CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Four => Big Ten => Topic started by: 847badgerfan on November 30, 2025, 09:26:45 AM
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I'm getting sick and tired of posting these threads in November.
So, we're stuck with Fickell apparently. Biggest booster likes him and the AD. For a rich guy, he's pretty dumb.
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Link to 2025 thread:
https://www.cfb51.com/big-ten/2025-wisconsin-offseason-thread/ (https://www.cfb51.com/big-ten/2025-wisconsin-offseason-thread/)
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You started last year's in December.
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No shit. 2 days in.
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(https://i.imgur.com/NNNSLtF.png)
Losing 4* players is not ideal.
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Looks like there are going to be a lot of big losses to the portal, and we're seeing 4* decommitments too.
Why keep the M'Fer?
Why trust him to rebuild the trainwreck he helped to create?
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(https://i.pinimg.com/474x/3f/cf/d1/3fcfd1f95505ce67049129595e4c3153--adam-sandler-denver-broncos.jpg)
(https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.1fxHi8XrTEi6FOmZ2-MUzAHaJ4?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain&o=7&rm=3)
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Someone really likes shitting in my yard.
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Truth.
(https://i.imgur.com/j790p19.png)
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Why trust him to rebuild the trainwreck he helped to create?
Helped create!?!
He should have been gone after Maryland. As I've said before, I'll wait until another major development before I invest in being a Badger football fan. For now, I'm just angry at what McIntosh and Fickell have done to this program.
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Helped create!?!
He should have been gone after Maryland. As I've said before, I'll wait until another major development before I invest in being a Badger football fan. For now, I'm just angry at what McIntosh and Fickell have done to this program.
Yes, the downfall started under Chryst, by a) not having a recruiting staff for a whole year and b) hiring a bunch of coaches who had no prior experience at the position they were hired for.
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It's also on Macintosh - he started as AD in 2021.
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D2 GVSU transfer DT Jibriel Conde committed to Wisconsin on 11/29.
He flipped to Kansas last night.
Kansas.
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they all know ickel won't make it through the 26 season
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He didn't get that clue 2 days ago?
Probably wouldn't have gained admission.
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I'm fascinated by what goes through the heads of these recruits. Probably better not to read too much into it--but I'm worried about how teams can recruit against Wisconsin. It's a struggle to find the obvious upside case for choosing that program right now.
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$ is all they can offer, I guess, and Madison? Great education (do they even care anymore)?
Can't point toward obvious development. Can't point toward wins. Can't point toward coaching stability.
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The culture in Madison is the best selling point. That's not nothing. But it's not everything, either.
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Just lost a highly rated edge "commit" to Iowa.
Awesome.
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Great education (do they even care anymore)?
did they ever care?
not most football players - yes, a handful
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Based on my experience, I'd say more like 75 percent.
Today?
Based on what their majors are, I'd say at least 50 percent.
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who needs a decent major/degree
come out of college w/o student debt and oh by the way, perhaps a $ million or 3 in the bank account
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who needs a decent major/degree
come out of college w/o student debt and oh by the way, perhaps a $ million or 3 in the bank account
Do you really think all 85 are gonna come out with $1-3M in the bank?
I hope not.
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hell no, but it's more than 5
and it better be more than 10 if you want to win 10 games
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Yesterday, Wisconsin lost its top-rated (and only remaining 4*) recruit (RB Amari Latimer) to West Virginia.
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it was a tough day for the Badgers
but i do feel with the portal things can be supplemented pretty well going that route
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It's their only choice at this point. They need bodies and I think they will have portal losses too.
The kid who flipped to WVU is a package deal with his brother - UW's starting nickel. He's gone too, when the portal opens.
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I think we're going to see a lot of portal losses. I'll be stunned if Edwards comes back; I think it's more likely, but still not likely, that O'Neill comes back. I'll be surprised if we don't lose Kekahuna and probably other WRs. None of those guys got any good work this year. They have to be worried about whether that will change next fall. God only knows what happens with the O-Line. That's the unit that needs the most work and the recruiting class ain't looking good.
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The Saluki scout team might contain a few players that already have a good rapport with the qb.
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As if on cue, 1st WR to enter the portal (not officially, because the window isn't open yet) has been announced, Kyan Berry-Johnson, three years of remaining eligibility.
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I thought he'd be a good one. I wish we could find out.
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S Remington Moss is gone.
Brent's cousin.
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UW just bought out of playing Pitt next season. EMU instead. WTF.
fND is still on the schedule, in Green Bay.
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Turns out Pitt canceled. The ACC is going to 9 games next year.
Not sure why they would cancel an easy win.
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Got a new OL coach today. Worked with the OC at BYU and Baylor. Most recently Arkansas, who had one of the best OL in the country this year. Really good hire here.
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I'm wait and see, prove it on assistant coaches like I am head coaches
Huskers hired new OL coach and D coordinator
looking for a new DL coach
I'm simply happy they've noticed the trenches needed work - FINALLY
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I'm wait and see, prove it on assistant coaches like I am head coaches
Huskers hired new OL coach and D coordinator
looking for a new DL coach
I'm simply happy they've noticed the trenches needed work - FINALLY
Yeah, I can't remember the last hire that I thought, "what are they thinking!?!" They always seem to brief pretty well. I want wins. And that includes a quality offensive line. So prove it.
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PFSN CFB Team OL Impact (https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb-team-ol-rankings-impact/)
Arkansas football not retaining offensive line coach Eric Mateos | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - Arkansas' Best News Source (https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/dec/07/arkansas-football-not-retaining-offensive-line-coach-eric-mateos/)
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so, what didn't coach Ryan Silverfield like about him?
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Probably bringing his own guys.
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being loyal to their own guys has doomed many a head coach
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From 247:
(https://i.imgur.com/3MNTxSU.png)
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BOR - ING!
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4-8 is boring.
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Tell Fickell to fail in a more fun way. Any press is good press
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so, what didn't coach Ryan Silverfield like about him?
That’s one of those key spots where a lot of guys aren’t necessarily going to retain someone.
usually, you wanna retain one of those recruiting centric assistance who can help you keep some of the class together.
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so, he didn't have a nice class of Oline recruits coming in this year
oh well, the Badgers get plenty of great Oline recruits
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They are supposed to, but right now that's a gaping hole.
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(https://i.imgflip.com/aesak5.jpg)
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They are supposed to, but right now that's a gaping hole.
I think they have the players. I just think they need tough coaching rather than a buddy. Think Bostad.
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The report that Fickell is moving towards emphasizing the transfer portal, instead of high school recruiting, bothers me, particularly as it relates to the O-Line. That's a unit that should be trained up from the beginning of their college years, that starts mostly juniors and seniors...juniors and seniors who have been playing and practicing together since they got there as 18-year olds, not a bunch that is relearning their teammates every season.
Call me old fashioned, but the O-Line is probably the most important position for continuity.
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yup, Huskers brought in a tackle that started for bama in 24 and a guard that started for ND in 24
still no Oline performance
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The report that Fickell is moving towards emphasizing the transfer portal, instead of high school recruiting, bothers me, particularly as it relates to the O-Line. That's a unit that should be trained up from the beginning of their college years, that starts mostly juniors and seniors...juniors and seniors who have been playing and practicing together since they got there as 18-year olds, not a bunch that is relearning their teammates every season.
Call me old fashioned, but the O-Line is probably the most important position for continuity.
The only reason he's looking so hard at the portal right now is because he completely whiffed on the 2026 class and lost a lot of commitments at the very end. Any reports otherwise are FoS.
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The report that Fickell is moving towards emphasizing the transfer portal, instead of high school recruiting, bothers me, particularly as it relates to the O-Line. That's a unit that should be trained up from the beginning of their college years, that starts mostly juniors and seniors...juniors and seniors who have been playing and practicing together since they got there as 18-year olds, not a bunch that is relearning their teammates every season.
Call me old fashioned, but the O-Line is probably the most important position for continuity.
I mean, he's emphasizing the thing that'll help him keep his job, and because of the job stuff, his class melted down, so they have the spots.
It's too bad he'll leave a bare cupboard for Eck, but what can you do?
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he'll spend a bunch of money in the portal too
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If he has it. I have my doubts.
Wisconsinites are a cheap lot.
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ya don't get much in the portal w/o the coin
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It has shown.
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Well then Eck will be the next Luke Fickell.
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Eck is a former Badger OL.
Nothing at all like the 3B buckeye reject.
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If he has it. I have my doubts.
Wisconsinites are a cheap lot.
they ain't cheap, they just have no money cause they spend all their money on alcohol.
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They certainly don't have a lot of money if they are spending it all on Pabst and E&J Brandy.
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don't forget the cheese curds, brats, and fish fries
New Glarus is way more expensive than PBR
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(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J93IkqHNvk8/sddefault.jpg)
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well, I absolutely love cheese on my burger - rarely have a burger w/o cheese but,..........
I don't want the cheese to be thicker than the burger - not even good Wisconsin cheese over poor Wisconsin dairy cow beef
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I wouldn't eat that. I do like Culver's. We have one nearby. I go a couple times a year.
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Eck is a former Badger OL.
Nothing at all like the 3B buckeye reject.
It would be career suicide for anyone to take a job in this conference that operates on a shoestring budget. That's why the AD tried to pass around the collection plate midseason.
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Supposedly that is changing.
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ya gonna hire Dollar Bill Byrne?
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Ted Kellner and others gonna step up with more cash.
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This is good. Lead writer for UW at Rivals/On3.
(https://i.imgur.com/0D7KydE.png)
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(https://i.imgur.com/1Q6PP6g.jpeg)
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How do Badgers fans feel about player retention? The coaching staff, or perhaps the Badgers' NIL program, do not feel strongly about retaining their players:
Here is a list of Wisc. transfer portal transfers:
Wisconsin (https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/uw/2025/12/09/wisconsin-football-transfer-portal-tracker-whos-coming-whos-going/87692848007/)
- LB Christian Alliegro
- TE Tucker Ashcraft
- WR Kyan Berry-Johnson
- P Atticus Bertrams
- LB Tackett Curtis
- WR Joseph Griffin Jr.
- WR Eugene Hilton Jr. (https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/uw/2025/12/22/wisconsin-badgers-receiver-eugene-hilton-jr-will-enter-transfer-portal/87884893007/)
- RB Dilin Jones
- WR Trech Kekahuna
- CB Geimere Latimer
- S Remington Moss
- LB Cody Raymond
- OL Jake Renfro
- EDGE Angel Toombs
- LB Antarron Turner
- RB Cade Yacamelli
- Wisconsin football transfer portal tracker. Who's going, arriving (https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/uw/2025/12/09/wisconsin-football-transfer-portal-tracker-whos-coming-whos-going/87692848007/)
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2/3 real losses on that list IMO.
They were 4-8. Many have been asked to look elsewhere.
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2/3 real losses on that list IMO.
They were 4-8. Many have been asked to look elsewhere.
Billy Edwards, Jr. entered the transfer portal on 12/29/2025.
In 2024, Edwards ranked second in the Big Ten with 261.9 passing yards per game.
With a developmental program, my opinion is you recruit and develop players. That said, Curt Cignetti has taken the approach of hiring players later in their collegiate career, which is what Luke Fickell has been doing, without success. It has worked for Indiana; it has not worked for Wisconsin.
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ickell goes for STARZ.
Cignetti goes for production.
ickell just lost his RB coach, to Michigan State.
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Badgers got their top QB, top RB, top CB, top WR and top TE.
Donors really stepped up in Madison this time around.
Now... coaching. Gotta keep going on that.
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Badgers got their top QB, top RB, top CB, top WR and top TE.
Donors really stepped up in Madison this time around.
Now... coaching. Gotta keep going on that.
I see the QB. Who else did they get?
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RB from Iowa St.
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Well, if he fails, he lacks an excuse.
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Bryce West going from OSU to Wiscy. Didn't see that coming
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(https://i.imgur.com/1Q6PP6g.jpeg)
Hey-Hey-Hey, Factory of Sadness is our Title,come up with your own tag
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That’s a good pick up. Good player who was likely going to be starter at nickel next season.
Disappointing that both he and Aaron Scott left, as the both likely woul be starter in 26. I think they were mad because they were passed up this season for playing time by 5 Star true freshmen Devin Sanchez.
That plus more money. NIL is crazy.
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wisconsin payin more than Ohio St.????
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They are having to over pay...
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They are having to over pay...
The days of a team ( yes, even a Helmet team like Ohio State) building quality depth through HS recruiting and development- are over.
guys like this - who would start in most P4 teams in their sophomore year- are not going to wait around and can optimize their income on top of that.
I don’t blame them. It’s the game now. Not the player.
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OSU just signed Wisconsin's top LB?
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OSU just signed Wisconsin's top LB?
Kind of?
he got jumped on the depth chart by a couple of other guys. There were some rumblings he would be part of her rotation, or contribute some at a different position, but he didn’t seem to want that.
we might be wrong, but Wisconsin fans generally seem a little sad at the news, but not particularly busted up. (granted, a lot of players like that have left Madison the past few years and done pretty well at their next stop)
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We swapped players w Wisconsin. They got Bryce West- who almost certainly would have been the starter at nickel next year.
We got a tough, experienced LB from them who will almost certainly get snaps in every game he is healthy.
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win/win
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We swapped players w Wisconsin. They got Bryce West- who almost certainly would have been the starter at nickel next year.
We got a tough, experienced LB from them who will almost certainly get snaps in every game he is healthy.
Based on the current roster, I can live with this
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Too many missed assignments for my liking. Maybe he'll do better in CBus. Meanwhile...
(https://i.imgur.com/KBjsnpM.jpeg)
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"Roll Badgers"???? :smiley_confused1:
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It's "GO RED"
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It's "GO RED"
Is it now?
(https://i.imgur.com/IUmvKRk.png)
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always was when I was in Madison, but now????
maybe that's what Ickel has up his tattered sleeve
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Graphic designers don't know dick from rick.
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Roll badgers!
(https://i.imgur.com/ba6eCVq.png)
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UW reducing price of season tickets for 2026. Sure, there are only 6 (instead of 7) home games, but there's also a reduced demand thanks to the poor product on the field.
I've largely avoided any of the portal and recruiting news. I don't care. Prove to me that the team is better. That can only happen in the fall.
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31 players added, and counting. How do you build a culture doing this?
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ask Cignetti
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I would wager that Cignetti knows all of his players' names, unlike the clown in Madison.
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Cignetti's Hypesman QB knew all the players names and faces before he got to campus from Cal
Mendoza also memorized all the Hypesman winners names that were in NYC before he got there