Luke Fickell Focusing on Process in Second Year at Wisconsin

With the first year of the Luke Fickell era at the University of Wisconsin in the rearview mirror, diehard Badgers fans and media alike are eager to see if the football program will exhibit signs of discernible progress in 2024.

Coming off a disappointing 7-6 season, the Badgers have made a few notable moves through the transfer portal and high school recruiting to retool the roster, hoping to build a team more in line with Fickell’s vision.

However, as outside expectations for Wisconsin rise, Fickell remains focused on the long-term process of building a winning football program rather than short-term outcomes.

When asked about the importance of showing progress now that the 'transition year' is behind them, Fickell didn’t necessarily shy away from the question but instead offered reporters a grounded perspective on what “progress” really means in the eyes of those inside the building.

“We're always trying to show progress,” Fickell told reporters . “Every one of us, these guys—they hear it every single day. You know, they're evaluated every day. We're evaluated every day. Progress is something that is continual. I don't care if you win 11, 12 games; you're still going to want progress.

"And does progress always mean more wins? You know, it's easy for everybody else to say, but there's a lot of progress that has to continue."

Coach Fickell’s comments reflect that progress in a program doesn’t always directly translate to wins. While fans may be eager to see a substantial leap, as they did during Fickell’s second year at Cincinnati, the head coach stressed that proper development takes time.

The term "culture" gets thrown around often, but for Fickell and the Badgers, it’s something that evolves and requires constant attention.

“We all know that this is a part of the process,” Fickell continued. “And a part of, I say, transition, but the perpetual development. That’s what we’ve got to make sure we continue to focus on… It sometimes takes a little longer than you wish, right? We all want it now. You think just because we work really hard and dedicate ourselves that everything is supposed to pay off—but it doesn’t quite work like that.”

The first year of Fickell’s tenure at Wisconsin may not have delivered a Big Ten West title or a high-powered offense as many expected, but it offered valuable lessons that the program and staff can build upon. With the Badgers facing a tougher Big Ten schedule moving forward, Fickell’s focus on steady development across all operational phases illustrates a measured approach to bringing sustained success back to Madison.

Defining Progress: What I'm Hoping to See From the Wisconsin Football Team in Year 2 Under Luke Fickell

For Wisconsin football, a successful season won’t just be defined by wins and losses in 2024, at least internally.

Now, I know the national media is going to focus on the overall record and maybe even slap a label on them. But inside that locker room? It’s about so much more than that.

This season is about establishing an identity. It’s about taking those little mistakes that cost the Wisconsin Badgers last year—penalties, dropped passes, missed tackles—and eliminating them. If they do that, we’re not just talking about progress on paper (where games aren't played); we’re talking about laying the groundwork for something much bigger in the long run. That's how you measure real growth for this program.

Look, this Wisconsin team absolutely feels more talented than they did a year ago, but here’s the thing—I’ve got my concerns about whether that’ll actually translate to a better record with the schedule they’re facing.

At this point, they’ve got to prove they can win some of these bigger games because, let’s be real, they haven’t exactly done that in recent years.

Now, will the Badgers be a better team than what we saw last season? Yes, I'm pretty confident in that. Returning players have more time in the system, there is improved depth on both sides of the ball, and some of these portal pickups look like major upgrades.

But does that mean I’m sitting here thinking they’re about to go 10-2 and be in the College Football Playoff conversation? No. With this schedule, a 7-5 or 8-4 finish would feel like significant progress for this program, at least in my eyes. If you feel like I'm off my rocker, please let me know.

Related: Badgers Mailbag: QB Competition, RB Depth, Area of Concern and More

Stay in the loop with all things Wisconsin Badgers football and men’s basketball by visiting AllBadgers.com for more updates.

Ready to join the community? Follow Athlon Sports on YouTube , Facebook , and X to join in on the conversation.

You can also follow Site Publisher Dillon Graff at @DillonGraff on X.