Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell is considered ‘safe and secure’ in CBS Sports’ recent analysis of the job status of every college football coach.
CBS Sports senior writer Dennis Dodd created six categories for his recent assessment of the job titles of all 134 FBS coaches ahead of the 2024 campaign. Ranging from ‘untouchable’ to ‘win or be fired,’ Luke Fickell has fallen alongside 43 other coaches in the ‘safe and secure’ group.
For context, Fickell was placed in the same category as Big Ten rivals Sherrone Moore (Michigan), Jonathan Smith (Michigan State), Matt Rhule (Nebraska), David Braun (Northwestern) and James Franklin (Penn State).
Fickell’s position in this category is due to his recent hire and his track record before arriving in Madison, Wisconsin. The former Ohio State nose tackle became the Badgers’ 31st head coach in program history on Nov. 27, 2022, and will enter his second full season on the sideline this fall.
Another belief surrounding Fickell relates to his success on the recruiting front. 247Sports has Fickell’s 2025 cycle, complete with six top-tier athletes ranked 21st in the country with an average player rating of 88.29.
Fickell’s previous achievement of leading the Cincinnati Bearcats to the College Football Playoff also offers a blueprint for what he could do at UW. The Badgers went 7-6 in 2023, but will aim to start a resurgence in 2024.
