Wisconsin AD says coach Fickell will return for 2026 season

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell will return for the 2026 season, Badgers athletic director Chris McIntosh told ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Fickell was believed to be on the hot seat after posting a 15-19 record with Wisconsin. He's 2-6 in his third full season with the Badgers, including 0-5 in Big Ten play. They've lost six games in a row.

However, McIntosh wants the school's football program to have more continuity while increasing its recruiting abilities.

"Chancellor (Jennifer) Mnookin and I are aligned on significantly elevating investment in our program to compete at the highest level," McIntosh said. "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."

The Badgers, who've yet to win more than seven games in a season under Fickell, have notably struggled offensively. They rank 134th with an average of 12.5 points per game in 2025. Wisconsin topped 20 total points only once this season (versus Middle Tennessee in September), and it's scored only seven points in its past three games combined.

"This season has caused us all to have to look from within," McIntosh added. "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."

Fickell, 52, joined Wisconsin after a successful stint at Cincinnati from 2017-22.

Several major schools have already parted ways with their head coaches this cycle, including Penn State, LSU, Florida, and Auburn.