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Should Billy Edwards Remain Out, Hunter Simmons Will Continue to Start at Quarterback for Wisconsin

Wisconsin Badgers insider Evan Floodby: Evan Flood10/06/25Evan_Flood

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin made a bit of a surprising move in Saturday’s 24-10 loss at Michigan, inserting senior quarterback Hunter Simmons into the starting lineup in place of sophomore Danny O’Neil, who had been the backup to senior Billy Edwards. While O’Neil did get three snaps, Simmons will continue to start going forward, should Edwards remain out with a knee injury.

“That’s what I would say,” head coach Luke Fickell said during his weekly press conference. “There will be a plan both ways. I think Danny had three snaps in the game, but Hunter has done a good job and will continue to get more opportunities. Danny will have some opportunities as well, and we’ll have to see how that goes.

“Even after watching it, what we asked Hunter to do, he played with poise, he did the things we asked him to do. He took care of the football for the most part. I think we can definitely build on that.”

Simmons finished 18-of-29 passing for 177 yards and an interception against the Wolverines. The Southern Illinois transfer, who played just five games in 2024 and made three starts before a season-ending injury, also came on in relief a week prior against Maryland. Getting one drive, Simmons went 7-of-9 passing for 70 yards and a touchdown.

“I found out Thursday I was going to get the start,” Simmons told reporters in Ann Arbor. “That’s what you dream of. That’s why you come to a school like this is an opportunity to play on Saturdays in an atmosphere like this. It was really exciting.”

In 2024, Simmons completed 57 percent of his passes for 852 yards and three touchdowns to zero interceptions. On Sept. 21, Simmons had a career-best 341 yards and one touchdown against Southeast Missouri State. Simmons played in 11 games for the Salukies over the last four seasons. Throwing for 306 yards and two scores the following week against South Dakota, Simmons was only the second player in school history to pass for 300+ yards in his first two career starts.

The Badgers will return to action on Saturday against Iowa (6 p.m./FS1). UW will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak on the season and a three-game slide to the Hawkeyes. During Monday’s press conference, Fickell had no update on Edwards, which means Simmons could be relied upon to end that streak.

“It hasn’t been too much of a transition. Football is football at the end of the day,” Simmons said of the transition from FCS to the Big Ten. “They’ve got some bigger guys, but other than that, ball is ball.”

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