Column: Wisconsin football’s collapse exposes failures from top to bottom
Wisconsin's collapse under Luke Fickell shows failures from top to bottom, raising questions about leadership, identity, and the football program’s future.
Wisconsin football looks broken right now. Under head coach Luke Fickell, the Badgers don’t just lose games; they completely unravel. What we’re watching is a program that’s still searching for its identity, with each week offering more evidence that the answers aren’t coming anytime soon.
Saturday’s 27–10 loss to Maryland wasn’t just a bad game; it was an indictment. Wisconsin had never lost to the Terrapins since they joined the Big Ten. They walked into Camp Randall, punched the Badgers in the mouth, and by halftime, the boos were raining down with chants of “Fire Fickell.” That’s not just misplaced frustration. That’s resignation from a fan base that’s seen this performance too many times during Fickell’s tenure.
And let’s be clear, this isn’t just a Fickell problem. The collapse of Wisconsin is a University-wide failure that deserves a top-down review.