This story was updated to add new information.
Former Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after suffering a torn ACL during Florida‘s 23-17 loss to Tennessee, head coach Billy Napier announced on Monday.
Mertz suffered the non-contact injury immediately after throwing a touchdown pass to put the Gators up 10-0 over the Volunteers with 7:18 remaining in the third quarter. He later returned to the Florida sideline on crutches — signaling the possible outcome of today’s news.
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The former Badger completed 11 of 15 passing for 125 yards and a touchdown before exiting the game. Freshman QB D.J. Lagway entered in his relief. He went 9 of 17 passing for 98 yards, one touchdown and an interception down the stretch as the Gators’ upset bid fell short in overtime.
The news of a season-ending injury is tough for a player in Mertz who had found his stride at Florida. The sixth-year senior has completed 73.7 percent of his passes over one-and-a-half years as Florida’s starter. Those passes have gone for 3,694 yards, 26 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Florida went 7-9 in that span against a brutally-tough SEC landscape.
Most recently, Mertz had scored six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing) and thrown zero interceptions in the Gators’ last three games — almost three season-changing victories until Saturday’s game turned into a loss.
The former Wisconsin signal-caller transferred to Florida before the 2023 season after four years at Wisconsin — three as the Badgers’ starter (2020-22).
This injury is an unfortunate end what was likely going to be Mertz’s final collegiate season.
UPDATE (1:16 p.m.): Napier confirmed reports that Mertz’s injury was season-ending
UPDATE (2:24 p.m.): Mertz issued a statement confirming the diagnosis
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