Wisconsin

Why Wisconsin loss to No. 1 Oregon is biggest heartbreak yet under Luke Fickell

Published

1 year ago

November 17, 2024

Why Wisconsin loss to No. 1 Oregon is biggest heartbreak yet under Luke Fickell

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin linebacker Jake Chaney paused as he sat at a podium inside the McClain Center late Saturday night, pent-up emotions from four seasons of failure steadily rising from his chest into his throat. They weren’t his failures, per se, though he took some of the blame as a program leader anyway. But the feeling after Wisconsin had missed out on yet another golden opportunity during a 16-13 loss to No. 1 Oregon at Camp Randall Stadium was both clear and familiar.

This one, he said, sucked — more than any other game he had played, not only for the narrow margin of defeat but also because of what it represented.

“For my four years here, I don’t think we’ve won a big game,” Chaney said. “You can say Penn State was close, say all these other teams were close. But I feel like, truly, that came down to the last drive. Just being that close, you always say, ‘You’re so close, you’re so close.’ But for a lot of guys that’s kind of your last opportunity.”

There’s no shame in losing by three points to the top-ranked team in the country. As safety Hunter Wohler had said earlier in the week, nobody expected Wisconsin to beat Oregon anyway, which is why the Badgers were two-touchdown underdogs. Wisconsin did everything it could defensively with one of its best performances all season.

GO DEEPER

No. 1 Oregon survives at Wisconsin with second-half comeback

The Ducks, playing their eighth game in as many weekends, limped across the finish line while struggling to handle some of the Badgers’ disguised coverages. Wisconsin held Oregon — a team that had beaten each of its last four opponents by at least three touchdowns — 20 points below its season scoring average and kept Heisman Trophy candidate Dillon Gabriel from throwing a touchdown pass for the first time all season.

It didn’t change the end result. And in a results business, that’s what matters most. Wisconsin simply has not been able to break through by securing a meaningful victory for a long, long time. The Badgers haven’t beaten a ranked opponent in 1,114 days — a streak that could continue into next year. During that time, they are 0-7 in such opportunities.

The issues Wisconsin faces predated Luke Fickell’s tenure, but he hasn’t managed to fix them in two seasons as head coach. Fickell is now 0-6 at Wisconsin against ranked teams, and his best victory is a win in the regular-season finale a year ago against a Minnesota team that finished with a losing record.

Saturday night could have been a moment that marked a turning point under Fickell. Instead, the Badgers were left reeling from an outcome that Fickell described as “crushing,” with two regular-season games left to try to qualify for a bowl game.

“To not be able to find a way again to come out on top is difficult,” Fickell said. “Those guys in that locker room, obviously they fought their butts off, they did everything we asked them to do. They played the way we wanted them to play and we expected them to play.

“We just right now haven’t found a way to be able to finish. The games that have come down to the fourth quarter, the games that have come down to the most critical times, the deep, deep waters, we still have yet to get over the hump and find a way to pull it out and to continue to do what we need to do.”

Oregon finished with 354 total yards to Wisconsin’s 226. (John Fisher / Getty Images)

Fickell compared Wisconsin’s slate to that of an NFL schedule. The Badgers played their third top-five team at home this season, a program record, after previously losing to No. 4 Alabama 42-10 and to No. 3 Penn State 28-13. But the quality of competition won’t make anyone feel better about where the program stands. This is a new landscape in the Big Ten, and it’s Fickell’s job to help the Badgers keep pace. Fickell is 12-11 at Wisconsin, including 8-8 in conference play.

This one got away from Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) for a simple reason: offensive futility and, more specifically, poor quarterback play. Oregon (11-0, 8-0) no doubt has a talented defense, but Wisconsin needed better from quarterback Braedyn Locke, who completed 12 of 28 passes for 96 yards with one touchdown and a late interception. Locke said afterward that there were “definitely tight quarters” on his throws and that Oregon didn’t give up much defensively.

It marked the fewest yards passing for Wisconsin in a loss since a 2018 game against Penn State when Jack Coan was making the second start of his career. Locke was starting his 10th game in two seasons after taking over for injured starters. Locke’s career pass efficiency rating of 109.8 ranks 22nd out of the 23 Wisconsin quarterbacks who have started at least two games since 1993 (ahead of only Jay Macias’ 106.4). Wisconsin’s future depends on finding a capable quarterback, though there are clearly issues beyond one player.

Fickell said Wisconsin needed to do a better job of establishing the run and not putting Locke in as many third-and-long situations. Wisconsin went 1-for-12 on third down, with its average third down distance 8.9 yards. Locke completed 1 of 7 passes on third down for 5 yards and took two sacks. One of his best throws, a left-handed third-down scramble for a touchdown to receiver Vinny Anthony II, was wiped out by an ineligible receiver downfield call on left tackle Jack Nelson.

“Obviously, it’s easiest to talk about the quarterback position,” Fickell said. “But I just think, as a whole, there’s so many of those things we’ve got to get better at in order to put ourselves in a position where it’s not all on the shoulders of a quarterback.”

Despite their offensive issues, the Badgers still led 13-6 entering the fourth quarter, and fans at Camp Randall Stadium were ready to witness magic in the team’s first game against a No. 1 opponent in 14 years. Oregon faced a fourth-and-9 at Wisconsin’s 41-yard line, leading to an epic rendition of House of Pain’s “Jump Around” that rocked the stadium like it hadn’t in years. But Gabriel converted the fourth down with a 15-yard pass, running back Jordan James ran for an 11-yard touchdown to tie the score and Wisconsin never threatened again. Oregon took the lead for good with 2:36 remaining in the fourth quarter on kicker Atticus Sappington’s 24-yard field goal.

Gabriel lazers this one in to T-Ferg on 4th down 💥 @oregonfootball #B1GFootball on NBC 📺 pic.twitter.com/RaSmV8Ma0m
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 17, 2024
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Wisconsin failed to get a first down on its final four drives. One was hindered by a backbreaking chop block call that negated a first-down pass to receiver Trech Kekahuna. The next drive ended in a turnover on downs on Locke’s incomplete pass, and the game wrapped when Locke’s final throw was tipped and intercepted by outside linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei with 1:32 remaining. Wisconsin averaged just 3.6 yards per play, its worst mark under offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Players acknowledged the defense deserved better.

“I apologize to them all the time,” Badgers running back Tawee Walker said. “They have our backs every single game. We’ve got to do the same. They played their part from the first snap of the game to the last snap of the game. I feel bad because we don’t have their backs like we should, and they played their hearts out.”

Fickell has attempted to stay positive despite mounting frustrations over the lack of progress. He said he was encouraged by the fact that he didn’t see doubt in anybody’s eyes on the sideline, even as Oregon took the lead late. He said that “there’s something that’s building” within the program. But that’s about all Wisconsin has to show for where it is — faint optimism about an uncertain future. And, at some point real soon, there better be more to offer because moral victories only go so far.

“This isn’t the norm,” Chaney said. “This isn’t the standard. I’m not going to sit here and say that a lot of people can’t see that. We see it in the locker room. We see it within the coaches. I truly believe that we’re taking steps. We’re making strides where guys who went through the stuff right now are going to come back next year and things will change. Things will change.”

GO DEEPER

Mandel’s Final Thoughts: Arizona State on fire, Tennessee on the bubble

(Top photo of Jordan James: John Fisher / Getty Images)

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Wisconsin

How many homes could be built in Northeast Wisconsin in 2026?

Published

10 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

How many homes could be built in Northeast Wisconsin in 2026?

(Stacker) – Homebuilding plays a critical role in maintaining a steady housing supply and keeping prices at sustainable levels. As the U.S. population grows, more housing is needed to meet demand. Since the Great Recession, construction has lagged well behind what is needed, which is one of the main reasons home prices are so high today.

Supply has slowly increased over the past few years but is still below what is needed for the market to balance out. Until that gap closes, prices are likely to remain elevated, and many buyers will likely struggle to afford a home.

So, how many homes are getting built in Northeast Wisconsin in 2026? Is construction increasing or decreasing?

Redfin Real Estate analyzed the rate of housing permits issued in the cities of Appleton, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Sheboygan over the past 13 months to find out.

Appleton

Appleton housing permits January 2025-January 2026(WBAY)

2026

January – Building permits: 29 (1.2 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 57 (2.3 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 52 (2.1 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 46 (1.9 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 74 (3.0 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 74 (3.0 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 60 (2.5 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 183 (7.5 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 53 (2.2 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 128 (5.3 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 139 (5.7 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 86 (3.5 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 246 (10.1 per 10k)

Fond du Lac

2026

January – Building permits: 10 (1.0 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 12 (1.2 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 12 (1.2 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 11 (1.1 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 20 (1.9 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 21 (2.0 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 15 (1.4 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 17 (1.6 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 16 (1.5 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 21 (2.0 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 19 (1.8 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 11 (1.1 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 20 (1.9 per 10k)

Green Bay

2026

January – Building permits: 304 (9.3 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 84 (2.6 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 67 (2.0 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 97 (3.0 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 166 (5.1 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 141 (4.3 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 93 (2.8 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 185 (5.6 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 120 (3.7 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 88 (2.7 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 155 (4.7 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 156 (4.8 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 62 (1.9 per 10k)

Oshkosh

2026

January – Building permits: 16 (0.9 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 15 (0.9 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 23 (1.3 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 22 (1.3 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 46 (2.7 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 61 (3.6 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 54 (3.1 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 77 (4.5 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 26 (1.5 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 87 (5.1 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 125 (7.3 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 16 (0.9 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 79 (4.6 per 10k)

Sheboygan

2026

January – Building permits: 3 (0.3 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 13 (1.1 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 31 (2.6 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 27 (2.3 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 9 (0.8 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 19 (1.6 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 22 (1.9 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 11 (0.9 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 11 (0.9 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 15 (1.3 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 174 (14.7 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 13 (1.1 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 38 (3.2 per 10k)

Nationally

2026

January – Building permits: 1,386,000 (44.2 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 1,460,000 (46.6 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 1,454,000 (44.2 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 1,481,000 (47.2 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 1,422,000 (45.4 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 1,394,000 (44.5 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 1,393,000 (44.4 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 1,362,000 (43.5 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 1,330,000 (42.4 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 1,425,000 (45.1 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 1,411,000 (45.0 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 1,388,000 (44.3 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 1,455,000 (46.4 per 10k)

National permit data is a seasonally adjusted annual rate; metro-level permit data is the non-seasonally adjusted total number of permits issued per month.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for May 9, 2026

Published

22 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for May 9, 2026

The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 9, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 9 drawing

15-41-46-47-56, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 9 drawing

Midday: 2-4-4

Evening: 8-4-5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 9 drawing

Midday: 7-3-4-7

Evening: 3-3-5-1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from May 9 drawing

Midday: 03-04-05-06-07-09-12-13-14-16-19

Evening: 03-08-09-12-13-14-15-17-20-21-22

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from May 9 drawing

05-14-18-25-27

Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from May 9 drawing

02-09-16-28-32-35, Doubler: Y

Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Megabucks numbers from May 9 drawing

02-20-36-39-40-41

Check Megabucks payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.

Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?

No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.

When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.

That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **

WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin multi-county police chase, 2 people from Illinois arrested

Published

1 day ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin multi-county police chase, 2 people from Illinois arrested

article

Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office

FOND DU LAC COUNTY, Wis. – Two people from Illinois were arrested following a police chase that started in Fond du Lac County and ended in Winnebago County on Friday, May 8.

Initial traffic stop

What we know:

According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, just after 1 p.m. the sheriff’s office got an alert for a stolen vehicle out of Illinois heading northbound on I-41 from County Road Y.

It was learned that the vehicle was involved in two different police chases in the past week in Illinois, but had eluded officers each time.

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A short time later, a deputy spotted the vehicle on I-41 near Winnebago Street. The deputy continued to follow the suspect vehicle northbound, waiting for more deputies to get into position to attempt a high-risk traffic stop. Once those deputies were in position, a high-risk traffic stop was conducted. The vehicle initially pulled over and stopped, but right after deputies got out of their squad cars and started telling the people to get out of the vehicle, it instead fled northbound on I-41.

Chase into Winnebago County

What we know:

The chase went into Winnebago County, with the vehicle failing to pullover and instead speeding up. As the chase continued, the vehicle continued driving recklessly, passing by other vehicles on the interstate, including passing on the shoulder and weaving between vehicles, all at a high rate of speed.

The vehicle exited I-41 and ran three red lights. The chase continued southbound on State Highway 26, with the vehicle continuing to pass vehicles at a high rate of speed on the two-lane highway.

The vehicle then went off the road and drove through the yard of a home before circling around in the yard, traveling through the ditch, and reentering the highway going northbound. It then went into a field near County Road Z and Clay Road.

As a sergeant with the sheriff’s office was moving in to perform a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT Maneuver), the suspect vehicle went into reverse and rammed the front of the squad. The vehicle then attempted to leave the field by traveling through a ditch and back up onto the road, where another sheriff’s squad ended the chase by intentionally striking the vehicle and pushing it off the road and back into the ditch.

The vehicle rolled over in the ditch, came to rest upright, but was then disabled and could not move. Two people got out of the vehicle and were taken into custody. The vehicle started on fire and a fire department had to respond to extinguish the fire. Both people from the vehicle were evaluated by medical personnel on scene.

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Facing charges

What we know:

The driver of the vehicle was identified as a 23-year-old man from Des Plaines, Illinois. He was taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail on the following charges:

Fleeing/Eluding an Officer
1st-Degree Reckless Endangering Safety (2 Counts)
Resisting/Obstructing Officer
Delivering Illegal Articles by Inmate (Ecstasy Pills).

The driver’s criminal history in Illinois was flagged as armed and dangerous with previous weapons offenses, dangerous drug offenses, and criminal damage to property.

The passenger of the vehicle was identified as a 23-year-old woman from Franklin Park, Illinois. She was taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail on the following charges: