Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz Throws Five Touchdown Passes in His First Start

The Big Ten Conference opened its Covid delayed football season with Illinois visiting Wisconsin on October 23rd. It was also the first start at quarterback for Wisconsin’s highly regarded redshirt freshman Graham Mertz, who was filling in for injured starter Jack Coan. By highly regarded, we mean Mertz was recruited by Ohio State, Clemson, and Alabama before signing on with the Badgers.

Mertz lived up to the hype, and surpassed expectations by a long shot. He completed his first 17 passes, tying a school record. He completed 20 of 21 passes–his only incompletion was a highly catchable ball that the receiver dropped–for 248 yards and five touchdowns. The five TD passes also tied a school record. Wisconsin beat Illinois 45-7, avenging last year’s 24-23 loss to the Illini.

Three of the touchdown passes were to tight end Jake Ferguson. With RB Jonathon Taylor now with the Indianapolis Colts, the Badgers will have to reestablish their running game, but the passing game appears to be in good shape.