Latest news with #Fickell
USA Today
11 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Wisconsin falls on PFF's ranking of college football's 10 toughest schedules
Wisconsin is one of four Big Ten teams on PFF's ranking of the 10 toughest schedules, along with the UCLA Bruins, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and Northwestern Wildcats. The Big Ten has the second-most teams listed, trailing the SEC, which has five teams, by one. Wisconsin fans are well aware of how tough the Badgers' 2025 regular season schedule is. Many media outlets agree, including ProFootballFocus, which ranked Wisconsin's slate as the single toughest in all of the Football Bowl Subdivision for 2025. Wisconsin's difficult schedule makes 2025 an interesting year for the program. The campaign will also be head coach Luke Fickell's third at the helm. Typically, third seasons are the make or break year for coaches who haven't quite met expectations through two seasons. However, Fickell and Wisconsin find themselves in an interesting spot due to the difficulty of their schedule. Winning anywhere from five to seven games would be considered a fairly successful year for the Badgers program, which has been consistently bowl-eligible for many decades, up until last season. 2025 will be a critical year for both Fickell and Wisconsin. Depending on the team's trajectory throughout, it could be a season that determines the future of the program. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Fox Sports: Luke Fickell among top college football coaches with most to prove in 2025
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell was included in Fox Sports' list of the 10 college football head coaches with the most to prove entering the 2025 slate on Thursday. Fickell, who joined the Badgers program at the tail end of the 2022 campaign, landed at No. 6 in the hierarchy. Penn State's James Franklin captured the top spot, followed by USC's Lincoln Riley (No. 2), Oklahoma's Brent Venables (No. 3), Miami's Mario Cristobal (No. 4) and Nebraska's Matt Rhule (No. 5). Florida State's Mike Norvell (No. 7), LSU's Brian Kelly (No. 8), Colorado's Deion Sanders (No. 9) and Alabama's Kalen Deboer (No. 10) rounded out the list. The former Cincinnati head coach's position on the 10-coach grouping doesn't come as much of a surprise. Fickell arrived in Madison after captaining the Bearcats to a combined 57-18 mark in six seasons at the helm, which included a 13-1 output and College Football Playoff appearance in 2021. Naturally, the expectations for Fickell were sky-high when he began pacing the sidelines for his first full season with the Badgers in 2023. Wisconsin entered that season at No. 19 in the AP Poll. Disappointing losses to Washington State, Iowa, Indiana and Northwestern then turned a season of hope into one of disappointment for Badger fans. UW finished with a 7-6 record and a 35-31 loss to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl in January. Fickell's program followed 2023 with a 5-7 finish in 2024, a season which saw the Badgers miss a bowl game for the first time since 2001. Wisconsin did start the year at 5-2, although the team concluded the campaign with five consecutive defeats to Penn State, Iowa, Oregon, Nebraska and Minnesota. While the 2024 schedule was far from a walk in the park, the team's 2025 slate may be even tougher. The Badgers are set to lace up against Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Michigan in Ann Arbor, Oregon in Eugene, Indiana in Bloomington and Minnesota in Minneapolis. UW will also welcome Iowa, Ohio State and Illinois to Camp Randall. Following the departures of Tyler Van Dyke and Braedyn Locke, Wisconsin will trot out transfer quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. against Miami (OH) in Week 1. New offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, who abides by the ground-and-pound offensive philosophy, will be calling plays in his first season in Madison. If the Badgers fail to win more than four or five games this season, Fickell will likely face even more scrutiny than he has previously, even with his 12-13 record in two full years at the helm. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
San Francisco Chronicle
7 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Penn State blocking out noise of big-game losses, has focus on another run to playoff
LAS VEGAS (AP) — New year, new slate, no outside noise. That's the mantra in Happy Valley, despite James Franklin being saddled with a 4-20 mark as coach at Penn State against teams ranked in the AP Top 10. 'Coming to Penn State, I came here to win Big Ten championships and win a national championship,' Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley said Wednesday, the second of three Big Ten media days. 'The beginning of every year, that's expectations. Whatever happens, happens. But that's how I go into the season every year. 'Coach Franklin does a great job of making sure we're laser focused on the task at hand.' Right now, the task is to open camp with a fresh mindset and zero in on the season opener against Nevada on Aug. 30. Forget his collective 101-42 mark at the helm or the two College Football Playoff victories before falling to Notre Dame in last year's national semifinal. As Franklin enters his 12th season leading the Lions, with 10 trips to the postseason in 11 years, the 53-year-old never seems to escape the narrative of losing big games. Nittany Lions fans might be happy to know Franklin feels he has the best combined personnel he's ever had at Penn State, from players and staff, to depth, to talent and experience. 'We're very excited about that,' Franklin said. 'There's a ton of conversations that are happening nationally. We embrace that. We've earned that based on what we've been able to do and what we've got coming back. 'We were a game away from playing for the National Championship, and you could actually make the argument a drive away from playing for the National Championship, but it didn't feel that way, right? Because the expectations at Penn State are really high. We embrace that.' Wheatley, a fifth-year senior, agreed, saying it's the best atmosphere he's been around since landing on campus. 'The amount of film work and amount of extra work being put in, the energy around the building right now is electric,' said Wheatley, whose 16 tackles in the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame tied for the third-most recorded by a Penn State player in a postseason game. 'With the amount of veteran guys we got coming back and leadership we got going on, it kind of flows from freshmen to seniors. Everyone feels good right now.' Fighter pilot Fickell Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell wasn't sure what could be tougher: the Badgers' upcoming schedule or the ride-along in an F-16 fighter jet at Nellis Air Force Base he's scheduled to take Thursday. 'The immediacy of the now, the ride-along is going to put more pressure on my body,' Fickell said, laughing. 'But in the long run, the schedule is going to take more years off my life.' In a friend-of-a-friend situation involving a former player, Fickell's butterflies were aflutter as he talked about taking to the skies over southern Nevada with a fighter pilot. 'I know what my body's going to feel like when I'm all said and done,' Fickell said. Among those on Wisconsin's schedule this year are Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon. 'There's nothing harder than what's in front of us," he said. "We understand that, but we're not going to shy away from it, either.' Locksley's locker room Maryland coach Michael Locksley displayed a bit of vulnerability, revealing he lost his locker room after the Terrapins finished 4-8 in his sixth full season with the program. It marked Locksley's first losing record since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He had navigated Maryland to three straight bowl appearances while winning at least seven games each of those season. He said the new world in which players get paid created divisions in the locker room. 'We had 'haves' and 'have-nots' for the first time in our locker room," Locksley said. 'The landscape of college football taught me a valuable lesson: Continue to educate players on the importance of what playing for something bigger than yourself is all about.' The Terrapins open their season at home on Aug. 30 against Florida Atlantic. Lakefront vibes As Northwestern awaits the renovation of Ryan Field, being upgraded to a state-of-the-art venue in time for the 2026 campaign, the Wildcats return to the 12,000-seat Martin Athletic Facility for a second straight season. 'Who else gets to play on a lake in college football?' asked incoming quarterback Preston Stone, who transferred in from SMU. 'It's unbelievable, it's an incredible opportunity for us to get to play in a unique environment.' Ticket prices on the school's website range from $94 to $413 for the home opener against Western Illinois on Sept. 5. One week later, against Big Ten foe Oregon and with Fox Sports' Big Noon Kickoff in town, ticket prices trickle upward in the range of $156 to $670. 'I think where we landed was the perfect solution and perfect bridge,' Northwestern coach David Braun said. 'It's unique, it's intimate. It allows our guys to have a level of consistency in terms of where they're playing for all their home games. Allows for our students to engage. And then you bring the element of, I mean, you are on one of the most prime pieces of real estate in the entire country, right on Lake Michigan. Beautiful fall day, Big Ten football, it's pretty special.'
Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Penn State blocking out noise of big-game losses, has focus on another run to playoff
LAS VEGAS (AP) — New year, new slate, no outside noise. That's the mantra in Happy Valley, despite James Franklin being saddled with a 4-20 mark as coach at Penn State against teams ranked in the AP Top 10. 'Coming to Penn State, I came here to win Big Ten championships and win a national championship,' Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley said Wednesday, the second of three Big Ten media days. 'The beginning of every year, that's expectations. Whatever happens, happens. But that's how I go into the season every year. 'Coach Franklin does a great job of making sure we're laser focused on the task at hand.' Right now, the task is to open camp with a fresh mindset and zero in on the season opener against Nevada on Aug. 30. Forget his collective 101-42 mark at the helm or the two College Football Playoff victories before falling to Notre Dame in last year's national semifinal. As Franklin enters his 12th season leading the Lions, with 10 trips to the postseason in 11 years, the 53-year-old never seems to escape the narrative of losing big games. Nittany Lions fans might be happy to know Franklin feels he has the best combined personnel he's ever had at Penn State, from players and staff, to depth, to talent and experience. 'We're very excited about that,' Franklin said. 'There's a ton of conversations that are happening nationally. We embrace that. We've earned that based on what we've been able to do and what we've got coming back. 'We were a game away from playing for the National Championship, and you could actually make the argument a drive away from playing for the National Championship, but it didn't feel that way, right? Because the expectations at Penn State are really high. We embrace that.' Wheatley, a fifth-year senior, agreed, saying it's the best atmosphere he's been around since landing on campus. 'The amount of film work and amount of extra work being put in, the energy around the building right now is electric,' said Wheatley, whose 16 tackles in the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame tied for the third-most recorded by a Penn State player in a postseason game. 'With the amount of veteran guys we got coming back and leadership we got going on, it kind of flows from freshmen to seniors. Everyone feels good right now.' Fighter pilot Fickell Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell wasn't sure what could be tougher: the Badgers' upcoming schedule or the ride-along in an F-16 fighter jet at Nellis Air Force Base he's scheduled to take Thursday. 'The immediacy of the now, the ride-along is going to put more pressure on my body,' Fickell said, laughing. 'But in the long run, the schedule is going to take more years off my life.' In a friend-of-a-friend situation involving a former player, Fickell's butterflies were aflutter as he talked about taking to the skies over southern Nevada with a fighter pilot. 'I know what my body's going to feel like when I'm all said and done,' Fickell said. Among those on Wisconsin's schedule this year are Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon. 'There's nothing harder than what's in front of us,' he said. 'We understand that, but we're not going to shy away from it, either.' Locksley's locker room Maryland coach Michael Locksley displayed a bit of vulnerability, revealing he lost his locker room after the Terrapins finished 4-8 in his sixth full season with the program. It marked Locksley's first losing record since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He had navigated Maryland to three straight bowl appearances while winning at least seven games each of those season. He said the new world in which players get paid created divisions in the locker room. 'We had 'haves' and 'have-nots' for the first time in our locker room,' Locksley said. 'The landscape of college football taught me a valuable lesson: Continue to educate players on the importance of what playing for something bigger than yourself is all about.' The Terrapins open their season at home on Aug. 30 against Florida Atlantic. Lakefront vibes As Northwestern awaits the renovation of Ryan Field, being upgraded to a state-of-the-art venue in time for the 2026 campaign, the Wildcats return to the 12,000-seat Martin Athletic Facility for a second straight season. 'Who else gets to play on a lake in college football?' asked incoming quarterback Preston Stone, who transferred in from SMU. 'It's unbelievable, it's an incredible opportunity for us to get to play in a unique environment.' Ticket prices on the school's website range from $94 to $413 for the home opener against Western Illinois on Sept. 5. One week later, against Big Ten foe Oregon and with Fox Sports' Big Noon Kickoff in town, ticket prices trickle upward in the range of $156 to $670. 'I think where we landed was the perfect solution and perfect bridge,' Northwestern coach David Braun said. 'It's unique, it's intimate. It allows our guys to have a level of consistency in terms of where they're playing for all their home games. Allows for our students to engage. And then you bring the element of, I mean, you are on one of the most prime pieces of real estate in the entire country, right on Lake Michigan. Beautiful fall day, Big Ten football, it's pretty special.' ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and
Fox Sports
7 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Penn State blocking out noise of big-game losses, has focus on another run to playoff
Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — New year, new slate, no outside noise. That's the mantra in Happy Valley, despite James Franklin being saddled with a 4-20 mark as coach at Penn State against teams ranked in the AP Top 10. 'Coming to Penn State, I came here to win Big Ten championships and win a national championship,' Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley said Wednesday, the second of three Big Ten media days. 'The beginning of every year, that's expectations. Whatever happens, happens. But that's how I go into the season every year. 'Coach Franklin does a great job of making sure we're laser focused on the task at hand.' Right now, the task is to open camp with a fresh mindset and zero in on the season opener against Nevada on Aug. 30. Forget his collective 101-42 mark at the helm or the two College Football Playoff victories before falling to Notre Dame in last year's national semifinal. As Franklin enters his 12th season leading the Lions, with 10 trips to the postseason in 11 years, the 53-year-old never seems to escape the narrative of losing big games. Nittany Lions fans might be happy to know Franklin feels he has the best combined personnel he's ever had at Penn State, from players and staff, to depth, to talent and experience. 'We're very excited about that,' Franklin said. 'There's a ton of conversations that are happening nationally. We embrace that. We've earned that based on what we've been able to do and what we've got coming back. 'We were a game away from playing for the National Championship, and you could actually make the argument a drive away from playing for the National Championship, but it didn't feel that way, right? Because the expectations at Penn State are really high. We embrace that.' Wheatley, a fifth-year senior, agreed, saying it's the best atmosphere he's been around since landing on campus. 'The amount of film work and amount of extra work being put in, the energy around the building right now is electric,' said Wheatley, whose 16 tackles in the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame tied for the third-most recorded by a Penn State player in a postseason game. 'With the amount of veteran guys we got coming back and leadership we got going on, it kind of flows from freshmen to seniors. Everyone feels good right now.' Fighter pilot Fickell Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell wasn't sure what could be tougher: the Badgers' upcoming schedule or the ride-along in an F-16 fighter jet at Nellis Air Force Base he's scheduled to take Thursday. 'The immediacy of the now, the ride-along is going to put more pressure on my body,' Fickell said, laughing. 'But in the long run, the schedule is going to take more years off my life.' In a friend-of-a-friend situation involving a former player, Fickell's butterflies were aflutter as he talked about taking to the skies over southern Nevada with a fighter pilot. 'I know what my body's going to feel like when I'm all said and done,' Fickell said. Among those on Wisconsin's schedule this year are Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon. 'There's nothing harder than what's in front of us," he said. "We understand that, but we're not going to shy away from it, either.' Locksley's locker room Maryland coach Michael Locksley displayed a bit of vulnerability, revealing he lost his locker room after the Terrapins finished 4-8 in his sixth full season with the program. It marked Locksley's first losing record since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He had navigated Maryland to three straight bowl appearances while winning at least seven games each of those season. He said the new world in which players get paid created divisions in the locker room. 'We had 'haves' and 'have-nots' for the first time in our locker room," Locksley said. 'The landscape of college football taught me a valuable lesson: Continue to educate players on the importance of what playing for something bigger than yourself is all about.' The Terrapins open their season at home on Aug. 30 against Florida Atlantic. Lakefront vibes As Northwestern awaits the renovation of Ryan Field, being upgraded to a state-of-the-art venue in time for the 2026 campaign, the Wildcats return to the 12,000-seat Martin Athletic Facility for a second straight season. 'Who else gets to play on a lake in college football?' asked incoming quarterback Preston Stone, who transferred in from SMU. 'It's unbelievable, it's an incredible opportunity for us to get to play in a unique environment.' Ticket prices on the school's website range from $94 to $413 for the home opener against Western Illinois on Sept. 5. One week later, against Big Ten foe Oregon and with Fox Sports' Big Noon Kickoff in town, ticket prices trickle upward in the range of $156 to $670. 'I think where we landed was the perfect solution and perfect bridge,' Northwestern coach David Braun said. 'It's unique, it's intimate. It allows our guys to have a level of consistency in terms of where they're playing for all their home games. Allows for our students to engage. And then you bring the element of, I mean, you are on one of the most prime pieces of real estate in the entire country, right on Lake Michigan. Beautiful fall day, Big Ten football, it's pretty special.' ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and recommended Item 1 of 3
