Over the years, the Wisconsin Badgers have experienced enough preseason hype. College football insider Brett McMurphy even ranked them as the fifth most overrated team since 2014 in the preseason AP Poll – indicating that, even though the outcomes weren’t always consistent, people had high expectations for the Badgers. Wisconsin has appeared on nine of the last twelve preseason top 25 polls, peaking at No. 4 in 2018; however, they have only appeared in the final AP rankings five times since then.

Under Luke Fickell, things haven’t exactly gone as planned either. The Badgers missed out on a bowl game for the first time since 2001 after a 7-6 first season in 2023 and a 5-7 finish in 2024. It has been a difficult couple of seasons when you combine injuries, erratic quarterback play, and one of the most difficult schedules in the country. The pressure is on as Wisconsin will travel to Alabama, Michigan, and Oregon in addition to facing six preseason AP top 25 teams this fall. The real story begins at that point because one crucial player could make all the difference.

In the recent interview with the Big Ten Football, Luke Fickell said, “Billy walks in the door and we said here are the keys and we want you to take it,” highlighting the trust placed in quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. His crucial role was further recognized by Fickell, who said, “He has been an incredible example of that and of leadership and what has been in that locker room.” Edwards showed off his skills in the 2024 season, starting 11 games and leading the team in 2,881 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions.

The October schedule for Wisconsin isn’t playing around. “Wisconsin faces four teams that won 10 games a season ago, October was particularly brutal on paper. With Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon in succession,” host Dave Revsine pointed out. But as Fickell points out, the key is not letting that scare the team. “I think it was one of those things we addressed when we started… but the truth is, once you start camp, you can’t worry about those things. The seniors do a great job of telling the guys, we understand it is going to be a challenge, this is what we signed up for, let’s not worry about it, and try to focus on the basics and make sure we are moving forward with the objectives that we have every single day. When the game comes, we will handle more.”

Beyond the tough schedule, Fickell wants the team to focus on what really matters: “what we define as playing good football, obviously that is winning games, but there’s obviously a lot more to it.” Wisconsin’s 2024 season was a wild ride, ending 3-6 in the Big Ten and 5-7 overall. The team’s five-game losing streak highlighted its challenges in maintaining consistency. Instead of focusing only on early-season results, he wants the team to prioritize long-term development, execution, and fundamentals. Another kind of leadership is found in the locker room, where 14 players share accountability and set the tone.

Billy Edwards Jr. and Luke Fickell to lead Wisconsin

Billy Edwards Jr. is already creating a stir at Wisconsin, showing his commitment to boost the Badgers’ offense. Edwards, a transfer from Maryland, has been pushing coaches for play scripts before they are even finalized, so he is not sitting around waiting. As teammate Grimes put it, “Even back in the spring and summer, and we had a couple of days off before our next walkthrough, and he’s asking for the scripts already. I hadn’t even built them yet, give me a minute here!”

Stats back Edwards’ preparation, and it goes beyond work ethic. In 2024, he ran for 148 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 2,881 yards with a 65% completion rate, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions at Maryland. “Billy Edwards Jr… if you watched Wisconsin, first of all, if you watched last year, it was very ungood. It was not fun…Can he come in and give them some balance?” said analyst David Pollack, who even singled him out as the team’s secret to success next season.

The Badgers’ 2025 campaign may be determined by Edwards’ capacity to perform consistently under pressure, especially with a new offensive coordinator and a really tough schedule ahead. Of course, without Luke Fickell at the helm, none of this would be possible. “I think that our big thing was we had to be consistent from the time we walked in the door… The culture and the environment isn’t what we put up on the wall. It’s actually what we promote, what we permit, and what we put on film,” Fickell said. Wisconsin is hoping this quarterback-coach duo can finally give the Badgers an offense that’s ready to compete from week one.