As Wisconsin gears up for a clash with No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday, a tough truth hangs over the program. Luke Fickell is fighting to keep his job.
The Badgers have dropped four straight games, including a humbling 37-0 loss to Iowa. Let’s dig into what’s gone wrong, especially at quarterback, with recruiting choices, and how coaching changes have shaken things up.
Wisconsin football used to be the definition of steady, stacking up 22 winning seasons in a row from 2002 to 2023. Lately, though, things have unraveled, and fans are wondering about Fickell’s future.
He took Cincinnati to the playoff, so expectations were sky-high. Now, he’s under the microscope and needs wins—fast.
The Quarterback Conundrum
The quarterback spot has been a mess. Injuries and some head-scratching recruiting calls led to rough play at the most important position on the field.
Wisconsin hasn’t cracked the top 100 in passer rating and only once had a QB finish in the top 60 in ESPN’s QBR metric. That stings in today’s college football landscape.
Teams can fix QB issues with transfers or by developing high school talent. But Wisconsin hasn’t nailed either approach.
Transfer Portal Woes
The Badgers tried to patch things up with transfers. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Tanner Mordecai, SMU: 91 transfer rating in 2023 cycle
- Braedyn Locke, Mississippi State: 88 transfer rating in 2023 cycle
- Nick Evers, Oklahoma: 89 transfer rating in 2023 cycle
- Tyler Van Dyke, Miami: 90 transfer rating in 2024 cycle
- Billy Edwards Jr., Wisconsin: 87 transfer rating in 2025 cycle
- Danny O’Neil, San Diego State: 86 transfer rating in 2025 cycle
- Hunter Simmons, Southern Illinois: 82 transfer rating in 2025 cycle
Some of these guys looked like solid additions, but injuries and streaky play kept tripping the team up. Mordecai started well, but then he got hurt and missed a chunk of the season.
Van Dyke also began strong before a torn ACL took him out. It’s been a revolving door at QB, and that’s tough for any team to overcome.
High School Recruiting Misses
Wisconsin’s high school QB recruits haven’t panned out either. Here’s who they’ve landed:
- Cole LaCrue: 84 rating, No. 87 QB in 2023 class
- Mabrey Mettauer: 87 rating, No. 52 QB in 2024 class
- Carter Smith: 89 rating, No. 24 QB in 2025 class
LaCrue, brought in by the previous staff, ended up at Eastern Illinois. Mettauer is backing up at Sam Houston, where Phil Longo—Wisconsin’s former offensive coordinator—now coaches.
These misses left Fickell leaning hard on the transfer portal, which hasn’t solved much.
Coaching Changes and Their Impact
The coaching carousel hasn’t helped. Wisconsin bet big on an Air Raid offense with Phil Longo, but that experiment fizzled out.
Without a legit QB and real playmakers, the offense sputtered. The team also lost its usual muscle up front, especially in the trenches.
New Offensive Coordinator
Trying to steady the ship, Wisconsin fired Longo and brought in Kansas offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. Grimes introduced a wide zone scheme that fits more with Wisconsin’s past identity.
But the transition’s been rocky. The offensive line now ranks 91st in pass blocking and 119th in run blocking, according to PFF.
The Road Ahead
Ohio State and Oregon are up next. These games will reveal a lot about Fickell and his staff’s ability to adapt under pressure.
With QB drama and coaching turnover, there’s almost no margin for error left. It’s a tough spot, and you’d have to wonder—can they pull it off?
Looking to the Future
Things look rough right now, but there’s still some hope on the horizon. Wisconsin has a fascinating 2026 quarterback recruit in Ryan Hopkins, who starts for Mater Dei (California).
Hopkins is a real athlete, clocking a sub-11-second 100-meter dash. Still, it’s possible Fickell and his staff won’t get a fourth offseason to see if he pans out.
Switching to the Air Raid offense? Honestly, that move hasn’t worked out. The team doesn’t have a top-tier quarterback or true playmakers on the outside, and the offensive line looks shaky.
Wisconsin has to rebuild its identity and fix what’s gone wrong. If you’re curious about all the details and want more on Luke Fickell’s challenges, check out the full article on CBS Sports.
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