Wisconsin football celebrated a major accolade on Monday, Sept. 28, when head coach Luke Fickell was named the Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant National Coach of the Week. The award recognized Fickell’s leadership in the Badgers’ stunning 31‑24 victory over No. 13 Penn State on Saturday night, a game that featured the program’s largest road comeback since 2001.
Historic comeback in Happy Valley
Trailing by 17 points at halftime, the Badgers rallied in the second half, erasing the deficit and securing the win with a decisive fourth‑quarter drive. The triumph marked Wisconsin’s first victory in Penn State’s Happy Valley since a 30‑23 win in 2003, ending a four‑game road losing streak in the series.
Fickell’s growing résumé
Fickell, who previously earned the Paul Bryant National Coach of the Year honor in 2021 while leading Cincinnati, now guides Wisconsin to a 3‑1 overall record (1‑0 in the Big Ten) as the team prepares for its upcoming home clash with Michigan State at Camp Randall Stadium.
Big Ten milestone
The Badgers also became the first Big Ten team since Ohio State’s Sept. 29, 2018 win at No. 9 Penn State to defeat a ranked opponent on the road after trailing by 10 or more points in the fourth quarter. This achievement underscores the competitive resurgence of Wisconsin football under Fickell’s direction.
Consistent success against ranked foes
Over the past calendar year, Wisconsin has faced a gauntlet of ranked opponents, playing nine of its last fourteen games against top‑25 teams. The Badgers have won three of their last five contests against ranked programs, a streak that includes the most regular‑season victories over ranked teams by any FBS program since Nov. 8, 2025, when Wisconsin defeated No. 23 Washington.
Looking ahead
With the Coach of the Week honor adding to the momentum, Fickell and his staff will aim to extend the Badgers’ winning ways when they host Michigan State this weekend. The upcoming game offers another opportunity for Wisconsin to solidify its standing in the Big Ten and continue building on the impressive comeback narrative that has defined the season so far.
Fans and alumni are encouraged to attend the game at Camp Randall Stadium, where the community’s strong support for the team reflects the traditional family values and local pride that define Wisconsin athletics.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
