The Wisconsin player will miss the rest of the season due to a right knee injury sustained during the first quarter of the team’s 42-10 home loss against Alabama on Saturday. The Wisconsin State Journal first reported the seriousness of the injury, which was then confirmed by ESPN, which noted that Van Dyke had a full tear of his ACL.
With Van Dyke’s departure, redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke takes over as starting quarterback, with true freshman Mabrey Mettauer serving as the primary backup.
Wisconsin has a bye week this Saturday before facing Southern California on September 28 to begin Big Ten conference action.
This is the second consecutive season in which Wisconsin will be without their starting quarterback for an extended period of time. Tanner Mordecai broke his right hand in the first half of last year’s game against Iowa, missing the rest of the game as well as the next three.
Locke replaced Mordecai as starter and led the Badgers to a comeback victory over Illinois before losing to Ohio State and Indiana. He completed 60 of 121 passes (.496) for 648 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions in those games.
For the season, he completed 76 of 152 passes (.500) for 777 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.
On Saturday, Locke played every snap for Wisconsin save the first seven. He completed 13 out of 26 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. With him leading the way, the Badgers’ offense gained 268 total yards and averaged 4.1 yards per play.
He guided Wisconsin on its first possession of the third quarter, a 17-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. In addition, on the team’s final complete possession of the first half, he led the unit on a 10-play, 57-yard drive that concluded with junior Nathanial Vakos’ 44-yard missed field goal.
“We have complete confidence in Braedyn,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said after the game Saturday. “It had been a battle all fall camp and into spring football. And Braedyn is capable of carrying out this offense in ways that Tyler cannot. But it wouldn’t be enough today.
Locke’s first game as a starter this season will be at No. 12 USC on September 28, thanks to a bye in the Badgers’ schedule. The week off will also allow the squad to recover from its biggest lopsided loss since losing to No. 3 Ohio State 52-21 in 2022.
Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo commended Locke’s understanding of the offense. Van Dyke, who had to learn three offenses in three seasons as a starter at Miami, had a rapid understanding of the UW offense, but he also had an advantage over Locke in arm strength and agility.
The Badgers will now have to adjust to a signal caller with a different set of abilities.
What cannot be replaced is Van Dyke’s expertise. He has made 30 starts in college and appeared in 34 games overall.
“You never wish for an injury. “That’s obvious,” Locke explained. “He’s been a fantastic guy for our squad, both a leader and a brilliant player. He does things correctly, and I admire him greatly. We have a wonderful relationship, so no part of you aspires for it, but the moment your number is called, you must be prepared to go.”
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