The Wisconsin Badgers have yet to face USC in football since the Trojans joined the Big Ten, but that hasn’t stopped the head coaches of both programs from being compared to each other.
Both were highly touted additions when they came to their current schools, and now both are under a lot of pressure in 2025.
CBS Sports college football analyst Tom Fornelli compared the two coaches and the last few years of their careers in a recent article laying out Big Ten overreactions after spring practices.
The timelines don’t sync, but there’s so many similarities between Lincoln Riley’s tenure at USC and Fickell’s at Wisconsin. Both were brought in to “fix” things. Neither has “fixed” anything at the rate the fans would like, and in some ways, things have gotten worse. It feels like a big year for Fickell in Madison.
– Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports
May is the worst month of the year for CFB fans. Spring practice is over, the portal’s closed, and there aren’t games for nearly four months.
It’s a time to overreact to everything. So that’s precisely what I’ve done.
B1G Spring Overreactions: https://t.co/GQmf1m3ZGY pic.twitter.com/wyYy6mUHVe
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) May 6, 2025
Fornelli went on to note that Wisconsin’s new offensive coordinator and new transfer quarterback could be key improvements for UW, but he’s concerned that the team’s tough schedule will make those changes harder to notice in the win column this season.
That could put Fickell’s job security in question, and Riley is facing some similar heat at USC after going 4-5 in the Big Ten last year.
Both coaches had much more success on their previous team than what they’ve had the last few years, and that gives both current fanbases hope that they can turn it around in Los Angeles and Madison.
Wisconsin and USC are set to face each other on the schedule as conference rivals for the first time in 2026.
We’ll see if both head coaches are still around for the matchup.
Luke Fickell:
“This isn’t for everybody, right? This is a grown-ass man’s league, and this is a grown man’s game. And if guys don’t understand that and this isn’t the right thing for them, it is what it is.” pic.twitter.com/ZcetKJpRUq
— Dillon Graff (@DillonGraff) April 15, 2025
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