Big Bear Nolan's Blog

Heading into the Wisconsin Badgers game at No. 6 Oregon, I wanted to examine the results of the Badgers’ big games. I also wanted to discuss their most notable results. Additionally, I will talk about why Luke Fickell should coach as if his career at Wisconsin is on the line. Wisconsin has not only been blown out in every loss this season. The last two Badgers games at home against Iowa and No.1 Ohio State resulted in 37-0 and 34-0 respective losses.

Notable Badgers scores under Fickell since 2023

• 2023
  • L 31-22 at Washington State
  • L 15-6 vs Iowa
  • L 24-10 vs No. 3 Ohio State
  • W 24-17 vs Nebraska
  • W 28-14 at Minnesota
  • L 35-31 vs No. 13 LSU (Bowl Game)
• 2024
  • L 45-10 vs No. 4 Alabama
  • L 38-21 at 13 USC
  • W 42-7 at Rutgers
  • L 28-13 vs No. 3 Penn State
  • L 42-10 at Iowa
  • L 16-13 vs No. 1 Oregon
  • L 44-25 at Nebraska
  • L 24-7 vs Minnesota
• 2025
  • L 38-14 at No. 19 Alabama
  • L 27-10 vs Maryland
  • L 24-10 at No. 20 Michigan
  • L 37-0 vs Iowa
  • L 34-0 vs No. 1 Ohio state

Overall, the Badgers are 14-18 under Luke Fickell entering the Oregon game. But looking at the results above, there are a couple things that should be alarming. This is true besides the results from this year alone. Luke Fickell joined this campus for a reason. He was brought in so the Badgers could compete with the big boys from the Big Ten and the country. Not only is Fickell 0-8 against top 25 teams as the coach of the Badgers. He is 2-4 against the Badgers rivals who they should be equal with in Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. Wisconsin had two losses to Power four teams in its last 10 games. Both losses were by less than two scores and date back to last year. Oddly enough, those two games were to Penn State and Oregon. Either way, Wisconsin just hasn’t been competitive and have gotten worse throughout Fickell’s tenure. The Badgers are also on its way to missing consecutive bowl bids for the first time in the 2000’s. Yes the team has had bad luck with injuries and other troubles. But look at what Curt Cignetti has been doing with Indiana, or Clark Lea with Vanderbilt. There is no reason why the Badgers should be regressing. Tonight’s game must be competitive for Wisconsin. Otherwise, it could really signal dark times ahead if the past batch of games hasn’t.