GT: Bucky at Indiana - 11/15/25 - 11:00 - BTN

[Kerb Hohl]

This game really does show how important a good QB is. If Mendoza goes out 2 plays in, and then the other Mendoza goes out two plays later, and they are forced to play a 3rd stringer with limited reps I think we probably win. Especially if literally all their running backs also get injured in the process.

Truly just the dumbest of luck. We've got Illinois out here as an OK team being mentioned as a playoff contender. We've got Minnesota and Northwestern as teams that would also win 3 games against Wisconsin's schedule fighting for 7 wins. We are close.

The QB situation is going to be interesting. I was laying out that I was not necessarily as enthused about Carter Smith playing this year simply because it's going to create such a dilemma. He's played OK, but younger QBs almost always struggle nowadays and a safe senior is a much better bet. There is no room for error to sit through a developmental year and Smith started as QB4 for a reason. I'm thinking we go to the portal but we're going to have to convince somebody that it's their job and hopefully keep Smith around to develop/be ready as QB2 most likely.

[DingleJerry]

Last 3 games are huge positives for me. Its kind of nipped the "lost the locker room" type worries of a few weeks ago. Have at least a glimmer of hope that they'll knock off MN to end season on a positive note.

But just in general with the improvement lately hopefully it can carry into next year. The D is OK and has good building blocks, keep improving on it this offseason and don't let those freshman get poached. I've seen some speculation that Edwards being held is in order to get redshirt for next year. Either way, him or a QB transfer in that is decent and doesn't get hurt, keep Smith as back up and QB is massively improved vs what they had this year. Spend a lot of money to get solid starting OL transfers and with the easier schedule they could easily not suck next year. Which is all we're asking at this point.

[Kerb Hohl]

Pretty much agree with all of that other than I can't imagine Edwards as our QB next year.

We can hopefully aim higher (unless other QB transfers are scared off/we're confident enough in Carter Smith and we need "depth") and more importantly, I think Edwards has to have burned a bridge with what seems to be pretty well known that he milked an injury for another payday (and I don't blame him).

Heywood coming back and they should be able to field a solid OL.

[MVP2110]

Curious how they go about the OL in the Portal. I'd assume Heywood at LT & Brunner LG. Do Mandell & Cubberly get the RG & RT jobs or do they bring in competition? Personally I'd like to see Mandell get moved back to RG. They definitely need a C

[DingleJerry]

Pretty much agree with all of that other than I can't imagine Edwards as our QB next year.

We can hopefully aim higher (unless other QB transfers are scared off/we're confident enough in Carter Smith and we need "depth") and more importantly, I think Edwards has to have burned a bridge with what seems to be pretty well known that he milked an injury for another payday (and I don't blame him).

Heywood coming back and they should be able to field a solid OL.

I don't follow it closely enough to really say much. But the speculation I saw was that Edwards doing that was with the coaches in order to come back here and be the starter. So in that scenario it wouldn't be burning bridges it would be them colluding to game the system. But, like I said, I don't know enough to say, just that that's what's been speculated and I never dug into it. Could be all bs, and I don't know his background if he's even eligible for it. Either way, him or whoever they buy on that 3rd tier level of QBs.

I guess O'Neil is technically only a Soph too so could be back. He's not awful for a backup. If I remember I thought that looked like an Achilles so he might be back but redshirted all next year.

[Kerb Hohl]

Pretty much agree with all of that other than I can't imagine Edwards as our QB next year.

We can hopefully aim higher (unless other QB transfers are scared off/we're confident enough in Carter Smith and we need "depth") and more importantly, I think Edwards has to have burned a bridge with what seems to be pretty well known that he milked an injury for another payday (and I don't blame him).

Heywood coming back and they should be able to field a solid OL.

I don't follow it closely enough to really say much. But the speculation I saw was that Edwards doing that was with the coaches in order to come back here and be the starter. So in that scenario it wouldn't be burning bridges it would be them colluding to game the system. But, like I said, I don't know enough to say, just that that's what's been speculated and I never dug into it. Could be all bs, and I don't know his background if he's even eligible for it. Either way, him or whoever they buy on that 3rd tier level of QBs.

I guess O'Neil is technically only a Soph too so could be back. He's not awful for a backup. If I remember I thought that looked like an Achilles so he might be back but redshirted all next year.

Maybe it could be - there have just been some comments from Fickell basically throwing BEJ under the bus for not playing - and most of the voices that hate Fickell seem to even be supporting him on it.

Thinking about it again - I'm guessing UW/Fickell are not involved. Fickell can go pay the same money for a different version of Billy Edwards Jr. next year. I don't think he would care enough to have Edwards specifically as his QB. Edwards, however, gets an extra payday which is massive. He could be gaming the system for an extra million dollars before he enters the real world (after maybe a short stint of trying to play pro football first).