Wisconsin may have found the answer it needed at quarterback, at least for now, and Ryan Hopkins wasted no time making his case.
In his first start, the true freshman put together a performance that stacks up with the best debut outings in Badgers history. Hopkins went 18 of 24 for 241 yards and three touchdowns as Wisconsin rolled past Rutgers, 31-10.
The win did not fix everything on offense. Wisconsin still has problems Hopkins can’t solve by himself, including injuries along the offensive line, an uneven run game and play calling that has not always helped the cause. But the quarterback spot, the one that had been a headache for much of the season, suddenly looks a lot less shaky.
That matters for Luke Fickell, who is coaching with his job very much in the picture. A jolt to the offense can only help his case, and Wisconsin also locked up a bowl trip for the first time in a couple of years, giving a rough season at least a little lift.
Rutgers, meanwhile, took its seventh loss and is officially out of bowl contention. The Scarlet Knights’ season has slipped into lost territory, and the defeat only adds to the uncertainty around the program.
What Hopkins did in his first start was still hard to miss. The opponent was not the class of the Big Ten, but that does not erase the poise he showed against a Power Four defense in a game where Wisconsin had already dealt with plenty of offensive growing pains.
For the first eight weeks, Badgers fans watched Colton Joseph struggle to find consistency as a passer. Even with the inconsistencies, Joseph’s legs gave him value and helped keep him in the mix for a stretch.
Hopkins brings a different kind of spark. He was a decorated track athlete in high school, and his family includes professional and Division I athletes.
That athletic background shows up in more than just his running ability. He can stand in the pocket, work through his reads, identify the defense and fire the ball into tight spaces.
One of his best throws of the night never counted. A sideline shot to Tyrell Henry in the end zone was called back after it came in with too much heat and hit the turf.
Even so, Hopkins kept stacking good moments on top of good moments, and by the end of the night he had given Wisconsin something it has been searching for all season: real hope at quarterback.
In Other News...
Wisconsins 2-0 Start Comes With One Early Concern
Wisconsins 73-64 win over Delaware gave the Badgers a 2-0 start, and for most of the final seven minutes they looked in control enough to keep the Blue Hens at arms length. It was another sign that this group can defend, stay organized and find enough scoring to put a game away, even while the roster continues to take shape early in the season.
Still, the first two games have also shown where the polish is missing. The Badgers are still settling into a new mix of players, and there were reminders against Delaware that the offense can be more aggressive and the bench can give more. Owen Foxwell, Eian Elmer, Jack Janicki and Jackson Ball all had their moments, but Wisconsin is still searching for the kind of consistent depth that will matter once the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Greg Gard Sees One Growing Wisconsin Concern Before Big Ten Play
The early-season offense has not looked quite as smooth as Greg Gard would like, and the Wisconsin coach pointed to a few familiar trouble spots after the loss of top scorers Nick Boyd and John Blackwell. Against Delaware, Gard said the Badgers were off on ball screen timing, had trouble finishing through contact and did not get enough production from the bench, all of which added up to a night where the attack never fully settled in.
Gard still sounded confident the rhythm will come, but the timing of the slump makes it worth watching with Big Ten play approaching. Wisconsin has enough structure to expect cleaner possessions as the schedule stiffens, yet the Badgers also know they need more reliable scoring support beyond the top end if they want the offense to hold up when the games start to matter more. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Is Winning With Defense While One Problem Still Lingers
Wisconsins second win of the season came with a familiar look in one area and a much better one in another. The Badgers beat Delaware 73-64 and, after a shakier opener, showed the kind of team defense that can keep them in games while the offense sorts itself out. Jack Janicki, Braeden Carrington, Owen Foxwell and Victory Onuetu all had a hand in that effort, giving Wisconsin the kind of collective lift it needed on both ends.
The lingering issue is still on the front line, where injuries to some forwards have slowed the Badgers offensive rhythm and limited what they can do inside. Even with the defense trending up, Wisconsin is still working through those absences and the ripple effect they have on scoring balance. For now, the formula is clear enough: defend well, find enough production from the rotation, and keep waiting for the roster to get closer to full strength. [Read more 🡒]