Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell will return to coach the Badgers in 2026

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These $20 million dollar rosters...we need some context....the Gophers have a $20 million dollar roster with the Big ten school money plus NIL money.
If one guy is pitching in $25 or $28 million....those guys are at $50 million.total with the school money and Jimmy and Joes NIL.
 

They are willing to take another bad season as they don’t have the buyout funds. Hard to flip the script with $$$ alone.
 

A rich guy can't just go out and "legally" buy a roster, anymore.

All the NIL deals are being screened by a clearinghouse, to make sure they're actual, real deals, where the athletes have to actually do stuff and can only get paid a market rate for their time.
 

GopherGrit said:
A rich guy can't just go out and "legally" buy a roster, anymore.

All the NIL deals are being screened by a clearinghouse, to make sure they're actual, real deals, where the athletes have to actually do stuff and can only get paid a market rate for their time.
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You are not wrong but we still have to see if there is any real enforcement going on of the bogus deals. Easier said then done.
 




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Gophers 4 and 6 in last 10 games and 1 and 19 at home vs Wisconsin
OR 1 and 8 at the Bank - TCF or Huntington
 
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gopherbadgerman said:
I'd agree with that. I would take PJ over Wisconsin coach 8 days a week.
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Wisconsin actually looked decent vs Oregon.
Will be interesting if they can sustain that effort.

They played Oregon tough last year too. For whatever reason it’s a tough matchup for oregon.

I’m curious what the game vs Washington looks like.
If they get blown out by Washington it’s season over. Because I think Washington is closer to the middle tier than the top tier
 




MaxyJR1 said:
They are willing to take another bad season as they don’t have the buyout funds. Hard to flip the script with $$$ alone.
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Fickell, I think, is a good coach...and he seems to be a good human being. Whiskey is in a tough spot. The big donor, in other reporting, apparently said, "I'll commit $25M for NIL." Interesting that LF's buyout is about $25M. My guess is the donor said, "...and you cannot use one-penny of it to buyout the HC!"
 


60's Guy said:
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Gophers 4 and 6 in last 10 games and 1 and 19 at home vs Wisconsin
OR 1 and 8 at the Bank - TCF or Huntington
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You do get that results that predate the current players have no impact in any way shape or form on the current year right?

We should beat Wisconsin this year....if we play well. If we don't, they can definitely beat us.
 

MNVCGUY said:
You are not wrong but we still have to see if there is any real enforcement going on of the bogus deals. Easier said then done.
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Agreed.

My understanding is this is all out in the open, now. They call it NIL Go or some thing like that.

But you're right, we'l still have to see
 

Likely, last saturdays evening meeting was negotiating a new buy out. The QB handling has been the worst I have ever seen since Kill told PNels to beat it.
 


60's Guy said:
So how mich pressure does this put on PJ?
Wisconsin is 2 and 6 with #23 Washington, #2 Indiana and Top 25 dropout Illinois before playing the Gophers. Unlikely to win any but best chance is Minnesota on paper.
Gophers striving for 7th or 8th win. Game is a home game for the Gophers...already embarrased by rival Iowa...what if we don't beat the 2 and 9 Badgers either? Could get ugly. I see all the coaches sleeping on air mattresses that week.
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As somebody observed, the Badger Defense is playing reasonably well. It's offense, however, has been really bad. The Axe Game will be Wiscnsin's last chance to redeem a season. They will play like cornered rates unless and until the Gophs break their spirit. If our defense doesn't go south, we should win. But we need the offense to be clicking as well. This shouldn't be a game in which the Gophers do that deal where they try to stealthily tip toe to victory. Fully deploy the bulldozers and bombers. We already had a complete coaching and player meltdown in one rivalry game. God forbid that it happens again in the Axe game. Go Gophers.
 
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Definitely worried that the Skunks could put up a fight or even win the Axe game. I won't rest until that one is over and in the victory column.

That being said, what a warm and comfortable thought to head into the weekend with. Wisconsin still trying to get better with Fickell as their head coach. Wonderful.
 


Arminius said:
Fickell, I think, is a good coach...and he seems to be a good human being. Whiskey is in a tough spot. The big donor, in other reporting, apparently said, "I'll commit $25M for NIL." Interesting that LF's buyout is about $25M. My guess is the donor said, "...and you cannot use one-penny of it to buyout the HC!"
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So, Fickell will suddenly have an NIL war chest next year. It might make him a lot better coach! This also shows the downside of long-term, high bucks contracts for coaches. In long-term contracts without pre-negotiated severance packages at lower rates, the buyout numbers are astronomical--beyond anything most Universities can justify and/or afford. Except for the wealthiest helmet schools, this can tie the hands of the Athletic Department and essentially render key decision making the whim of a few wealthy donor/patrons.
 

Hard to sell a losing culture over the last two years and if you do spend $$ are you getting guys to buy into the culture the coach wants.

Fickell brought his culture and it has failed to produce. Cignetti brought his culture and has succeeded. I think it's hard to flip a culture when your trajectory has been backwards since being hired.
 



Pompous Elitist said:
From my perspective he’s been a great coach
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Agree....I also thought Nebraska made a horrible mistake when they got rid of Frost as it seemed like he was doing a wonderful job. Here's hoping Wisconsin keeps Fickell around as long as possible, I love what he is doing for those guys and would like to see ti continue for years.
 

caliGopher said:
the default response to any hiccup in any program. We have no idea what they do or don't have. Besides the uncanny ability to bring in QBs that miss most of the season.
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Partially self-inflicted. They brought a hobbling QB1 back way too early from his knee sprain and he reaggravated his injury. I don’t know how or why they thought the guy could play. Pretty inexcusable to put him out there in that shape. Item #38 on why fans have turned on that regime.
 


Goldmember said:
Ehhhh… Seems more likely that Tracey Claeys would be hired as a position coach on the Minnesota staff. 🤣
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Ya never know…

I’m trying to recall Claey’s approach to deferring; cut against conventional wisdom as I recall. He is an interesting dude and salt of the earth as they come. I liked him.
 

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