Luke Fickell sends clear message to Wisconsin players ahead of Minnesota game

It's all on the line for the Wisconsin Badgers. The 2024 season is about to come to an end and this team has one more chance to save things from being a total disaster. After starting things off 5-2, the Badgers have lost four in a row.

That's where things stand after the embarrassing loss to Nebraska. However, there's one more showdown with Minnesota left on the schedule, and in addition to these two teams playing for the axe, Wisconsin is hoping to prevent its 22-year bowl streak from coming to an end.

With a win, Luke Fickell and Co. will reach bowl eligibility, something that has to be a must for them. With a loss, however, the biggest nightmare will become a reality. Fickell understands the pressure his team is facing, which is why he has chosen to (hopefully) fire them up with some passionate words.

Luke Fickell is ready for a 'battle' against Minnesota in the season finale

Fickell is labeling this as a 'one-game season' kind of game and he's adding extra motivation for his guys thanks to the battle for the axe being the case here too. Minnesota and Wisconsin hate one another and they're going to want to land one final haymaker before the fall comes to a close.

Wisconsin is 5-6 on the year, while the Gophers are 6-5. Minnesota is already headed to a bowl, but it would love nothing more than to play spoiler and end the Badgers' season on the worst note possible. That's obviously something Fickell and his players are hoping to avoid.

The losses to Oregon and Penn State were tough to swallow, but the performances against Iowa and Nebraska were inexcusable. The Badgers were dominated in both of those showdowns and this can't be the case against the Gophers. It's going to be on Fickell to make sure his guys are up for the challenge. People are tired of losing. It's time for Fickell to step up and have his team ready for the battle he's hyping up.