McIntosh told ESPN he will meet with the team to inform them of his decision. He previously met with the team following their 34-0 loss to the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, where McIntosh indicated Fickell would return, according to players who anonymously shared the contents of the private meeting with the Wisconsin State Journal.
Luke Fickell is under contract through the 2031 season. If Wisconsin were to fire him at the end of the season, they would owe him a buyout of more than $25 million.
Retaining players, as well as recruiting high school prospects, has been tough for the Badger football program as of late. Two notable and anticipated high-school players, linebacker Aden Reeder from St. Xavier High in Cincinnati and wide receiver Tayshon Bardo, originally from Penn High School in Indiana, decommitted to Wisconsin in the last few months.Both were three-star recruits in the 2026 class and had committed earlier in 2025 before withdrawing.
Still, McIntosh believes the choice of hiring Fickell in 2022 was no mistake and will eventually show in the development of the program.
“He has the vision and fire to do it,” McIntosh told ESPN. “The same things that made Luke Fickell a unanimously great hire in 2022 remain. He's a winner, program builder and developer of talent and he understands the Big Ten.”
The Badgers will face the Washington Huskies this Saturday at Camp Randall after a two-week break, giving Fickell another opportunity to prove to fans why he deserves to stay.
