The 2025 coaching carousel is spinning faster than ever, and even Ryan Day, driving the defending champs, seems to feel the hot ground beneath his feet. But the Ohio State Buckeyes’ culture proved steady for Day. Meanwhile, Wisconsin Badgers’ Luke Fickell felt the heat of the exit spotlight. However, the Badgers’ AD Chris McIntosh is keeping the $25 million buyout on ice for now when talking about his 2026 plans. Still, Fickell’s voyage won’t be smooth. His ship hit choppy waters after a millionaire legend bailed at the last minute.

The year has been disastrous for the Badgers. After tasting victory in the first two games, they fell flat in the next six. However, McIntosh confirmed they won’t be searching for a new coach and plan to move forward with Fickell. “I think it starts when I say in and around, it starts at the top. It starts with me. It starts with Coach Fickell and it extends to our coaching staff, to everyone that’s within our program. One of the things that I’m most pleased with is the alignment that we have.” The AD vowed to turn the page, pinpointing what broke this season and how to make it right.

Wisconsin is scheduled to pay Fickell $7,825,000 for the 2025 season. If they had fired him as of December 1, 2025, without cause, the school would owe him $27,493,333. Even though Fickell got his confirmation ticket in the Badgers camp for the 2026 season, what made his buyout pick the buzz?

Under him, Wisconsin, along with its six-game losing streak, is one of four Big Ten teams without a conference victory. Ever since Fickell took up the head coaching seat in 2022, he has faced more bumps than breakthroughs. A 15-19 overall, a promising 7-6 debut, and a ReliaQuest Bowl trip gave way to a 5-7 slide in 2024, ending Wisconsin’s 22-year bowl streak. But no matter how the 2025 season is going to end on a sour note, McIntosh wants to start things afresh with Fickell by his side.

“I think every, as I mentioned, every aspect of our program will be evaluated and scrutinized,” said the AD about his 2026 plans. This reminds us of what the Ohio State AD Ross Bjork said about the Buckeyes’ culture and keeping Day happy.

“It goes back to the relationship piece, and that’s the constant dialogue, the constant interaction, the constant relationship building. Understanding how we are supporting the program here at Ohio State, and again, never letting off the gas pedal in terms of supporting football at the highest level,” said Bjork.

It gives you hope when you see ADs having the backs of HCs. Before Bjork, Ryan Day had Gene Smith, who kept his confidence despite back-to-back losses against Michigan in 2021 and 2022. You can’t say it hasn’t been fruitful since then. Just like Day, Wisconsin now focuses on charting through ups and downs together with Fickell. However, the head coach has been juggling lemons all season. And now, as Wisconsin looks to rebuild from scratch, an alum’s last-minute ‘no’ makes things more sour for him. 

JJ Watt’s wallet stays closed for Luke Fickell’s program

Wisconsin football legend JJ Watt paid a visit to his alma mater back in July 2025. The First-Team All-American showed some tough love to Fickell’s boys to stir them up before the season. “It matters what you do every single day—for yourself, for your team, for the entire state of Wisconsin,” Watt said. Four months later, the Wisconsin alum appeared on the Pat McAfee Show. That’s when things turned bitter for the Badgers. 

“You own Burnley and Espanyol. Why don’t you own the Wisconsin football team?” came McAfee’s playful question. “You know, I see Will Compton giving speeches and donating his time and everything over there in Nebraska. You’re both in the middle of America.” However, Watt did not give in under the pressure that would have prompted him to devise an investment plan for Fickell and his team. Instead, he dished out a blunt jab. 

Not knowing what to say, Watt instead shared, “They need to play better.” According to Celebrity Net Worth, the Wisconsin alum has a net worth of $70 million. In 2023, J.J. Watt and his wife Kealia became minority owners of Burnley FC. A year later, the NFL legend went international again, teaming up with Burnley’s brass to help take over Spain’s Espanyol. But poor Luke Fickell and co. – Wisconsin just isn’t a worthy investment for Watt. So, with all said and done, let’s see if Luke Fickell can turn it around next season.