Luke Fickell Would Get $334K A Month Until 2032 If Wisconsin Fires Him: Report

MADISON, WI — Luke Fickell’s future at Wisconsin (2-5, 0-3 in the Big Ten) is in serious danger, but the math behind his contract makes any near-term move a steep one.

Fickell signed a seven-year deal in November 2022 that runs through the 2031 season. The contract guarantees 80 percent of his remaining salary if he’s fired without cause, CBS Sports reported.

If the Badgers were to part ways with Fickell after the 2025 season, the buyout would total about $25.4 million.

Fickell would receive $334,736 a month from Wisconsin until March 31, 2032, if fired at the end of the 2025 season, notes On3.

He's making $7.7 million this season, and his contract includes a $100,000 raise each year.

The Badgers are 2-5 overall and winless in Big Ten play. With no momentum and a brutal stretch ahead, Wisconsin might not win another game this season.

Their remaining schedule offers little relief: Oct. 25 at Oregon, Nov. 8 vs. Washington, Nov. 15 at Indiana, Nov. 22 vs. Illinois, and Nov. 29 at Minnesota.

Facing multiple ranked opponents and tough road environments, the odds of finishing strong appear slim.

Possible Replacements

The 2025 offseason is expected to bring one of the wildest coaching carousels in years, as major programs with deep pockets line up to pay big money for better results.

Current job openings include the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Florida Gators, and several other top programs, such as the LSU Tigers and Florida State Seminoles, are also facing pressure to make changes.

If Wisconsin were to part ways with Fickell despite the steep buyout, several potential successors have already emerged, including Kansas head coach Lance Leipold, a former Wisconsin–Whitewater coach, and current Badgers defensive coordinator Mike Tressel.

Not since 1980 had the Badgers been shut out at home, until now. It’s happened twice in a row at Camp Randall this season, with losses of 37-0 to Iowa and 34-0 to Ohio State.