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Wisconsin interim AD publicly backs Luke Fickell ahead of pivotal 2026 season

Fickell has at least some support from Sedberry before 2026.
ByMark Knight|
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Marcus Sedberry, deputy athletic director/chief operating officer for Wisconsin Athletics, is shown during the program recognizing donors for the Kellner Center Athletic Center at UW-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The estimated cost of the project is $285 million. Ted and Mary Kellner are major donors.
Marcus Sedberry, deputy athletic director/chief operating officer for Wisconsin Athletics, is shown during the program recognizing donors for the Kellner Center Athletic Center at UW-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The estimated cost of the project is $285 million. Ted and Mary Kellner are major donors. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Wisconsin's interim athletic director, Marcus Sedberry, met with the media yesterday as he settles into the position and figures out how to be the key transitional leader to the next athletic director. Seberry spent time talking over a variety of topics, but one that is of particular note is that he's following in Chris McIntosh's shoes and publicly supporting Luke Fickell.

It may not be with the same sort of fire and "I'll sink with this ship" energy that McIntosh had, but his statement of support is there nonetheless. It's what Fickell needs heading into a pivotal 2026 campaign.

Sedberry answered a question about Fickell's job security, "I don't think it changes one bit. Luke [Fickell] is really clear on what he wants to and needs to do. I don't think me in this role, or anyone in this role, changes that."

Luke Fickell will still need to prove it in 2026 as his seat remains very hot

Related: Luke Fickell just flipped a 4-star QB and it’s a huge legacy win for Wisconsin

Fickell would be the first to tell you that his seat is hot and would probably even remind everyone why. The program hasn't been a winning program in the last couple of seasons, and it's nowhere near where fans want it to be. Sedberry made this exact point in the above clip. Yet, caveated with the fact that Fickell may want it the most.

Let's hope that is true, as Fickell heads into a season that Wisconsin HAS TO win, or the support won't be as strong. Wisconsin went 4-8 last season and 2-7 in the Big Ten. The year before wasn't much better at 5-7 and 3-6 in the conference. The Badgers had been to 22 straight bowl games before the 2024 season. Now there are two years in a row without one. It's been brutal.

However, it appears that Fickell has been doing everything he can this offseason to fix the problems. There's been more investment in football, and the additions this offseason seem to really elevate the team. He's also recruited in-state talent better than ever, capturing all the top talent. There are also some key additions on the coaching staff that should help a ton, like Eric Mateos for the offensive line.

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