Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell appeared to be gaining some job security after a promising start to the 2026 season.
However, a disastrous 30-0 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday may have brought questions about his future in Madison back to the forefront.
Wisconsin entered the matchup with a 5-2 record, coming off an impressive win over USC. Instead of carrying that momentum into the rivalry game, the Badgers were shut out at Kinnick Stadium, extending their losing streak against Iowa to five games.
The loss also continued a troubling trend under Fickell. He has now lost all four matchups against the Hawkeyes, with Iowa outscoring Wisconsin 124-16 in those contests. The Badgers have also failed to score in their last two meetings
with Iowa.
Fickell entered the season facing considerable pressure after consecutive losing seasons, including a 4-8 finish in 2025. Although Wisconsin has shown improvement this fall, performances like Saturday's make it difficult to dismiss concerns about the program's direction.
At 5-3, the Badgers still have an opportunity to finish with a winning record and build on their progress. However, Fickell will need his team to respond quickly.
Wisconsin returns to Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 7 to host Rutgers. Should UW somehow lose at home to the Scarlet Knights, that would undoubtedly make the conversation surrounding Fickell's job security louder than ever.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Is Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell back on the hot seat after blowout loss?
