The Wisconsin Badgers have been in search of a new head coach since firing former head coach Paul Chryst earlier in the year. And it looks like the team has zeroed in on a potential replacement: current Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell.
According to college football insider Pete Thamel of ESPN, Wisconsin is making “a strong push” to try to hire Luke Fickell “in the next 48 hours.”
Sources: Wisconsin has targeted Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell to be the school’s next head coach. https://t.co/FNAKRcu5Vb
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 27, 2022
Fickell has spent six seasons as the head coach of the Bearcats, going 57-18 in his six years with the program. Last season, he led Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff after going undefeated during the regular season and winning the conference title game. Cincinnati became the first Group of Five team ever to reach the College Football Playoff before ultimately losing to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
It would certainly be a massive and surprising shakeup in the college football world if Fickell were to accept the job, and the college football world certainly had plenty to say about it on Twitter.
Big Ten not messing around this coaching cycle https://t.co/bvguNn5zX8
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 27, 2022
My gut tells me he wouldn’t leave for anything other than OSU at this point but you never know https://t.co/95Ps186lrI
— matt (@sponhourm) November 27, 2022
Jim Leonard 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/gvkS8YZ3UP pic.twitter.com/wPpgdXsjMy
— Ron Johnson (@3RonJohnson) November 27, 2022
🚨MELTDOWN ALERT 🚨 #Cincinnati fans react: https://t.co/9y7CPt09SO pic.twitter.com/N144kgy6yC
— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) November 27, 2022
If this is the case, can’t help but wonder if yesterdays debacle changed McIntosh’s view of Leonhard, who multiple Badger insiders said was going to get the job. https://t.co/bbrd6BxWB9
— Travis Wilson (@travisWSN) November 27, 2022
If this is the case, can’t help but wonder if yesterdays debacle changed McIntosh’s view of Leonhard, who multiple Badger insiders said was going to get the job. https://t.co/bbrd6BxWB9
— Travis Wilson (@travisWSN) November 27, 2022
This would be fascinating for many reasons, not the least of which would be — are we about to head into a Big Ten panic?
A whole bunch of programs without any success (not Wisconsin) just won the lottery. Don’t be shocked to see Mel Tucker type contracts in shocking places. https://t.co/9NVkwnK0JP
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) November 27, 2022
The Badgers have just a 6-6 overall record this season and are currently in fifth place in the Big Ten West with a 4-5 record in conference play.
