Wisconsin Doesn’t Have an Excuse Anymore

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mark Pszonak | Last updated Oct 13, 2025 6:21 AM ET

Many times, something that happens elsewhere can affect things closer to home. That should be the situation in Madison, Wisconsin, where Luke Fickell would have likely already been fired if not for his $25M buyout. So, when Penn State fired James Franklin on Sunday even though he had a $50M buyout, the question around Wisconsin should’ve been, why not us?

That is a question that will need answering today, tomorrow and every day that this season progresses. And every day there is no answer, meaning that Fickell remains in charge of the program, the season will continue to get worse.

Wisconsin (2-4) averages 15.5 points per game, which is 131^st of 136 FBS teams. It only gets worse against P4 competition with an average of 8.5 points per game. And the Badgers only have P4 opponents remaining this season.

That’s where the even bigger issue lies. Three of the six opponents, Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon, are ranked in the top eight in the country, while Illinois and Washington are sitting just outside of the Top 25. So, when I say that this will only get worse, it isn’t an assumption, it is a fact.

Everyone knows that $25M isn’t spare change, but it is an amount worth paying when the alternative is watching your once powerful program spiral further into oblivion. Wisconsin was considered one of the most stable and consistent programs in the country for upwards of 30 years. Now the administration in Madison needs to decide if the collapse of the program is or isn’t worth $25M.

Penn State dealt with the situation quickly. Wisconsin is taking the opposite approach. The Badgers need to wake up, bite the bullet, and make the change.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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