When the clock strikes Midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, everyone associated with the Wisconsin football program should be thankful to move on from what was a disastrous 2025.
The Badgers just endured their worst season since 1990, the first year of the Barry Alvarez era. They missed a bowl game for the second straight season, for the first time since 1991-1992, and the trophy case remains empty, with Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska all currently possessing the respective rivalry hardware.
With the athletics department committing to head coach Luke Fickell for 2026 despite his 17-21 record across three seasons in Madison — not to mention Wisconsin getting worse in each season since his hiring — it’s no secret that next fall is a massively pivotal campaign for all involved.