Tyler Van Dyke has been named the starting quarterback for the Wisconsin Badgers

Offensive coordinator Phil Longo made it official today. Tyler Van Dyke will be the starting quarterback for the Wisconsin Badgers. Both Van Dyke and returning starter Braedyn Locke had taken reps with the first-team unit throughout spring practices and in Platteville. As the Badgers completed their practices at UW-Platteville, Van Dyke solidified his status as the 2024 Week 1 starting quarterback.

Van Dyke was considered the favorite to start at quarterback for the Badgers in 2024 after he transferred into the Wisconsin program back in December. The right-handed quarterback from Glastonbury, CT, was the 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year, where he accumulated 2,931 passing yards and 25 touchdowns with only six interceptions.

Van Dyke's 2021 accomplishments were made under then-offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, who is now the head coach at Southern Methodist. Lashlee ran an Air Raid, up-tempo offense at Miami and used that offense to succeed at SMU with Tanner Mordecai. Phil Longo runs a similar up-tempo offense with Air Raid concepts, and it was believed that Van Dyke would fit Longo’s offense when he arrived in Madison.

Throughout spring football, both Van Dyke and Braedyn Locke each challenged one another for the position. Luke Fickell declared the starting quarterback competition "a battle.” In August practices at UW-Platteville, Van Dyke began to pull ahead of Locke in the competition and as Jesse Temple of the Athletic already pointed out, Van Dyke earned all of the first-team reps since last Sunday.

After Phil Longo announced that Van Dyke will start, Longo complemented the improvements Braedyn Locke made during practice. From Longo's comments below, the Badgers are confident in using both quarterbacks for the upcoming season.

Now with the starting quarterback position settled, the Badgers will focus on thoroughly preparing for their Week 1 matchup with Western Michigan. Second-year head coach Lance Taylor leads the Broncos, who are coming off a 4-8 season in 2023.