The Wisconsin football team will face Michigan without their starting quarterback, Billy Edwards Jr., and their starting center, Jake Renfro, this Saturday.
Although Edwards made the trip with the squad, he has been declared inactive for the game against the No. 20 Wolverines. Edwards suffered a knee sprain during the opening game against Miami (Ohio) and returned to start the Maryland game on September 20th. He exited that contest after just one series, and his return date is currently unknown.
Head Coach Luke Fickell announced that Hunter Simmons will be the starting quarterback for the Badgers. Simmons is a graduate transfer from Southern Illinois, who participated in the final series against Maryland and successfully threw a touchdown pass.
Earlier in the season, sophomore quarterback Danny O’Neil started in two games for Wisconsin. He has recorded five touchdown passes, five interceptions, and completed 70.6% of his pass attempts.
Renfro will also be unavailable for the Badgers. He is a key veteran presence on the offensive line. Davis Heinzen, a senior transfer from Central Michigan, will take Renfro’s place at center. Heinzen began the season as the Badgers’ starting left tackle during Week 1.
Wisconsin’s current record stands at 2-2, and they are currently on a two-game losing streak. They suffered losses against Alabama on the road and against Maryland at home.
Injuries to quarterbacks have been a recurring theme in all three of Fickell’s seasons in Madison. In 2023, Tanner Mordecai was injured during Game 6. At the time, the Badgers held a 4-1 record. Mordecai subsequently missed three complete games, and Wisconsin finished the season with a 7-6 record.
During the previous year, Wisconsin’s starting quarterback, Tyler Van Dyke, sustained an ACL tear in the third game, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Wisconsin concluded the year with a 5-7 record, having lost their final five games.
The Badgers experienced an early setback during their opening victory against Miami (Ohio) when Edwards injured his knee in the first half. The injury was identified as a sprain, and the initial assessment was perceived positively, considering the potential for a more severe non-contact injury.
