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Luke Fickell insists Badgers are sticking together, despite apparent locker room argument

Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell defended his team's effort against the Oregon Ducks, but he also hinted at a locker room argument that took place in Eugene.
Lorin Cox|
Oct 25, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell instructs players during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell instructs players during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

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Wisconsin Badgers

Against the Oregon Ducks on Saturday, the Wisconsin Badgers looked like a team that hasn't given up and are still playing hard for each other.

Head coach Luke Fickell defended his team's effort during his post-game press conference, but he also hinted at a locker room argument that took place in Eugene.

"You walk into that locker room, as disappointed as you are, as much as you want to lose your mind, and you look at those guys’ eyes, and they’re not batting an eye," Fickell said. "They’re not pointing a finger at each other. They’re not arguing with each other. We might have had one, but that’s none of the guys that are playing.”

Fickell didn't give any additional details about what happened besides it not involving any players who played in the game.

It's unclear if the argument happened during halftime or in the postgame locker room, but it's clear that it wasn't reflective of the players who kept giving it their all against a Top 10 Oregon team.

Small arguments and disagreements happen in locker rooms all the time and aren't necessarily reflective of any larger issues.

Related: Luke Fickell's hand-picked recruits emerge as bright spots in Badgers' loss to Oregon

When a team is on a six-game losing streak like Wisconsin, players are going to be emotional and want more from each other.

The key is keeping those emotions directed toward the common goal of improving, as opposed to finger pointing, but Fickell made it clear that isn't a problem in this locker room.

Still, it was a little strange for him to volunteer that information that otherwise might not have come out, but Badgers fans should at least appreciate his honesty and transparency.

As long as Wisconsin builds off of the progress in the loss to the Ducks and keeps playing hard the rest of the season, it won't become a bigger story. What happens on the field will be what matters the most.

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Lorin Cox
LORIN COX

Lorin Cox is the managing editor of Wisconsin Badgers on SI. He has been covering Badgers sports since 2014, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. He previously wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal, NBC Sports Chicago and USA Today Sports Media Group, and he is a former analyst for Pro Football Focus.

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