Wisconsin’s 2024 regular season came to a crashing end on Friday afternoon with a 24-7 loss to rival Minnesota. The loss finishes the team’s quest for a 23rd consecutive bowl appearance — that barring a significant collection of Week 14 upsets and the Badgers edging other 5-7 teams in APR (Academic Progress Rate).
For all intents and purposes, Wisconsin’s 2024 season came to a close with a decisive loss to its biggest rival.
The result begins what will be a pivotal offseason for Luke Fickell. He must hire an offensive coordinator, reshape the program’s identity, reload the roster in the transfer portal and work to reverse what has gone wrong over the last two seasons.
One big variable in that equation is the quarterback position. Veteran Tyler Van Dyke, who tore his ACL during the Badgers’ Week 3 loss to Alabama, could potentially return for another season. Braedyn Locke, who played the majority of the 2024 season in relief of Van Dyke, is also only a redshirt sophomore. Other potential factors in the room include true freshman Mabrey Mettauer and incoming top recruit Carter Smith.
Wisconsin may be forced back into the transfer market for 2025 given the questions surrounding Van Dyke’s health and Locke’s on-field results. Van Dyke may not be ready for Week 1 next fall, while Locke finished 2024 with a 3-7 overall record, 1,936 yards, a 55% completion rate, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His play was one of the many factors in the team’s five-game losing streak to close the season.
Locke discussed his future with the program when meeting with the media after the Minnesota loss on Friday. Here is his full comment, courtesy of The Athletic’s Jesse Temple:
“I’ve got a lot of pride in this program,” Locke said. “I love being a Badger. This place has been so special to me. I’ve got a heart for every single guy in that locker room. I love them to death. I’d do anything for them. I lay it on the line for our program every day. And I say that without a doubt at all. So, yeah, I love being here. I want to be here. It’s been an absolute pleasure to take the field nine Saturdays this fall. Something I’ll never forget. Regardless of the outcome, it’s been very, very special for me and I want to continue to do that.”
Asked Wisconsin QB Braedyn Locke whether he expected to be here when the team reconvenes this winter given that there will be a new offensive coordinator in place. Thoughtful answer from him. pic.twitter.com/o3448pqdPA
— Jesse Temple (@jessetemple) November 29, 2024
Locke’s future is worth watching with Wisconsin set to hire a new offensive coordinator this offseason. That new hire will install a new system, which will likely be different from Phil Longo’s air raid. Locke was one of Longo’s initial transfer additions, transferring from another air raid system at Mississippi State.
The dynamic of a new coordinator and the team’s urgency after a 5-7 season will likely lead to a new signal-caller under center to begin 2025. While that appears likely, it remains challenging to predict player movement in the current age of the sport.
Given Locke’s sentiment after the Badger’ season-ending loss, he may still stick around and compete for the job amid the inevitable offseason changes.
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