Wisconsin’s quarterback situation looks a lot murkier after the Iowa loss, and the game itself did little to clear it up.
For much of Saturday, it felt like the Badgers were stuck in the same place they’ve been for a while: Joseph wasn’t doing much, and the offense wasn’t scoring. By the second half, the idea of giving Hopkins a look made plenty of sense. Once he got in, though, the picture still wasn’t sharp enough to settle anything.
Joseph’s best moment came on the Domingeaux catch, a 41-yard play that finally gave Wisconsin some life and pushed the offense close to the goal line. A few snaps later, the Badgers were sitting at the 3 and still walked away with nothing. That sequence was about as close as Joseph came to finding a rhythm.
He finished with 90 passing yards, and that number fits a troubling pattern. Going back over the last few games, it becomes clear this wasn’t a one-off. Joseph hasn’t reached 100 passing yards in three straight games.
That doesn’t mean he’s been the only issue. Wisconsin has still won during that stretch, and the offense’s problems go beyond one position. But it’s hard to ignore how little production the passing game has given the Badgers lately, and at some point that kind of output starts to matter.
Hopkins didn’t exactly seize the moment either. He threw for 93 yards and had the interception, so this wasn’t some dramatic spark that changed the game.
Still, there was enough there to make a longer look feel justified. Watching him for part of a game only leaves so many answers.
That’s why the next step seems pretty straightforward: give Hopkins a full week with the starters and see what Wisconsin gets when he goes into the game knowing the job is his. It might not change much.
That’s entirely possible. But after what the passing game has looked like, it’s worth finding out.
This isn’t a call to bench Joseph forever. There have been things to like about him, and swapping quarterbacks won’t magically fix everything that’s wrong with the offense. But with Joseph stuck under 100 passing yards in three straight games and Hopkins now having gotten a taste of game action, the next move feels obvious.
Give Hopkins the next one. Not because he’s proven he’s the answer.
He hasn’t. Just because Wisconsin has seen enough of the current setup to wonder what comes next.
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Wisconsins Iowa Loss Exposed An Offensive Shift Fans Cant Ignore
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One of the biggest takeaways was the heavier usage of true freshman Hopkins at quarterback, a sign the staff is willing to keep exploring options there. Up front, the right guard spot turned into a revolving door, another indication that the line is still unsettled as Wisconsin tries to piece together a functional run game and pass protection. For a team that needs stability, the numbers from this one suggest the search is still very much on. [Read more 🡒]