Deuce Adams Is on Campus-But Not Yet Officially a Badger. What’s Going On?
When Wisconsin dropped its full list of incoming transfers, fans were quick to scan the names-and just as quick to notice one was missing. Deuce Adams, the quarterback transfer from Louisville, wasn’t on the list of 32 new additions for 2026. Naturally, that raised a few eyebrows and sparked some concern across Badger Nation.
But take a breath, Wisconsin fans-Adams is in Madison. He’s on campus and around the program.
The holdup? It appears to be a contract issue that’s still being ironed out behind the scenes.
According to reporting on The Camp podcast, Adams’ absence from the official list isn’t due to a change of heart or eligibility snag. It’s more of a paperwork delay-albeit a strange one, considering how far along we are in the offseason. The specifics are still unclear, but the belief is that it’s just a matter of tying up loose ends before the deal is finalized.
Now, in the ever-evolving world of NIL and the transfer portal, this kind of uncertainty isn’t exactly rare. The timing is odd-Adams committed back on January 8-but welcome to college football in 2026, where off-field logistics can be just as unpredictable as a fourth-quarter blitz.
As for Adams himself, he arrives in Madison with three years of eligibility and a brief stat line from his time at Louisville: 15 completions on 21 attempts for 112 yards. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but they also don’t tell the full story. Adams brings upside, athleticism, and another layer of depth to a quarterback room that’s shaping up to be more competitive than it’s been in recent years.
Right now, Colton Joseph is expected to be the starter, and Carter Smith-who impressed with clutch performances against Washington and Illinois in 2025-will be in the mix as well. Adams enters that room as a bit of a wild card: not the favorite to start, but certainly a name to watch as the offseason unfolds.
Assuming the contract situation gets resolved soon, Adams will be in the thick of things when spring practice kicks off. And that’s when things could get interesting. With Joseph leading the way and Smith and Adams battling for the No. 2 spot, Wisconsin’s QB depth chart has real intrigue heading into 2026.
So while it’s not quite official yet, all signs point to Adams suiting up in red and white. Once the ink dries, Wisconsin fans can feel a little more confident about the future of the quarterback position-and maybe even start dreaming about the possibilities that come with a deeper, more dynamic QB room.