Luke Fickell buyout: Details of Wisconsin head coach's contract

If Wisconsin decided to part ways with Luke Fickell following the 2025 season, the Badgers would owe their head coach more than $25 million. The Badgers lost to Maryland in their Big Ten opener in Madison. Wisconsin missed a bowl game last season for the first time since 2001.

Wisconsin extended Fickell after the 2024 season, but because of a clause in his contract, it did not impact his buyout. If the Badgers decided to part ways with Fickell at the end of the season, it would mark the second-largest buyout in the history of college football.

Fickell would receive $334,736 a month until March 31, 2032, if fired at the end of the 2025 season. He’s making $7.7 million this season; his contract includes a $100,000 raise each season. The Wisconsin head coach will make $8.3 million in the final year of his contract in 2031-32.

Here is a full buyout breakdown of Luke Fickell’s contract:

+ Buyout is $25.4 million after the 2025 season
+ Buyout drops to $19.2 million after the 2026 season
+ Buyout drops to $12.8 million after the 2027 season
+ Buyout drops to $6.4 million after the 2028 season
+ Buyout drops to $6.4 million after the 2029 season
+ Buyout drops to $6.4 million after the 2030 season
+ Buyout drops to $0 after the 2031 season

Wisconsin has shaped its contract with Fickell to provide some protections. The Badgers currently would owe their head coach 80% of the total compensation remaining on his initial contract, which was set to expire following the 2029 season.

But with the contract extended until 2032, Wisconsin added a clause that states that after the last regular-season game of the 2029 season, the amount of liquidated damages will be $6.48 million.

Fickell was hired in November 2022 after Wisconsin fired Paul Chryst. Fickell led Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff and went 57-18 in his six years there. His 2021 Bearcats team went 13-0 before losing to Alabama in the semifinals as the first Group of 5 team to reach the CFP.

Wisconsin ended 2024 with five straight losses, and the Badgers are 2-2 to open the 2025 season and have yet to beat a Power Four opponent. Wisconsin lost to Alabama 38-14 last week. Fickell is .500 in his tenure in Madison.