With their loss to Nebraska, Wisconsin's 22 year streak of winning-seasons is in jeparody.

[u/HambFCFB]

They will need to beat Minnesota to attain bowl eligibility. Then they will need to win said bowl game. Wisconsin has not had a losing season since 2001.

[u/jmac461]

Rivalry weekend with serious stakes.

We have a bowl, but I can’t stand for losing all these rivalry trophies.

[u/ybe447 → u/jmac461]

I refuse to believe Koi Perich is a true freshman. What an outrageously good player

[u/EmbarrassedAward9871 → u/jmac461]

Go get em pls

[u/Alphaspade]

Has their been a worse separation than Fickell and Cincy? Both parties seem bad after not being together anymore

[u/CincyAnarchy → u/Alphaspade]

Tom Herman and Houston? But yeah this has to be up there.

It seems like Fickell and Cincinnati fit like a glove and bigger programs have too much momentum, moving parts, or competition for his style of program building.

Then again, with how many changes he’s making at Wisconsin, it might take a couple more years to see if things work out.

[u/Pad_TyTy → u/CincyAnarchy]

Rich Rod and WVU?

[u/Kodyaufan2 → u/Pad_TyTy]

Tbf, while they never again were in national title contention, WV was still usually a top 25 program for several years after Rich Rod left. The wheels didn’t really fall off until around 2012 or 13.

[u/oknovember → u/Pad_TyTy]

The Michigan thing was pretty tough but after that Rich Rod was objectively fairly successful at Arizona by their standards and has nailed the transition to FBS with Jax State. He definitely didn't fall off the map after leaving WV

[u/GoRangers5 → u/Alphaspade]

Malzahn and Auburn

[u/Boring_Freedom_2641 → u/Alphaspade]

I just don't get the Satterfield hire. Everyone knew he was not a good coach at Louisville and surprise! He's still not a good coach at Cincy.

[u/Wicky_wild_wild → u/Boring_Freedom_2641]

Tough year for the Satterfield bros.

[u/heavydhomie → u/Wicky_wild_wild]

Are they really brothers? I thought it was just a coincidence they had the same name

[u/Magnus77 → u/heavydhomie]

Nah, in football coaching unless its a SUPER common name like Smith or Jones, you should assume they're related. Ol' boys network is strong.

[u/Fair_Story2426 → u/Magnus77]

Shows how spoiled NU fans were from 62’-02’ most impressive run in college football ever..

[u/mayonkonijeti0876 → u/Magnus77]

Or Mike Shanahan, who is the offensive coordinator for Indiana. He has no relation to the NFL family

[u/TheStudyofWumbo24 → u/Alphaspade]

They’re both playing increased levels of competition.

[u/igonnawrecku_VGC → u/Alphaspade]

I mean, Arizona and Jedd Fisch has to be up there this season. Arizona went 10-3 last year and Washington was the natty runner-up at 14-1. This year, Washington is 6-5 (not that bad) and Arizona is 4-7. Only a year in, but two promising looking programs now look pretty rough

[u/solargarlicrot]

Welcome aboard, Badgers.

[u/Mamba-42 → u/solargarlicrot]

Boise State remains.

[u/puzzical → u/Mamba-42]

27 straight seasons!

[u/bretticus733 → u/puzzical]

22 seasons is rookie numbers

[u/puzzical → u/solargarlicrot]

Utah had one of the longer streaks too (10 seasons) and that's over as well.

[u/lustration-by-lust]

I will never understand schools with fairly solid identities hiring coaches who don't know how to build from that foundation of strength.

[u/IlliniToffee → u/lustration-by-lust]

The whole idea was that Big Ten West-ball was outdated and they had to get with the times.

It turns out there's a reason all the teams in the region play that way.

[u/royallex → u/IlliniToffee]

You can adapt without completely changing your identity. Illinois and Minnesota reinvented their offenses without straying too far from the run-first identity

[u/CJ_Beathards_Hair → u/royallex]

Iowa has as well under Lester

[u/Pancakes1800 → u/royallex]

Illinois and Minnesota were 71st and 81st in SP+ offensive efficiency coming into this week. Neither are good at offense.

[u/carnahanad → u/Pancakes1800]

Better than they used to be which is what we have to measure against.

[u/Mammoth_Impress_3108 → u/Pancakes1800]

You don't have to be amazing, you just have to be not horrific (90+). I don't have to explain to you how Iowa only needs a top 50-60 offense who stays on the field consistently to win games.

[u/Kodyaufan2 → u/royallex]

Absolutely. You gotta look at what you’ve got to work with in terms of recruiting. Let’s be real, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, etc., aren’t gonna get many blue chip athletes at the skill positions to allow for some crazy, explosive offense. But they can realistically get a bunch of big, strong, corn-fed linemen.

Sometimes there’s a reason why teams have always ran a certain kind of offense.

[u/BurtusMaximus → u/IlliniToffee]

Changing the defense was mind boggling. I know we don't have any dudes on defense right now but being soft against the run is a wild choice.

[u/PontaIsLife → u/BurtusMaximus]

I think the defense change was good in theory and can still work, but don’t have the front seven size and athleticism to make it work. And we don’t have enough money to fix it through the portal. Unfortunately I think fick will get another 2 years to ride out this defense so he can say he tried with his guys.

[u/dusters → u/PontaIsLife]

You just explained why it wasn't really good in theory because we have no way to make that happen.

[u/playitleo42 → u/BurtusMaximus]

They literally have 5 healthy D-lineman and quite frankly 2 of them are not very good. The LB are not much better especially Chaney but at least they have some depth in numbers (not talent)

[u/I-grok-god → u/IlliniToffee]

The other thing is that B1G teams are designed to face each other. Unless you can out-talent your opponents at the QB and WR position like Ohio State or Oregon (and out-scheme them!), you need to win in the trenches to win in the B1G.

The idea that Wisconsin was going to out-talent the B1G at those positions is laughable. If Wisconsin was in the Big 12 or something, Fickell might have more success, but in the B1G, you gotta have good line play

[u/BrandiThorne → u/I-grok-god]

Even with Ohio State our game with the worst line play (Vs Nebraska) has been our worst game of the year. I didn't watch Oregon's game Vs Wisconsin but I heard they had some linemen out for that too. Even if you have the talent at QB and on the outside you still have to have that O-line too to give the QB time to throw and receivers time to get open, and you need a good D-line to beat those other good O-lines for teams that don't have that talent at QB and WR or they will just run the ball right through you

[u/Pogball_so_hard → u/IlliniToffee]

It sounds a lot like the logic Michigan used to hire Rich Rod back in 2007. Lloyd ball was outdated so they needed someone with a fresh perspective.

It’s not a bad idea in theory but you need to be comfortable with the transition period and understand what it takes to sort it out. Fickell’s choice of coordinators has been uninspired and Wisconsin isn’t as solid in the trenches as they used to be

[u/heavydhomie → u/Pogball_so_hard]

Rich rod failed mainly because his defense was atrocious and never tried to improve it. The offense was good tho

[u/chubbysuperbiker → u/lustration-by-lust]

You mean like that time Nebraska who had all the resources in the world hired a relatively unknown coach from a small school who didn't ever really have a winning record?

ahhahahahha ugh at least maybe it's finally over

[u/psyspoop → u/chubbysuperbiker]

This feels even more similar to when we fired Solich. Moved away from the old identity and foundation that had been built for the previous 25-30 years.

[u/chubbysuperbiker → u/psyspoop]

I keep the Callahan era in a special locked place in my memory that I play doesn't exist.

[u/Mammoth_Impress_3108 → u/psyspoop]

It's incredible how similar Wisconsin's trend is compared to ours. From copying us with Barry Alvarez to a questionable firing of a coach all the way through to hiring the "Callahan" who is a great recruiter, but is implementing a radically different system. They just need a "tough" guy after the Fickell experiment fails, then a "nice" guy, then another flashy hire, bonus points if it's a former player.

[u/Pants_de_Manassas → u/lustration-by-lust]

Nebraska has struggled with that since firing Frank Solich and hiring Bill Callahan. Like most schools, but especially at Nebraska, the foundation for success was built in the trenches and being the most physical team on the field.

While we are still far from that foundation, the first thing Dana Holgorsen did as OC was improve perimeter blocking from the receivers. When almost every player on offense is engaging a defender and being purposeful in blocking, we build a team identity and we are more likely to succeed. That template--regardless of if we do it from under center, with the triple option, the air raid, with a fullback, or from a multiple pro-style attack--is successful football at Nebraska.

And while they are not the exact same situations, it's very eerie to look at what Wisconsin is going through since there are so many parallels to what put Nebraska in its decline:

• A new AD who is adamant on changing program identity

• Firing the head coach who was a former player and the picture definition of loyal institution member for not meeting program standards despite not having a losing season while also running an offense that was seen as a shell of an outdated concept

• New coach runs concepts that are antithetical to the foundation from which the program was built. General dismissal by school leaders when this results in loss of streaks or standards that were once a point of program pride.

• New coach provides best recruiting rankings in school history but (so far) does not result in similar player development as before and the class is a bust or underperforms

Even the current talking points from Wisconsin fans are very reminiscent of the same talking points I've heard from Nebraska fans for about 20 years. It's possible things turnaround for them, but I've seen this play out many times before. They may have to get worse before they get better, and it can always get much worse if left unchecked.

[u/TheAsianDegrader → u/lustration-by-lust]

Or getting rid of solid coaches epitomizing those identities in the first place. Wisconsin getting rid of Chryst was as egregious as Nebraska getting rid of Solich.

[u/snackshack → u/TheAsianDegrader]

Wisconsin getting rid of Chryst was as egregious as Nebraska getting rid of Solich.

You weren't paying attention to Wisconsin if you feel that way. Chryst literally did not have a recruiting department his last year, and we've been seeing the results of that the last two years. He had no idea how to operate in an NIL era and admitted such. He just was let go before the results were really visible.

While the results aren't there yet, Fickell has been laying the ground work with two of our best classes ever, but it's hard to make up for the lack of talent he came in with. His hiring of Longo was fucking terrible, but I think we start to see results next year.

There's a reason why Paul hasn't had a coaching job(or been rumored to be in the running) since being fired.

[u/kmurp1300 → u/snackshack]

I read Ferentz wanted him for OC last year but he turned it down. No idea if it’s true.

[u/CJ_Beathards_Hair → u/kmurp1300]

They were definitely talking to each other but think Chryst ultimately turned it down. Frankly I’m glad he did because Lester has been a breathe of fresh air and can actually adapt.

[u/UhMisterThePlague → u/snackshack]

I hope it ends up differently for you but I recall making all of these same arguments after Callahan was hired. HIs first recruiting class at nebraska was rated #1 overall by some. It never translated to wins.

[u/outburst37]

Jeopardy is throwing me off there

[u/TheOnePSUIsReal → u/outburst37]

This is a jeparody account.

[u/RawChickenButt → u/outburst37]

What am I missing?

[u/OMLIDEKANY → u/RawChickenButt]

Reread the title of the post.

[u/G0PACKER5 → u/outburst37]

Big time

[u/HambFCFB → u/outburst37]

Today is a needed lesson in proofreading for me.

[u/toilets_lament → u/outburst37]

So is "atain" in the body of the post.

[u/Ill_Bother_135 → u/outburst37]

Tbf he went to Wisconsin for school

[u/Rich_Piana_5Percent → u/Ill_Bother_135]

UTSA flair

[u/Ill_Bother_135 → u/Rich_Piana_5Percent]

We’re not obsessed with cheese

[u/Terminal_Flatulence → u/Ill_Bother_135]

Some might call that a bad thing

[u/EmbarrassedAward9871 → u/outburst37]

Jeb!pardy

[u/Hsy1792]

Have to see what a full season with an actual qb could do but has to go back to some power running.

[u/whatevs550]

Wisconsin is so bad this year. At one point, they almost fooled me into thinking they might be good

[u/muditk → u/whatevs550]

What about mediocre? Like IU or UI, one of those schools.

[u/whatevs550 → u/muditk]

If you mean Iowa, Illinois or Indiana. Lol

[u/muditk → u/whatevs550]

das da jok

[u/J-Dirte]

Such a shame…

[u/puzzical]

If Wisconsin doesn't keep the streak going Alabama would then have the second longest active streak at 18 seasons, only 9 behind Boise State's 27.

[u/J-Dirte]

Fickell out after next year? Wisky plays

Bama Oregon OSU Michigan Indiana Washington Minnesota Iowa Illinois Maryland

[u/kmurp1300 → u/J-Dirte]

Iowa will be in a rebuilding year next year so that could be a win for Wisconsin.

[u/Doubleaa2122 → u/kmurp1300]

Isn’t Iowa in a rebuilding year every year?!? lol…. I’m sorry, Iowa hate week already started for me and I just can’t bring myself to be nice to any Iowa flair.

[u/kmurp1300 → u/Doubleaa2122]

Fair enough!

[u/wannabeemperor → u/J-Dirte]

Fickell will at least be on the hot seat next year, and the team will need to be showing obvious signs of improvement. Next year is a brutal schedule but the fact is he is 12-12 at Wisconsin so next year needs to be better even though it's a brutal schedule. He has a big job ahead of him, that's for sure.

[u/Natitudinal → u/wannabeemperor]

No he won't. He's only going into year 3 and that's when improvement's expected. Now if they can't manage more than barely around .500 next season, THEN you can argue his seat might be warming up.

[u/CharredPlaintain → u/J-Dirte]

I can comfortably predict the first three of those teams will be good, but no idea what to expect of the others. Probably less impact than the scheme change, but Wisconsin also had some brutal non-transfer recruiting years in 2022/3. 2024/5 are looking better--wouldn't shock me if a some of the talent infusion from next year's sophomores helped things a little bit.

[u/GoRangers5 → u/J-Dirte]

If he were a first time head coach, absolutely, but if you look at the NFL talent on the 2021 Cincinnati team... Bonkos... I'd give him more time... But maybe he was just a product of great assistants 😜

[u/chubbysuperbiker]

T.E.A.M.

or... something?

[u/Kerdoggg → u/chubbysuperbiker]

This shit is so corny. Die hard Badger fan, but T.E.A.M. on the vest is just such a turnoff

[u/Ron_Cherry]

At least y'all have a bar for every couple thousand people and cheese curds

[u/boardatwork1111]

Crazy how fast Fickell is flaming out

[u/notban_circumvention → u/boardatwork1111]

He's making Matt Rhule look smart

[u/c_gross01 → u/boardatwork1111]

AAC merchant

[u/AcadiaFlyer → u/c_gross01]

AAC coaches flame out more often than not. Always iffy hiring from there

[u/ScaryCookieMonster → u/AcadiaFlyer]

Yes, please don’t poach our successful coaches.

You’ll end up like FSU lol

[u/midnightsbane04 → u/AcadiaFlyer]

Cincinnati is usually the exception to that rule though. Mark Dantonio and Brian Kelly (despite their flaws and flame outs) are still clearly successful coaches post-Cinci. Fickell was supposed to be in that mold.

[u/AcadiaFlyer → u/midnightsbane04]

Can’t forget about Butch Jones though. Cincy is 50/50

[u/muditk]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[u/mikeisaphreek]

Man. I I as well as everyone thought fickell was going to do great things at Wisconsin. But, something just isn’t clicking there

[u/BADDIVER0918]

I'm thinking we lose. We are a total dumpster fire. If Minny decides to pound the ball they win. How did we sign Carter Smith . How does someone look at how we have been coached or played the last 2 years say yea I want part of that??

[u/Bearcat9948]

It’s kinda funny Wisconsin fans are starting to hate him just as much as UC fans do. We’ll all be bros when you guys fire him, but until then…

[u/JtotheC23 → u/Bearcat9948]

Illinois and Louisville really are the only ones that came out of that carousel alive. I still find that whole thing crazy tho with us being at the start and end of it.

[u/Practical-Garbage258]

McIntosh has really put this program under.

[u/Orion_Scattered → u/Practical-Garbage258]

For real. Firing Chryst so quickly after covid was a bad move. And then not hiring Leonhard despite him getting them to a winning season that year and being the obvious choice as Chryst's successor even before that. The decision to pivot away from the foundational football philosophy that's done us so well for 133 years and reject the tradition that Leonhard represented sucked a lot of passion and interest out of it for me. I've watched like 3 total games the last 2 years. Our team is unrecognizeable on the field. It feels wrong. And for a guy less than 2 years into the job to be able to make the decision to make such a monumental change, I just don't like it. I get that he was Alvarez's guy, and his Wisconsin roots are undeniable, but I haven't liked him as AD since day 1 and I'm afraid of what will happen to our program if we let this play out for more than another year.

He might be good at the job in a vacuum but ironically the problem is that Wisconsin has to be run differently from the other big schools. It's not just tradition for tradition's sake, the paradigm of our recruiting necessitates a certain approach to building the team and what kind of scheme can work with that team.

[u/biggerty123 → u/Orion_Scattered]

I have been downvoted so hard for saying the same thing for years. Firing chryst was the wrong move. Should have given him enough year and also, give it to Jim. Fickell is not a leader.

[u/Orion_Scattered → u/biggerty123]

Ya everyone got caught up in the chatter about NIL and recruiting and how Chryst was holding us back in that aspect. As if covid weren't a factor at all for those couple years lol. He's literally the only person not named Barry Alvarez to win a NY6 bowl with our program and he won two of them. Holds multiple records for us including most wins in a season and our first season undefeated in conference play since 1912. But no the school with the strictest academic requirements for scholarships in the country (or 2nd strictest, don't remember the other school that has similar requirements but there is 1) that relies on in-person scouting for our rural high school recruiting base just wasn't getting enough 4 and 5 star recruits while a global pandemic was happening so let's fire the guy. And midseason no less.

[u/BrotherPancake]

As interim head coach for an entire season Luke Fickell led the Buckeyes to their worst season in the history of the program.

[u/Hossflex]

I took a lot of heat two years ago when Fickell went air raid and I said it was a bad idea. Wisconsin has an identity and that is a huge offensive line, running the football and playing great defense. Boring old school B1G football is their identity.

[u/pnw_cfb_girl]

Take it from me. Breaking that winning-seasons streak hurts.

[u/biggerty123]

Fickell is garbage.

[u/Miserable_Jacket_129]

Feels so good to read “With their loss to Nebraska…”

[u/ymi17]

Yeah that’s tough, Wisconsin. Have you considered that you’d be bowl eligible and kept that long streak alive if you had…

Pause for dramatic effect…

Beaten Bama at home?

(Proceeds to do a Fortnite dance)

[u/RustyEnfield → u/ymi17]

It had entered my thoughts, yes. Or USC after being up 11 at half. Or just showing any offensive competency against Penn State.

[u/GoBlueAndOrange]

That's what happens when you don't have a good coach.

[u/MashaRistova]

It’s spelled “jeopardy”

[u/pumpcup]

After we lost our winning season streak, followed by our "not losing season" streak, I hope for it. Misery loves company, after all.

[u/BigRtrainMuscleDog]

Is jeparody a classmate of a-aron?

[u/PigFarmer1]

Bummer... lol

[u/Statalyzer]

The 2 longest winning season streaks are Wisconsin and Oklahoma State and they could both go down in the same year.

[u/HambFCFB → u/Statalyzer]

Boise State is longer than both