The Wisconsin Badgers will sit idle on Monday night as Ohio State and Notre Dame meet for the national title.
Wisconsin finished the 2024 season at 5-7, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2001. It was the program’s first season since 1996 without spending a single week ranked in the AP Poll.
Related: Significant takeaways from Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas leaving for Miami
Head coach Luke Fickell made significant changes to his coaching staff after the 2024 season concluded. He hired Kansas’ Jeff Grimes to fill the vacant offensive coordinator position, moved Kenny Guiton to quarterbacks coach and promoted Jack Cooper to safeties coach, among other moves. That was followed by a busy winter transfer cycle, highlighted by a top-down overhaul of the quarterback room.
While we await spring practice and an early glimpse at what 2025 has in store, it’s worth noting Wisconsin’s connections to the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame matchup in the final game of the 2024 season.
We’ve already outlined Luke Fickell’s numerous connections on the Notre Dame coaching staff. In summary, the Fighting Irish are led by nearly his entire support staff from his time at Cincinnati. But there are several additional Wisconsin football program and in-state connections to note.
Here is a full look at those connections, organized by team:
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day leads warm ups prior to the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Players:
Hinzman is the only Wisconsin connection on the Ohio State roster. The Badgers, on the other hand, have several former Buckeyes on the team and the coaching staff. Luke Fickell (head coach), Kenny Guiton (quarterbacks) and Tuf Borland (assistant) all played at Ohio State, as did incoming transfer WR Jayden Ballard.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Dec 20, 2024; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman during the third quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images
Players:
Coaches:
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Head coach Marcus Freeman (Luke Fickell’s defensive coordinator at Cincinnati from 2017-20)
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Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock (Fickell’s offensive coordinator at Cincinnati from 2017-21)
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Quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli (Fickell’s quarterbacks coach at Cincinnati from 2018-22, offensive coordinator in 2022)
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Mike Brown (Fickell’s wide receivers coach at Cincinnati from 2019-22, at Wisconsin in 2023)
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Joe Rudolph (Played at Wisconsin from 1991-94. Was Wisconsin’s tight ends coach from 2008-11, offensive coordinator from 2015-21)
Schrauth and Hinzman are the two notable in-state recruits who left for the Fighting Irish and Buckeyes, respectively. Both have excelled in starting roles this season.
Notre Dame’s staff, as noted, is littered with Fickell’s former assistants. Rudolph is also a significant connection — he was Paul Chryst’s offensive coordinator for nearly his entire head coaching tenure at both Pittsburgh and Wisconsin.
Notre Dame and Ohio State are set for a 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
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