The Wisconsin Badgers finished their 2024 season with a disappointing 5-7 record, marking their first losing season under head coach Luke Fickell. After starting the year strong with a 5-2 record, the Badgers lost their final five games to close out the season. Fickell, who took over as Wisconsin’s head coach in November 2022, led the team to a Guaranteed Rate Bowl win in his first game. In 2023, the Badgers ended the year with a 7-6 record, capped by a loss to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Since Fickell’s arrival, Wisconsin has posted a 13-13 record. Despite this rough start to his tenure, the university has decided to keep Fickell as its head coach, announcing a contract extension on Wednesday that will keep him with the team through 2032. “Football coach Luke Fickell’s seven-year agreement was extended through March 31, 2032,” the school said in a statement.
At the end of the 2024 season, Fickell ranked 18th among the highest-paid coaches in college football, earning $7.725 million annually. His contract buyout at the time was set at $40.186 million. This extension is considered a “routine” move, following a similar one-year extension Fickell agreed to just before the 2024 season.
Looking ahead to 2025, Wisconsin faces a challenging regular-season schedule, with games against top programs like Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana. The Badgers will kick off their 2025 season with a matchup against Miami (OH) on August 30.
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