As soon as Brian Kelly was fired by LSU —shoot, even before that —there were college football fans floating the idea of Kelly to Wisconsin. There are dozens of social media posts on X where the idea is floated and discussed. In many ways, it makes sense, but in reality it's most likely fantasy. Here's why many see Kelly as a fit to Wisconsin and then why it's not going to happen.
Why Brian Kelly is being floated as a Wisconsin replacement for Luke Fickell
First, it's because Luke Fickell is dead in the water this year; he has the hottest of all the hot seats. So, immediately, a high-profile coach being fired will be linked to Wisconsin. While that might be the main reason, it's not the only one.
Kelly has had a ton of coaching success in the Midwest. Most notably at Notre Dame, but his rise came at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, and then eventually Cincinnati (debatable Midwest). He knows how to recruit the region and also what it looks like to win in the Midwest.
While his stint at LSU was short, he was never really a fit. Before that, he was known as a program builder, a quarterback developer, a coach who establishes a team identity and holds his players to it. All things that seem to be missing under Luke Fickell.
His teams are also usually known as physical, tough, winning in the trenches, hard-nosed, and aggressive defense. Which is basically a list to make Wisconsin fans blush.
This is a good list of why Brian Kelly is being floated for Wisconsin, but also someone who truly could fit Badger football and help reignite what has been lost the last few years. However, it's hard to see it actually happening.
Why Brian Kelly won't be the next head coach for Wisconsin
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Besides the obvious reason that Chris McIntosh is fully embracing a sunk-cost fallacy. Kelly is a coach who would demand a pretty hefty price tag even after his fall from grace at LSU. Many universities and athletic directors know he's still a winner and can churn out 9-10 win seasons yearly. Wisconsin would really have to put its money where its mouth is, so to speak.
He's also brash, fills up rooms with his personality, polarizing, and doesn't care what people think about him. It's hard to see Jennifer Mnookin and Chris McIntosh taking a shot on someone like that. They like their vanilla, coach-speak Luke Fickell for a reason.
Finally, he's 64. Don't be surprised if Kelly rides off into the sunset. Or if he does coach again, it won't be for a long haul; it could potentially reset Wisconsin, but it wouldn't be a long tenure.