The Wisconsin Badgers are making another quarterback change, but it’s not the ones that fans have been calling for.
Wisconsin is expected to start Danny O’Neil at quarterback, On3’s Pete Nakos reported.
That matches our reporting from earlier in the week that O’Neil was expected to start after taking a majority of the first-team reps.
The Badgers had turned to O’Neil after Billy Edwards was hurt in the season opener. O’Neil had a strong first start against Middle Tennessee, throwing for 283 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception, while completing 23 of 27 passes.
However, he mightily struggled against the Alabama Crimson Tide, throwing for only 117 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions, while getting sacked four times.
The rough performances continued against the Maryland Terrapins, when O’Neil had only 120 yards and an interception, while getting sacked six times.
That prompted Wisconsin to bench O’Neil during their bye week and turned to Hunter Simmons for four starts.
After some uninspiring play over the last few weeks, Wisconsin is benching Simmons and going back to O’Neil.
However, he’s not the only quarterback expected to play. We reported earlier in the week that true freshman Carter Smith is expected to make his season debut on Saturday and see some work at quarterback. He took a majority of the second-team reps in practice this week.
It’s to be seen exactly how the Badgers will divide up the work, assuming they do, but it’ll be O’Neil starting and Smith backing him up on Saturday.
