The Wisconsin Badgers are staring down a pivotal offseason, and the latest news out of Madison only adds to the growing list of challenges. Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who opened the 2025 season as the team’s starter, has officially entered the NCAA transfer portal. For a program already reeling from a 4-8 campaign and a second straight year without a bowl appearance, this is yet another blow to a team searching for answers.
Let’s be clear: the Badgers didn’t just have a down year - they hit a wall. A 2-7 mark in Big Ten play is tough to stomach for a program that once prided itself on consistency and physicality.
Under head coach Luke Fickell, expectations were high, but the results have fallen short. And with more than 20 players already heading for the exits via the transfer portal, the roster turnover is starting to feel more like a rebuild than a reset.
Edwards’ departure is particularly significant, not just because of his role but because of what it represents - the unraveling of a plan that never really got off the ground.
The former Maryland starter transferred to Wisconsin ahead of the 2025 season, bringing with him solid credentials. In 2024, he completed 65% of his passes for nearly 2,900 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions for the Terrapins. The hope was that he’d bring stability and leadership to a Badgers offense that had been searching for its next identity.
But that vision unraveled almost immediately. Edwards suffered a torn PCL in the season opener, sidelining him after just two games.
In limited action, he completed 7-of-16 passes for 113 yards - hardly enough to make an impact, but the injury wasn’t just a personal setback. It derailed Wisconsin’s offensive continuity before it had a chance to take shape.
Now, Edwards is expected to receive a medical redshirt and will look to get back on the field elsewhere in 2026. Meanwhile, Wisconsin is left with a quarterback room that’s long on potential but short on proven experience. Danny O’Neil, Hunter Simmons, and Carter Smith are the names on the depth chart, and at least for now, one of them will be tasked with leading the offense into what’s shaping up to be a critical year for Fickell and the program.
This isn’t just about one player leaving. It’s about a program that’s trying to regain its footing in a rapidly changing college football landscape.
The transfer portal is now a central part of roster management, and NIL has only accelerated the movement. But when over 20 players - including your starting quarterback - decide to move on, it raises big questions about culture, direction, and the ability to compete in a cutthroat Big Ten.
Wisconsin still has the bones of a proud program. The fan base is loyal, the facilities are top-tier, and the tradition runs deep.
But none of that guarantees success in today’s game. The Badgers need to hit on the right quarterback, stabilize the roster, and find a way to build momentum - fast.
Because after a season like 2025, the margin for error is shrinking. And with Billy Edwards Jr. now moving on, the urgency in Madison just went up another notch.