In a surprising turn of events, Wisconsin is poised to field Hunter Simmons as their starting quarterback in the upcoming game against the highly ranked Ohio State. This shift is notable because Simmons originally began the season as the team's third-string quarterback, making his rise to the starting role quite remarkable. His journey to this point reflects the unpredictable nature of college football, where injuries and performance can rapidly alter a player's trajectory.
According to insights shared by ESPN's Pete Thamel, Simmons is expected to make his third consecutive start for the Badgers. His transfer to Wisconsin from Southern Illinois during the offseason initially placed him behind other quarterbacks like Billy Edwards Jr., a transfer from Maryland, and Danny O’Neil from San Diego State, on the team's depth chart.
Early in the season, Edwards was the starting quarterback, debuting in Wisconsin's opener against Miami (OH). He completed seven of 16 passes for 113 yards before suffering a knee injury that sidelined him. O’Neil then stepped in, guiding the team to a narrow 17-10 victory, completing 12 of 19 passes for 120 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
For a brief period, Wisconsin’s offense seemed to be in capable hands with O’Neil. The sophomore had an impressive game against Middle Tennessee State, going 23 of 27 for 283 yards, three touchdowns, and just one interception in a commanding 42-10 win. However, the momentum didn’t last. The offense struggled in subsequent games against Alabama and Maryland, as O’Neil's performance dipped—he completed 25 of 39 passes for 237 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions. During the Maryland game, head coach Luke Fickell benched O’Neil in the second half, turning to Simmons, who has since seen action in three games, completing 33 of 59 passes for 329 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions, facing tough defenses like Maryland, Michigan, and Iowa.
This week, Fickell held a competition between Simmons and O’Neil to determine who would start against Ohio State. As of now, there’s no clear timetable for Edwards’ return, leaving Simmons as the likely starter. Interestingly, Fickell has only managed to see his preferred quarterback stay healthy and start in 11 of 31 games during his time with Wisconsin. Fickell, a former Buckeye defensive lineman and assistant coach, currently holds a record of 15-17 as Wisconsin’s head coach, with an 8-13 record within the Big Ten. This statistic underscores the ongoing challenge Fickell faces in stabilizing the quarterback position and achieving consistent success on the field.
