A rocky season, a promising future
The 2025 campaign will be remembered as a turbulent one for the Wisconsin Badgers, whose quarterback position was hit hard by injuries and underperformance. The team was forced to start four different signal‑callers, a situation that placed the program at the bottom of the Power Four conferences in passing efficiency.
The ordeal began when Billy Edwards Jr. suffered a non‑contact knee injury in the opener, opening the door for Danny O'Neil. O'Neil’s stint was brief; his performance was underwhelming and he was benched before a season‑ending lower‑body injury ended his year. True freshman Carter Smith was thrust into the lineup next, but the youngster struggled to complete forward passes, highlighting the inexperience that plagued the offense.
With the dust settling, the Badgers now look to a more seasoned group of backups. Louisville transfer Deuce Adams and true freshman Ryan Hopkins have emerged as the top candidates to provide depth in 2026, while the lessons learned by O'Neil and Smith could shape their development into potential QB4 and QB5 roles.
The experience gained on the field, despite the adversity, offers a silver lining. Both O'Neil and Smith have accumulated valuable snap counts that will likely translate into stronger performances when they next take the field. The coaching staff believes that this added maturity will improve the overall depth chart heading into the next season.
Finishing the year with the 130th‑ranked passing offense, Wisconsin’s struggles were evident, yet the team’s newfound quarterback depth provides a foundation for a bounce‑back effort. The Badgers hope to convert the hard‑earned lessons into a more reliable attack when the 2026 schedule begins.