College Football Discussion

[ReasonablySober]

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Amazing.

[Mags FTW]

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[ReasonablySober]

Maryland, Rutgers and South Carolina are among the hot spots being watched as October kicks off. But Wisconsin might be the most fascinating situation to monitor.

Here's why: Luke Fickell is coming off of his biggest win as Wisconsin's coach, a 24-20 triumph at Penn State that marked the Badgers' first road victory since 2024, their first at Beaver Stadium since 2003 and their largest road comeback (17 points) since 2001. Going back to November 2025, the Badgers have taken down Washington, Illinois and now Penn State. Fickell made it through 2025 with a chance to get things right and more financial backing. Since then, Wisconsin has had an athletic director change (Chris McIntosh to Shawn Eichorst) and hired a new general manager (Morocco Brown).

After consecutive losing seasons, the coach who needed results is now getting them. Wisconsin doesn't have Ohio State, Indiana or Oregon on its remaining schedule, and a path to eight or more wins certainly exists.

So what's the problem here?

There might be none. Eichorst certainly would rather raise money and create greater alignment around the program and the university than go through a coaching search. But two of the most appealing candidates in the cycle, Eck and Dickert, both have ties to Wisconsin. Eck played offensive line for coach Barry Alvarez's Rose Bowl teams in the late 1990s. Dickert grew up near Milwaukee and played college ball at Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

"[Eck and Dickert] want your job," an industry source said.

No one in the industry would be surprised if both are coaching elsewhere in 2027. Would Wisconsin worry about missing out? Ultimately, the school will have to assess its faith in Fickell, who is 20-22 with the Badgers but trending in the right direction. Eichorst also is in an AD chair for the first time since 2017 at Nebraska, where his last head coaching change, firing Bo Pelini at the end of the 2014 season, didn't go well.

"What's got to be in the back of his mind is he's already done this once, and he's damn lucky to be back in the position that he's in," an industry source said. "[Nebraska is] still not back to where they were under Pelini."

I know it's Wake and the ACC, but I'd be suprised if Dickert left this early.

[Kerb Hohl]

I have "defended" Fickell since year 2 just due to crap luck, but it's an interesting situation. I think you can probably draw a line around ~8 wins. We have to remember that he was once a hot coaching candidate like Eck and that it's entirely possible we'd be happy with Fickell if not for the 7th circle of hell schedule with Braedyn Locke in half of 23 and then 24 and Hunter Simmons or whatever the **** happened in 25. So I think the linear "build up" never got to happen.

That said, in this era, he got to basically reshape the roster he wanted to so you can judge single seasons. He got his chance to prove a little more than he did even with the insane circumstances of the past 2.5 seasons. If you think Eck is a better fit and Fickell can't put up 8+ wins this year, I'm OK with the sentiment that even giving a pass for the majority of the crap of those seasons, he may never get the higher highs here and giving Eck a shot.

[BUCKnation]

I think 8 wins has to be the minimum at this point. He’s won, on paper, the hardest conference game of the season and the rest of the schedule after that October stretch is extremely winnable.

[MickeyDavis]

Both might be fine candidates but if change is made, "ties to Wisconsin" should not matter at all.

[MickeyDavis]

Pretty weak schedule of games this weekend. That's good as I plan to focus on Dodgers and Brewers Saturday. Iowa/Ohio State could be interesting.

[ReasonablySober]

Pretty weak schedule of games this weekend. That's good as I plan to focus on Dodgers and Brewers Saturday. Iowa/Ohio State could be interesting.

Like always, don't listen to this guy

Bama/Ole Miss: Battle of two of the three best QBs in the country, and we find out if Mississippi St's talent around Taylor is enough to make them a contender. Taylor is as close to Cam Newton as we've seen since Newton singlehandedly won Auburn a title.

Louisville/NC State/Virginia/FSU: At least one of these teams will do something dumb, and ACC honks will spend next week trying to spin it into YOU SEE THIS CONFERENCE IS ACTUALLY LOADED

Kentucky @ South Carolina: Shane Beemer needs to win this or he could get fired that night. He's had an awful week.

BYU vs TCU: I got nothing here, to be honest. Sonny Dykes is terrible, TCU should fire him. But this feels like an upset.

Miami vs Clemson: Must watch. Every Miami game is a must watch because you know they're going to gack up one of these. But against a desperate Dabo in Death Valley? I'm planning my weekend around this game.

Washington vs USC: Riley's got a $70 buyout so I don't think he's coaching for his job, but it's going to be entertaining to see how USC bounces back from last week.

[MickeyDavis]

Bama/Ole Miss would be interesting. Miss. State, meh. Good QBs though. Nothing about the ACC is interesting

[MickeyDavis]

Penn State/Northwestern could be interesting tonight. NW opening their new stadium, coming off a good effort vs. Indiana.

[Mags FTW]

I bet NW and VT to cover.

[MickeyDavis]

I took NW and the points too.

[Mags FTW]

Another Franklin team wetting the bed.

[ReginaldDwight]

Penn St. actually just sucks.

[MickeyDavis]

Virginia Tech lol

[Mags FTW]

College coaches trust their kickers way too much.

[MickeyDavis]

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[MikeIsGood]

Uncommon OSU W. Apparently they complained relentlessly about the barstool sports douche nozzles and got them booted from Big Noon Kickoff.

[MickeyDavis]

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[trwi7]

Michigan might have the worst offense in the country.