Billy Edwards Jr. came into Wisconsin with some decent career accomplishments and a desire to see more in Madison. He was injured basically immediately and would basically not play again all season (appearing in the game against Maryland briefly before being re-injured). He then sat out the rest of the season awaiting a medical redshirt so he could play one final season in college football. However, it may be all for naught.
Edwards Jr. was brought into the circus in North Carolina with Bill Belichick and was thrown into a quarterback competition with Travis Burgess and Miles O'Neil. Edwards came in as the favorite to be the starter, and yet, it's now being reported today that O'Neil will get the job. Edwards will be the backup, and his fall from grace continues.
Texas A&M Transfer Miles O’Neil is in the lead to be UNC’s Starting QB, per @TarHeel_247 pic.twitter.com/ktMHTvlZK6
— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) August 16, 2026
Wisconsin fans would cry "Karma" for a guy who, after being re-injured versus Maryland, never seemed to battle his way back from injury. Was perfectly content to not play for Wisconsin again in an effort to get another season of eligibility. Yet, in his final season, he's going to the bench for a quarterback from Texas A&M with only 20 career pass attempts.
Billy Edwards Jr. losing the starting UNC QB job really proves 2 things
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It really proves two things that Wisconsin fans need to hear. The first is that Wisconsin's quarterback room was worse than anyone thought. If Billy Edwards Jr. can't go to UNC as a senior and win a quarterback competition against players with basically zero experience, that's a bad sign. Wisconsin had it worse than we thought, and even a healthy Edwards may not have been the savior we all pretend him to be in some alternate timeline.
It explains more than you think and really brings reality to the increase in talent this season for the Badgers. Wisconsin's increased spending brought in one of the top transfers, Colton Joseph, a backup who has a high ceiling, Duece Adams, and there are still Carter Smith and Danny O'Neil, who gained tons of experience last year in a lost Wisconsin season.
Throw true freshman Ryan Hopkins into the mix, who's come out of nowhere and risen to the No. 2 spot in the depth chart. This year's quarterback room looks way better than whatever Wisconsin tried to sell Badger fans last season. Edwards wasn't as good as he was cracked up to be, as a leader or a quarterback.
The second thing it proves is that the grass isn't always greener. Edwards thought this would be a final opportunity to showcase his skills, and now he's going to ride the bench. It's a brutal end to his career that held a lot of promise. Injury cost him last year, but a poor transfer choice may have cost him this year. He will now have to watch from the sidelines...again.
The Badgers have moved on and aren't regretting things now, but it's another twist to the ugly season that was 2025.
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