Billy Edwards Jr.’s first night at North Carolina gave Wisconsin fans a fresh reminder of what they no longer have, and that was enough to stir plenty of frustration before the season even settled in.
When UNC opened against TCU in Week 0, Badger fans had their eyes on the Tar Heels’ new quarterback with a very specific mindset: hate watch. Edwards, after all, had become a sore subject in Wisconsin circles, with many fans convinced he had been healthy enough to play last season but chose to protect his medical redshirt and move on. Since that’s how it played out, the suspicion has only gotten louder.
Edwards’ debut wasn’t a fireworks show, but it was good enough to help North Carolina get the win. He finished 16/28 for 238 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
He was also sacked three times and finished with seven carries for minus-4 yards. It wasn’t the kind of performance that screams star turn, but it was steady enough to keep UNC in control.
There were flashes, too. Edwards hit Jelani Thurman on a 35-yard pass that stood out as one of the night’s better plays. He also survived a few dangerous throws that TCU couldn’t finish off, which helped keep drives alive.
Afterward, Edwards didn’t try to dress it up. He told ESPN reporters, "First game...
I don't think I played my best football... We have a lot of stuff to clean up, but at least we can do it in the victory column."
Trech Kekauna, another former Badger now at UNC, had a quieter night overall. He caught three passes for 38 yards and also lost a fumble, which cut into his chances the rest of the way.
For Wisconsin fans, the whole thing landed somewhere between annoyance and confirmation. Edwards showed enough to make the what-if linger, but not enough to soften the resentment that followed him out the door.
In Other News...
Jim Leonhard Is Giving Badgers Fans A New NFL Reason To Watch
Jim Leonhard is already giving Wisconsin fans a fresh NFL reason to keep an eye on Buffalo. After landing the Bills defensive coordinator job last winter, the former Badgers standout has spent the preseason showing off the kind of defensive structure and aggressiveness that made him such a respected figure in Madison, with Buffalos defense piling up pressure and taking the ball away at a healthy clip.
Through the exhibition slate, the Bills have put up 10 sacks, four interceptions and held opponents to an average of 15.6 points per game under Leonhards watch. It is still only preseason, so the real test will come once the games count, but for Badgers supporters, the early returns are enough to make Buffalo a more interesting TV watch than it was a year ago. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Faces An Early Reality Check Against Notre Dame
Wisconsins season opens with a measuring-stick test right away, and it is hard to imagine a cleaner one than Notre Dame. The Badgers have reason to feel better about the back end of their defense after an offseason of work in the secondary, but Week 1 brings an opponent with championship ambitions and an offense built to pressure every weak spot. For Wisconsin, the assignment is less about style points and more about finding out quickly whether the programs push back toward respectability has real traction.
Notre Dame comes in with CJ Carr at quarterback and enough scheme flexibility to make the Badgers defend the whole field, which is exactly the kind of challenge that can expose a team before September even settles in. Wisconsin should have a chance to compete if its improved secondary holds up and the rest of the defense can keep the game manageable, but this still feels like the kind of opener that tells you a lot about where the Badgers stand. The bigger question is whether they can turn that hope into a showing that keeps the margin of the conversation from getting away from them. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Commit Kingston Allen Is Becoming Harder For The Badgers To Keep
Kingston Allens senior-season start has only added to the buzz around Wisconsins 2027 recruiting class. The four-star tailback has already established himself as one of the nations top running backs in the eyes of recruiting services, and the Badgers were early enough to secure his commitment before his stock kept rising. For now, Wisconsin still has him in the fold, but the attention around his name is getting louder by the week.
Allens production has been impossible to ignore, and that usually means more schools start circling. He already has a small offer list and that can change quickly if he keeps putting up the kind of numbers that turn a local standout into a national target. For Wisconsin, the challenge is familiar: landing the commitment is one thing, keeping it is another once the rest of the sport starts paying closer attention. [Read more 🡒]