There was quite a bit of quarterback turnover for the Wisconsin Badgers this offseason, as they had three new signal-callers enter the room while two others departed.
That has been the story for a couple of years with the Badgers quarterback room. We’ve now seen four completely different quarterback rooms in Madison, with Colton Joseph, Deuce Adams, and Ryan Hopkins leading the 2026 group.
With players entering and leaving the room, we’ve seen quarterbacks go on to transfer and start at other places. And that has happened again this offseason as Billy Edwards, Wisconsin’s 2025 opening starter, is now expected to start the 2026 season as the North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback.
Edwards, who played in just two games last season, had transferred to North Carolina as the favorite to win the starting job. He and fellow former Badger Trech Kekahuna headed to play for Bill Belichick, and now both are expected to start for the Tar Heels.
Edwards had been battling with Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill, who had familiarity with offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. However, last week, a report from 247Sports shared that O’Neill was giving Edwards a battle for the starting job.
Now, though, ESPN reported that Edwards has won out and will start the opener for UNC as the Tar Heels hope to rebound off a disastrous first season under Bill Belichick.