Wisconsin Badgers coach Luke Fickell is taking the blame for the Oregon Ducks loss

The last time the Oregon Ducks and Wisconsin Badgers played each other was in the 2020 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which ended at the hands of now Los Angeles Chargers Justin Herbert, 28-27.

Flash forward to now, it was another finish between the two programs, this time in Madison at Camp Randall Stadium in a frigid Midwest Big Ten Conference match.

“There was no doubt in the eyes in the locker room, and I mean that,” Fickell said after the 16-13 loss. “But I do believe that where it’s not always seen or always felt, there’s something that’s building and something that’s coming. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been able to rear its ugly head in games like this. I put that on me .” .”

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel (218 passing yards and zero touchdowns on 22-for-31 completions) had trouble executing and finishing in the red zone during the first half against the Badgers. He threw an interception at 5:25 of the second quarter to Wisconsin cornerback Nyzier Fourquerean (plus seven tackles and one pass deflection), who was all over the field the entire game.

The second half was a different story for Gabriel — his eight-yard run for a first down on third down and four yards with 4:03 left in the fourth quarter. That quarterback from Gabriel’s pocket then led to Oregon kicker Atticus Sappington’s 24-yard field goal, giving the Ducks the 16-13 lead and the eventual final score.

This was the definition of a true Big Ten road game. Fortunately, Oregon is familiar with playing from behind and being in late-game situations like that this season. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell pointed out after the game that his defense threw everything they had at the Heisman candidate.

“They did a great job tackling, they did a great job eliminating the big plays. Give the guys credit if they changed Dillon Gabriel he never really felt comfortable. I thought this was one of was the better matches.” where we created edge pressure.”

– Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell

“Not a lot of sacks, but Dillon Gabriel won’t be sacked a bunch,” Fickell continued. “But I thought the guys on the perimeter did a really good job of creating pressure and keeping Dillon Gabriel off balance today.”

On the other side of the ball, Fickell is struggling in the fourth quarter and finding ways to get wins with his program. The inexcusable delay of play by Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke and his offensive line was the dagger in the Badgers’ heart.

“That’s crushing. We haven’t been able to find a way to complete it at this point. The games have arrived in the fourth quarter, the most critical times… We still have to get over the hump and find a way to to pull it out… It’s an emotional shot that we have to be able to get over quickly.’

– Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell

Defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei was all over the field against the Badgers, but put the win in the books with his game-clinching interception off a tipped pass from the Oregon defensive line. He also improved on his team-high 8.5 sacks on the season. The sophomore is catching the eye of NFL scouts and should move up the 2026 draft boards with his continued efforts.

“We knew this was going to be an NFL schedule. There was going to be shot after shot and what that means is you also have to have the maturity, the discipline and the depth.”

– Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell

Wisconsin scored a single touchdown with 30 seconds left in the first half. Badgers receiver Will Pauling caught a two-yard pass from quarterback Braedyn Locke to give the Badgers a 10-6 halftime lead.

“I didn’t feel like field goals were going to win this football game, especially on our side,” Fickell said. And unfortunately we either got a penalty or we picked up a sack, and we end up in a position where we can’t even be in a fourth-and-five or six range to go for it. So we had to take that field. But we know very well that you’re not going to beat the number one team in the country by making field goals.”

The confident duo of Oregon coach Dan Lanning and Gabriel never seem to panic during their courageous play-calling. The Ducks are still perfect at an 11-0 overall record, only the second time in program history (first in 2010). A spot in both the Big Ten Conference Championship and the College Football Playoff is now within reach.