Who will be Wisconsin’s starting quarterback in 2023?

Chase Wolf

Wolf has held the backup spot behind Mertz the past couple of seasons outside of a portion of the 2022 campaign which he missed with a knee injury. Following the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Wolf announced he would return to the Badgers for a sixth season, exercising his Covid year granted by the NCAA. With Mertz out of the picture, the Cincinnati native likely saw an opportunity to gain the starting role for the Badgers in 2023, and if Fickell prefers experience, the sixth-year quarterback could be the starter on opening day against Buffalo. Throughout his career, Wolf has never seen much game action. In 2021, he replaced an injured Mertz in a tough spot at home against Michigan, looking relatively unprepared against a stout defense as he threw an interception and took three sacks. He appeared briefly at the end of Wisconsin’s regular-season finale against Minnesota this year and looked competent, but failed to score a crucial game-tying touchdown. What could give Wisconsin fans hope is Wolf’s play in his only career start in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. There certainly wasn’t anything flashy about his game as completed 16-of-26 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown while also turning the ball over twice, but he made some nice throws throughout the contest while showing confidence which Wisconsin desperately needs from their next quarterback.