Badgers to make QB change for Rutgers game
· Yahoo Sports
The Wisconsin Badgers are making a quarterback change this week against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, starting true freshman Ryan Hopkins, CBS Sports’s Matt Zenitz reported on Friday.
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The change comes after starter Colton Joseph was benched last week after another rough passing performance, with Hopkins playing the fourth quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
“The current expectation is that Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph, who has been dealing with an injury, won’t start tomorrow against Rutgers,” sources tell CBS Sports, Zenitz tweeted. “Freshman Ryan Hopkins is expected to make his first career start for the Badgers, per sources.”
While an injury was referenced in the tweet, Joseph will be dressed and available, if needed, according to Zenitz. It’s a stark change for the Badgers, as just two weeks ago, there was a report that Wisconsin was negotiating with Joseph for the 2027 season.
Additionally, the Badgers are 5-3, with Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, and Minnesota to close out the season. But Joseph has really been struggling with accuracy concerns that began at the start of the offseason and have never really quelled two-thirds into the year. He’s struggled to produce in the passing game, so Wisconsin has been overly reliant on his legs, although that wasn’t the case against Iowa, perhaps due to injury.
In relief of Joseph, Hopkins had 93 passing yards, three more than Joseph, on 8 of 13 passing, with an interception. He looked more confident ripping his throws, although he did also have some youthful moments with sacks.
Now, he could be Wisconsin’s starter for the final four games, giving the Badgers a glimpse of whether he’s ready for the full-time role in 2027 or more difficult decisions have to be made at the quarterback position.
Wisconsin has gone for four straight transfer portal quarterbacks. Now, their situation for 2027 just got muddier.