While the Wisconsin football team smacked the USC Trojans on Oct. 24, 24-7, the program would regress significantly in the 30-0 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes, as a clash against Rutgers on Saturday will be needed to turn the team back to its winning ways. With Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell looking to keep the ship afloat on Saturday, there will be a major quarterback change for the program.
Though senior Colton Joseph has been the starting quarterback for the whole season, throwing for 1,346 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, he has been dealing with an undisclosed injury.
The injury is holding back Joseph to the point where the Badgers are going to instead start freshman Ryan Hopkins against Rutgers on Saturday, according to college football insider Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
“The current expectation is that Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph, who has been dealing with an injury, won’t start tomorrow against Rutgers, sources tell [CBS Sports],” Zenitz wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Freshman Ryan Hopkins is expected to make his first career start for the Badgers, per sources.”
While Joseph is hurt to the point where he can't start, the Wisconsin football team is putting Joseph in an “emergency role,” per college football insider Pete Nakos of On3 Sports.
Article Continues Below“Colton Joseph will be available in an emergency role, sources tell [On3 Sports],” Nakos wrote on X.
It won't be the first time that Badgers fans have seen Hopkins, as Joseph was benched in the second half after throwing for 90 yards, though the freshman recorded 93 yards and an interception. At any rate, it remains to be seen how Hopkins fares against Rutgers on Saturday and what the quarterback situation will look like with Joseph next week.