MADISON, Wis. (AP) 鈥� Wisconsin to keep quarterbacks healthy or produce many points lately.
None of that bothers new quarterback Colton Joseph, who believes his success at Old Dominion can translate to the Big Ten. Joseph heads a list of 34 transfer newcomers 鈥� 27 from Football Bowl Subdivision programs 鈥� eager to help Wisconsin bounce back from consecutive losing seasons.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really like to think about what happens in the past,鈥� Joseph said after Wisconsin鈥檚 Tuesday morning practice. 鈥淭hat already happened. I鈥檓 really here to show what I can do in the future and show what we鈥檙e building towards and what plays we can make, and the offense that we鈥檙e going to build here.鈥�
He will try to spark a Wisconsin offense that scored just 12.8 points per game and gained 253.1 yards per game last year to rank ahead of only UMass among FBS schools. Wisconsin last year after in 2024, ending what had been a Power Four-leading streak of 22 consecutive winning seasons.
Joseph was convinced he could succeed here after seeing highlights of quarterbacks working with who is back for his second season as Wisconsin鈥檚 offensive coordinator on Luke Fickell鈥檚 staff.
He particularly took note while watching Zach Wilson, who led BYU to an when Grimes was BYU鈥檚 offensive coordinator. Wilson was the in the 2021 NFL draft.
鈥淚 saw some of the things (Wilson) was doing,鈥� said Joseph, who threw for 2,624 yards and rushed for 1,007 at Old Dominion last season. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥楳an, if I could get in that offense, I could probably do those things, too.鈥�”
Fickell likes the way Joseph has adjusted to the challenge of leading a team he has just joined.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a guy with high expectations coming in and you can see a little bit of a natural tightness, that he wants to lead but he鈥檚 got so much to learn,鈥� Fickell said. 鈥淓ach and every day, especially practice-wise, you鈥檙e seeing him become a little bit more loose in what he鈥檚 doing.鈥�
Fickell could use some better luck at the quarterback position as he begins his fourth season at Wisconsin. The Badgers鈥� intended season-opening starting quarterback has been available for the entirety of only 11 of their 37 games the last three years.
came over from SMU in 2023 but missed 3 1/2 games with a that season. arrived from Miami the following year but tore his in the third game of the season.
Fickell added multiple transfer quarterbacks with starting experience as an insurance policy a year ago, and it still didn鈥檛 work out.
Maryland transfer left with a in the second quarter of the Badgers鈥� over Miami (Ohio). He returned to lead a couple of series Sept. 20 against Maryland but didn鈥檛 play again the rest of the season.
Danny O鈥橬eil, who started 11 games at San Diego State, took over for Edwards and started three games but struggled and eventually suffered a leg injury. Southern Illinois transfer Hunter Simmons and freshman Carter Smith each started multiple games after Edwards鈥� injury.
While Edwards has since transferred to North Carolina, O鈥橬eil and Smith remain on Wisconsin鈥檚 roster. But the Badgers expect Joseph to be their starting quarterback for their Sept. 6 opener with Notre Dame at Lambeau Field.
His status as a dual-threat quarterback makes him an injury risk if the offensive line doesn鈥檛 adequately protect him, but it also should produce a more dynamic Wisconsin offense as long as he stays healthy.
鈥淥ur coaches really emphasize scrambling,鈥� Joseph said. 鈥淲hen the first play鈥檚 not there, there鈥檚 always a second play that鈥檚 within the play. I think I add an element that helps make explosive plays.鈥�
Joseph passed for 4,251 yards with 32 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while rushing for 1,654 yards and 24 more scores at Old Dominion the last two years. He completed 59.7% of his passes and averaged 6.4 yards per rush in 2025.
He showcased how his rushing ability could make an impact against elite competition when he ran for 179 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries in a to Indiana, though he also threw three interceptions and had just 96 yards passing in that game.
What impresses Fickell the most is the 9-3 record Old Dominion posted in the games Joseph started last season.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what level it is,鈥� Fickell said. 鈥淲inning is winning.鈥�
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