Wisconsin football alums sound off on Badgers' worst season in over three decades

The Wisconsin football team's worst season in over three decades is over.

The offensively-challenged Badgers lost to rival Minnesota, 17-7, in frigid and snowy conditions on the road. It's the second straight season and fourth in five years that Wisconsin has fallen to the Golden Gophers, the worst stretch for the Badgers against Minnesota since they lost six of seven from 1984-1990.

To make matters worse for Wisconsin alums and fans is that Minnesota now leads the all-time series.

And that really bothers one former Wisconsin Badger.

"Days always seem longer after losing to Minnesota for some reason," said Melvin Gordon, who starred at Wisconsin from 2011-14.

In Gordon's four years in Madison, the Badgers never lost to Minnesota. They won all four games by an average of over 19 points.

Gordon's years were part of a stretch when Wisconsin beat Minnesota in 14 straight seasons from 2004 to 2017. The Axe had a permanent home at Camp Randall Stadium.

Not anymore.

The Axe is now getting quite comfortable in the Twin Cities.

Beyond losing ground to Minnesota in the rivalry, Wisconsin's 2025 season saw them reach new lows with consecutive home shutout losses, a six-game losing streak at one point and finishing the year with college football's second-worst offense.

Head coach Luke Fickell, who has a 16-21 record in three seasons, is returning in 2026. Athletic director Chris McIntosh made that clear in early November despite calls for the coach's firing from fans at home games this season.

The schedule won't be as difficult next season but Wisconsin has a long way to go to get to where Fickell said he envisioned for the program when he arrived. He said he wanted to compete for championships.

Now, the Badgers can't even qualify for bowl games or have teams finish with .500 records. Their record has gotten worse under Fickell over the last three years from 7-6 to 5-7 to 4-8.

VOTE: How would you evaluate the Wisconsin football team's 2025 season?

Former Wisconsin running back Brian Calhoun, who rushed for over 1,600 yards and 22 touchdowns in his one and only season with the Badgers in 2005, gave his thoughts on the program:

"Stating the obvious, but a really big & important off season upcoming for Badger football ...2026 has to be better..," said Calhoun, whose three touchdowns led the way for the Badgers in their 38-34 win over Minnesota in that '05 season.

Anthony Davis, who is fifth on Wisconsin's all-time rushing list with 4,676 yards during his four-year run from 2001-04, didn't just have one comment about the state of the program on social media Saturday night.

He had a lengthy "rant" on what he would like to see changed. And it's a lot.

Davis wants accountability from the coaches, a discipled ofseason for players focused on getting stronger and faster, and recruiting more in-state players.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Wisconsin football running back wants to see changes to program