At the drop of a hat, Wisconsin's athletic department was thrown into turmoil overnight.

Chris McIntosh's departure after five years in Madison leaves the athletic director role empty, at a time where the UW-Madison Chancellor and UW Systems President gigs are also vacant.

At a critical time for Wisconsin athletics — particularly football and basketball, as the Badgers appear in danger of falling behind their Big Ten peers in terms of NIL — multiple key leadership spots are open.

Football General Manager Marcus Sedberry was named Wisconsin's interim athletic director, a predictable move given his vast experience. In a recently released statement, he said: "As interim director of athletics, my focus is on successfully driving our department as a whole through this transition period.…