Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell is in his first year with the program, and he used to play college at Ohio State. The third-ranked Buckeyes will come to Madison, Wisconsin this weekend, and Fickell is not scared of the upcoming challenge with a team that is loaded with athletes on both sides of the football.
He said in his weekly press conference:
“The best teams don’t always win games. The most talented teams don’t always win games. College football, every Saturday, it’s crazy how things happen. It’s about figuring out where you got to close some gaps and then, ultimately, can you play loose? Can you play flat fast? And can you still play aggressive no matter who it is you’re playing against?”
Entering this game, the Ohio State Buckeyes have a 7-0 record, and the Wisconsin Badgers have a 5-2 record. Two of the key players to watch for at Ohio State are wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and running back TreVeyon Henderson. Kyle McCord is their starting quarterback.
The starting quarterback for the Wisconsin Badgers will be Braedyn Locke. Last year, Ohio State defeated Wisconsin 52-21.
This is a Big Football Game for Both the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers led by Luke Fickell
Ohio State needs to win in order to be in the conversation for the college football playoff. As for Wisconsin, they need to win in order to stay in first place in the Big East West Standings. The Badgers have nothing to lose in this football game, and head coach Luke Fickell believes that they have closed the gap talent-wise with the Buckeyes,
He said:
“I think we’re always looking for those gaps in whatever it is. We can look back at last year, but like I said, once the ball is kicked off, it won’t have a lot of bearing. But you have to find ways to close gaps. If we don’t use what happened last year as a learning lesson, then we wouldn’t be doing our job as coaches and as players as well.”
The last time he faced Ohio State was when he was the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats, and they lost that game 42-0 in 2019. Hopefully, the Badgers don’t suffer that fate this Saturday night. If Wisconsin pulled off the upset over Ohio State, that would be some story heading into next week because the first college football playoff rankings will be released.
They should not believe in moral victories if they were to lose 35-28, for example. Luke Fickell can be confident in his squad, all he wants to be. However, Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes have way too much talent for the Wisconsin Badgers to handle, and it won’t be pretty from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will Wisconsin pay Luke Fickell?
Wisconsin will pay Luke Fickell an annual salary of $3 million from November 30, 2022, to March 31, 2030. This compensation includes incentives and is divided between the university and the UW Foundation, with funds paid directly by the University of Wisconsin.
Did Luke Fickell wrestle in college?
Yes, Luke Fickell wrestled in college and although he doesn't regret his decision to wrestle McCoy and focus on football, he is disappointed with his 0-1 record. He also hasn't gotten over his four losses during his freshman year at DeSales.