It’s been a busy few weeks for Wisconsin’s quarterback room because the Badgers landed a pair of former four-star prospects.
It culminated with this week’s main splash as SMU switch quarterback Tanner Mordecai selected Wisconsin.
Mordecai had 7,152 passing yards with a staggering 72 touchdowns and 22 interceptions over a pair of seasons as SMU’s beginning quarterback. He started his profession as an Oklahoma Sooner, the place the previous four-star recruit spent three seasons as a backup earlier than transferring to SMU.
Mordecai’s addition got here shortly after Wisconsin landed switch quarterback Nick Evers, who got here by the use of Oklahoma.
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With Myles Burkett and Chase Wolf, who led the Badgers to a Assured Fee Bowl win, Wisconsin has a plethora of choices beneath heart subsequent season.
Right here is our greatest early guess at how issues will look within the QB room:
QB4: Myles Burkett
Franklin quarterback Myles Burkett dedicated to Wisconsin instantly upon receiving a suggestion in January.
Burkett has obtained nothing however rave evaluations since stepping on campus final season. The previous Franklin Excessive Faculty star is solely sitting behind extra skilled gamers at this level in his profession. Don’t be stunned in the event you hear from him sooner fairly than later.
QB3: Chase Wolf
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Dec 27, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Chase Wolf (2) towards the Oklahoma State Cowboys within the first half of the 2022 Assured Fee Bowl at Chase Discipline. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities
After 5 years as a Badger, Chase Wolf lastly acquired his beginning probability. Whereas there have been a number of performs he would really like again, it was an general strong displaying for the longtime Wisconsin quarterback. All of it culminated in a very powerful stat of all: a win.
QB2: Nick Evers
After spending one season at Oklahoma, Evers is headed to Wisconsin. The previous four-star recruit flashed big-play skill and dual-threat capabilities at Flower Mound Excessive Faculty in Texas. The expertise is clearly there, however anticipate him to sit down behind a much more skilled possibility subsequent season. The long run at Wisconsin doubtless belongs to Evers.
QB1: Tanner Mordecai
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Oct 22, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) throws downfield in the course of the first half towards the Cincinnati Bearcats at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports activities
Regardless that we’re sitting right here projecting on New Years Eve 2022, this nonetheless appears like a completely certain factor. Mordecai comes with two years of wonderful expertise, a nine-touchdown (ten complete!) sport towards Houston this previous season, and all of the arm expertise on the planet. Oh, he can transfer too. He hit a prime velocity of 20 miles per hour on a spotlight run earlier this season. Wisconsin has their subsequent beginning quarterback.
The long run…
Trying forward, Wisconsin landed a significant 2024 splash in quarterback Mabrey Mettauer. One other Texas native, Mettauer is a four-star prospect per 247Sports. The 2022 Texas District 13-6A Co-Offensive MVP as a junior final season will look to place collectively an other-worldly senior season earlier than stepping foot on campus.
In conclusion…
Nov 26, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) passes the ball towards the Memphis Tigers in the course of the first half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports activities
With one 12 months of eligibility left and a boatload of beginning expertise, Mordecai will lead the Wisconsin offense in 2023. The long run is brilliant behind younger expertise in Burkett and Evers, and Wisconsin followers ought to be excited for the arrival of Mabrey Mettauer.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WSAW) -With the cut of a ribbon, the holiday festivities began in Wisconsin Rapids.
This year, they started the night with a bridge lighting ceremony to celebrate the new lights that were installed on bridges downtown.
Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Matt Zacher says, “It is beautiful, you see it in other cities around the state that have spent the money on making it happen.”
The lights took four months to install and will be a permanent fixture in the community, used for celebrations and events in the future.
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Soon, other lights came into view as the holiday parade kicked off. From fire trucks to beloved characters, it’s a perfect holiday tradition.
Brennan Agen, who brought his children to the parade, said, “The excitement in everybody and the holiday spirit just brings cheer to everybody.”
This year, organizers wanted to bring a little extra to the event. From the bridge lighting ceremony, a food truck, and around 70 floats, there was plenty to enjoy. Even a special after party with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Some favorites from the kids were the trucks, and of course, the candy.
Former Wisconsin basketball guard Chucky Hepburn put together his best performance of the 2024-25 season in the Louisville Cardinals’ blowout win over No. 14 Indiana on Wednesday.
As one of eight teams competing in the Battle 4 Atlantis non-conference tournament, Louisville decimated the No. 14-ranked Hoosiers 89-61 on Wednesday morning.
Hepburn was absolutely electric on both sides of the floor. In 29 minutes of action, the former Badger star registered 16 points, a season-high 10 assists and seven steals. Those numbers came on 7-of-10 shooting and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Through five games with the Cardinals, Hepburn is responsible for averages of 11.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.8 steals in over 27 minutes per game. As of Nov. 27, his 3.8 swipes per contest are the second-best in the nation behind only UC San Diego’s Hayden Gray (3.86 SPG).
Hepburn, who flashed his defensive brilliance during his tenure in Madison, is morphing into one of college basketball’s most pesky perimeter defenders. He is also proving his worth on the offensive end — the guard is shooting over 51% from the floor for the Cardinals to start the season.
In 103 career appearances with Wisconsin from 2021-24, the point guard averaged 32.1 minutes per game, 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals on 42% shooting and 36% from three-point range.
In his absence, the Badgers have leaned on star wing John Tonje and sophomore guard John Blackwell. Wisconsin is off to a red-hot 8-0 start to the season and currently sits at No. 15 in the latest AP Poll.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers, losers of two straight will look to finish the 2024 regular season on a high note on Friday afternoon when they travel to Madison to take on the Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers enter Friday with a 5-6 record and are in danger of missing a bowl game for the first time in 22 years.
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Wisconsin 2024 Schedule & Betting Trends
COV = covered, DNC = Did not cover
WISCONSIN OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIVE RANKINGS
The second year of Luke Fickell era not going to plan
The Badgers had hoped the second year of the Luke Fickell era would be more fruitful. After a 7-6 season last year, the Badgers went into the transfer portal this offseason and upgraded their quarterback position by nabbing former Miami (FL) starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke.
Van Dyke would play in just two full games before suffering a season-ending injury against Alabama in the third week of the season. Since then, the Huskers have looked towards redshirt freshman Braedyn Locke to lead the offense. As with most young quarterbacks, the results have been mixed. This season, Locke has completed 56.4% of his passes for 1,806 yards and 12 touchdowns while throwing 10 interceptions.
Overall, the Badgers started the season off 2-0 with wins over Western Michigan and South Dakota before falling to Alabama and USC. In October, it appeared that Fickell’s program was finding its stride with four straight wins over Purdue, Rutgers, and Northwestern but have since lost four straight games.
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The Badgers made a change at OC midseason
The Badgers fired their offensive coordinator, Phil Longo, earlier this month following a 16-13 loss to the Oregon Ducks. Longo came to Madison with the hopes of bringing the Air Raid offense to the Big Ten, but the transition to the offense has been largely unsuccessful for the Badgers.
This season, the Badgers are averaging just 24.7 points per game, their lowest mark since 2004. Additionally, their passing attack has only garnered 202.7 yards per game ranking 93rd nationally, their rushing attack is slightly better when it comes to nationally ranked with 164.4 yards per game, ranking 65th.
In their first game without Longo last weekend against Nebraska, the Huskers totaled 25 points and 407 yards from scrimmage including 292 passing yards.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday will be the 134th meeting between the two programs since their first meeting in 1890. Through the first 133 matchups, the series is as tight as possible with Wisconsin holding a 63-8-62 advantage over the Gophers. The Gophers for a long time held the series advantage but a 14-game winning streak from 2004 through 2017, shifted the series in favor of Wisconsin. The Gophers over the P.J. Fleck era have been working to even it back up, doing so in 2022 with a a 23-16 win in Madison before the Badgers reclaimed the lead with a 28-14 win last season.
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