Wisconsin fans expressed frustration during halftime of their Week 4 matchup against Mike Locksley’s Maryland on Saturday. The Badgers trailed 20-0 at Camp Randall Stadium when chants of ‘Fire Fickell’ erupted from the home crowd. The display reflected growing dissatisfaction with head coach Luke Fickell.
The first half was plagued by mistakes on both sides of the ball. Returning from a knee injury, quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. connected on a 45-yard pass to Trech Kekahuna early in the game. A blocked 38-yard field goal attempt stalled the drive.
Turnovers compounded the team’s struggles. Danny O’Neil threw an interception. A blocked punt gave Maryland a favorable field position, as the Terrapins capitalized to extend their lead. Wisconsin’s defense also struggled.
Quarterback Malik Washington made several big plays, including a 52-yard completion late in the half. That set up another Maryland field goal. The Badgers’ offense failed to respond, leaving the team facing a large deficit at halftime.
This infuriated the fans, who started chanting ‘Fire Fickell’ at halftime. In a video uploaded by On3 on X, Wisconsin fans can be heard expressing their disappointment.
NEW: Wisconsin fans broke into a ‘Fire Fickell’ chant at halftime against Maryland😳
(via @WhitePatBev)https://t.co/XHWfoPIERS pic.twitter.com/oh3zXqLMPs
— On3 (@On3sports) September 20, 2025
While the Badgers fans have a valid reason to be outraged, Fickell’s team hasn’t been that bad this season. They registered back-to-back blowout wins to start the season, winning 17-0 against Miami OH and 42-10 against the Blue Raiders.
Their Week 3 outing, however, turned out to be a huge disappointment as they lost 38-14 against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The scene at halftime on Saturday highlighted the tension surrounding Wisconsin football. The chants and social media reactions reflected a fan base eager for change. The Badgers needed a strong second half to salvage the game and address growing unrest among supporters. However, they lost the game 27-10.
Luke Fickell Buyout Scenario
Fickell’s contract, signed in November 2022 and extended through 2032, includes a substantial buyout clause. If the university were to part ways with him at the end of this season, it would owe him approximately $25.4 million.
This figure decreases over time, dropping to $19.2 million after 2026 and $12.8 million after 2027, before stabilizing at $6.4 million through the end of the contract in 2032.
Given the cost, Wisconsin is likely to retain Fickell through at least the 2025 season. The university may reassess his future based on the team’s performance and improvement over the remaining games.
How the Badgers finish the season will play a major role in determining whether Fickell remains in Madison long-term. For now, firing Fickell might only solve one side of the problem while putting Wisconsin in serious financial trouble.
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