Despite the brutal start to 2025, Wisconsin has made it clear that they have no immediate intentions to move away from head coach Luke Fickell. The Badgers are 2-6, and have yet to notch a conference win this year, but it doesn't look like Fickell's job is any danger after Athletic Director Chris McIntosh publicly voiced his support.
What McIntosh did say, is that he plans to invest more into the program, which he believes will lead to more success. It's a well-known secret that Wisconsin doesn't have the same NIL reserves as other top programs in the country. Whether or not this plan would just be putting lipstick on a pig is another conversation, but Pat McAfee slyly called out former Badger J.J. Watt and other alumni over the lack of funds.
A question was raised as to why he hasn't been out to Madison for a game, and McAfee didn't hold back.
"Only if their big-time donors can start getting some big-time players," he joked to Watt who was a guest of the show.
Is money really the missing piece for Wisconsin football?
Many fans as of late have petitioned that the rich and famous alumni of UW-Madison should start chipping in towards the NIL fund. While it's wild that the state of college football has even come to this, they might not be wrong. There's been plenty of other programs who have been boosted by wealthy donors and now Badger fans want some of their elite to step up.
Wisconsin is certainly at a crossroads and how the next six-months playout will have lasting impacts on the team for years. Fickell may stay, and the money might too, so is there a chance Wisconsin turns this things around? Maybe, but until the wins start adding up, there will be no shortage of fingers to point.