In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Badger Football has come to a fizzling end, as they fell to the Gophers Friday. By the end of the game, only Gopher fans were still in Camp Randall in another dreary performance by the Badgers. After 22 years, the Badgers won’t be going to a bowl game this year. So what comes next?

Luke Fickell isn’t going anywhere, and after two years, he still can’t figure out what makes Wisconsin work. He was a good hire and had an impressive resume, and certainly promised the heavens, but it just isn’t panning out two years later. Maybe it’s coming from the athletic director, or maybe it’s his own desire to shake things up, but it doesn’t matter because it just isn’t working. 

What is the Badgers offense? What is the Badgers defense? Like Lucas and Oates have been saying all season, the entire team has no identity. Fickell’s portal picks didn’t work out, and the defense can’t seem to manufacture any pass rush. Maybe they’ll have more of an identity next season, but that’s two years too late. But what will the Badgers look like next year? We’ll get the first inkling when Fickell hires an offensive coordinator, and we’ll learn even more when we see what quarterbacks are on the practice field this spring. Either way, they’ll need to spend a lot of money in the portal if they want to be competitive next year. Just look at the offensive line, which will have four brand new guys on it next season. 

Moving to the Packers, two big names are being named as finalists in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Mike Holmgren and Sterling Sharpe. Holmgren is a given, at least eventually, but Sharpe is more of a maybe. Oates thinks it’s a no brainer, a dog and a gamer who rarely missed a game. Lucas can’t disagree. 

The Packers will head to Detroit this Thursday to take on the Lions, and it’ll be closer than people might think. The Lions are beat up, and last time they played, Love was not yet healthy. Since the bye week though, Love has been playing at a higher level. They stand a good chance, as long as their defense can hold up. 

Finally, the Badger Men’s Basketball team is taking on Marquette this Saturday in what will be a great game. Oates thinks back to some of his favorite Badgers-Marquette memories, and Lucas has to say, Wisconsin should be thankful that it has two elite college basketball teams. 

The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.