Chris McIntosh is doubling down on the most significant decision of his tenure as the University of Wisconsin’s athletic director.
Luke Fickell will return as the Badgers’ football coach in 2026, McIntosh told BadgerExtra in an interview Thursday morning. BadgerExtra reported after Wisconsin’s loss to Ohio State on Oct. 18 that McIntosh met with the team that week and players’ takeaway from that meeting was that Fickell’s job was safe. McIntosh spoke to the team again Thursday after practice to ensure players knew Fickell was staying put.