A new offensive era is on the way for the Wisconsin Badgers football team, as Jeff Grimes has reportedly agreed to terms to be the new offensive coordinator. Earlier in the season, head coach Luke Fickell fired Phil Longo, a move plenty of people were calling for.
Fickell had to make a splash in finding a replacement, but some Wisconsin fans are a bit worried over the Grimes decision. Some people are even calling it a 'meh' move by Fickell. However, with around 30 years of experience, Grimes knows what it takes to win at the college level.
The worry now, though, is that things didn't go according to plan for him with Kansas this season, as the Jayhawks went 5-7, the same record Wisconsin posted. With that said, will Grimes be able to turn things around in Madison?
Jeff Grimes has been hired as the new Wisconsin offensive coordinator
The offense for Wisconsin was rough to watch in 2024, especially late in the campaign. The fact that the Badgers closed the year out with five straight losses was unacceptable. It will be on Grimes to try and get things right, but it's not a good sign when Kansas supporters are celebrating his departure like KU just won a bowl game:
KU fans seeing Jeff Grimes leave KU for Wisconsin pic.twitter.com/0tMUbt6auS
— Austin Eckert (@AustinCEckert) December 7, 2024
KU fans: “After that season was completely thrown away it’s a wonder Jeff Grimes is still on our payroll!”
— Powellite (@PowelliteSZN) December 6, 2024
Wisconsin Football: pic.twitter.com/DxDQq9WgrJ
I genuinely can not believe Wisconsin PAID US 500k for Jeff Grimes not to be our OC anymore
— Irrational 1941 Jay (@Irrational41Jay) December 7, 2024
I saw Wisconsin hired Jeff Grimes. Hopefully for nothing higher ranking than water boy
— Hot Take Blake (@HotTakeBulakay) December 7, 2024
Wisconsin hired Jeff Grimes away from KU? Lets goooooo. Gtfo
— b.t (@BreppeT24) December 7, 2024
That's only a small sample size of people in Kansas lighting up the Badgers. However, plenty of analysts are a big fan of the Grimes addition for Fickell and rightfully so. Twice in his career Grimes has been a Broyles Award finalist, an honor given to the top assistant coach in college football.
Grimes, a former UTEP offensive tackle, had stops at LSU, BYU, Kansas, Auburn, Colorado, BYU and more leading up to his move to Wisconsin. He's going to help get the Badgers back to their traditional style of football, something Longo couldn't accomplish. While Jayhawks Nation didn't appreciate Grimes, the hope is the new OC will waste no time impressing people in Wisconsin once the 2025 season gets here.