The first step to solving a problem is to admit you have a problem. That's a life rule that Chris McIntosh is unwilling to follow with Luke Fickell and the state of the Wisconsin football program. After the loss to Maryland, the Wisconsin athletic director came out in strong support of Fickell. Double down on the hire he still thinks is right for the Badgers.
Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh voiced his support for Luke Fickell postgame:
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) September 20, 2025
“When you have kids that have given it all and are faced with, as a program, adversity like this, I think it's a time for our people to come together. I think it's a time for me to express my support.” ⬇️ https://t.co/QdBnIRJpQY
Chris McIntosh has tied his horse to Luke Fickell's cart and they both need to go
Related: Luke Fickell isn’t the only one Wisconsin fans are passionately calling to be fired
There are plenty of athletic directors who, since the sharks are circling in the water, will quickly cut bait and run. Think of what happened earlier this season with DeShaun Foster at UCLA or what Virginia Tech did with Brent Pry. The idea that we can't wait to run this coach out of town and move on.
McIntosh has decided to voice a strong support for Fickell, instead. Which means he may actually be the first person Wisconsin needs to fire. Especially because Fickell is not a realistic fit right now with his extremely large buyout.
This could be where some of the support from McIntosh is coming from. That there's not $25 million+ to get rid of Fickell even after what appears to be another season in the toilet. So, he stands up and supports him, because there's not really another option.
Or it also could be because it's his own hire. He went out on a limb, firing Paul Chryst, claiming the next hire would make the program take a big step forward, when in fact, it took a step back. This could be a stubborn athletic director, doubling down and holding on for dear life.
If that's the latter case, then McIntosh has successfully burnt the boats, and there's no return for him or Fickell at this point. The only way out is winning Big Ten games, and that, at this point, would be more astonishing than an anonymous donor putting down $25 million+ for Fickell's buyout.