Wisconsin football legend Barry Alvarez offered high praise for Badgers head coach Luke Fickell on Monday.
In an interview with ESPN Madison, Wisconsin great shared his outlook on the state of the program entering the 2025 season. While Fickell’s coaching record over the last two years points one way, Alvarez’s perspective was anything but pessimistic.
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“I think we have the right person in charge,” Alvarez said. “I think Luke [Fickell] understands the Big Ten. He knows how to win. I think he has his feet on the ground. Wisconsin is a difficult place. You have to understand this place as far as where to recruit, the type of players that fit here [and] the type of football that can win here. I really think that he is grounded. He’s the right guy to be here, so I really feel good about that. I like the players in the program, [and] I like the attitude. I’m always anxious to get the season started, but really anxious to watch this team play.”
Since joining the Badgers, Fickell has amassed a 12-13 mark. In his second full year as head coach in 2024, the Badgers finished 5-7 and failed to make a bowl game appearance for the first time since 2001 — Alvarez’s 12th season as head coach in Madison.
Fickell arrived on campus following a widely successful run at Cincinnati. The former Ohio State defensive lineman registered a 57-18 mark in six years, headlined by a College Football Playoff appearance in 2021. With six AP top 25 opponents on Wisconsin’s 2025 schedule, Fickell’s Badgers could again finish at or near .500. For context, the last time UW went under .500 in back-to-back years was 1990-92 — Alvarez’s first three years in charge. If anyone knows the program, it’s the 2010 College Football Hall of Fame inductee and winningest head coach in Wisconsin football history
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Still, new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes and transfer quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. are slated to run the offense this fall. Outside of matchups against college football powers Oregon, Alabama, Ohio State and Michigan, Wisconsin will need to triumph in winnable conference games against Iowa, Maryland, Washington, Minnesota and Illinois for the program to reestablish momentum. A closing victory over Minnesota would also accomplish that objective.
Fickell’s team will first take the field against Miami (OH) on Aug. 28 in Madison.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football Barry Alvarez 2025 season preview Luke Fickell
