Why Luke Fickell, Wisconsin football might not name QB2 in 2026

MADISON – The Wisconsin football staff has not decided on a No. 2 quarterback ahead of the 2026 season.

One might not want to hold their breath for a decision between Deuce Adams or Ryan Hopkins either.

“I don’t know that we’ll ever designate a whole lot of who is the No. 2,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said in his Week 1 press conference. “We’ve all seen this in the past. I think the opportunities are still going to be there for those guys to compete on a daily basis.”

Fickell said Aug. 31 that both Adams and Hopkins received second-team quarterback reps in practice. (Colton Joseph, the presumed starter ever since transferring from Old Dominion, obviously is taking the first-team quarterback reps.)

Wisconsin did not release an unofficial depth chart ahead of the Sept. 6 season opener against No. 5 Notre Dame. Even if there was a depth chart, though, UW could theoretically list QB2 as Hopkins “or” Adams.

Adams transferred from Louisville, where he went 12-of-17 for 94 yards in his only career start. Hopkins, meanwhile, quickly impressed since enrolling early as a true freshman in time for UW's spring practices. The two options can similarly extend plays with their mobility.

“The nice thing is it’s not like we’ve had in the past where truly you’re switching some versions of what guys can do based on who’s in there with the ones and with the twos and even with the third group or who’s rolling in there on the 1Bs or 2Bs.”

Other quarterbacks in the room include Danny O’Neil and Carter Smith, who both received playing time during the 2025 season amid injuries at the position. O’Neil spent much of the offseason recovering from a season-ending leg injury.

UW quarterbacks coach Kenny Guiton did not indicate a frontrunner in the competition on Aug. 14, but he had plenty of confidence in seeing enough to make a decision by the end of the preseason.

“Basically in camp you get – what, 25, whatever it is – practices,” Guiton said. “Those are game days for those guys, and it’s game days for anybody that’s out there. So 25 games worth, I promise y’all I have enough film to know exactly which direction we want to go.”

Now, though, Fickell seems quite content without having a clearly defined QB2 ahead of Week 1.

“If we get to that point and we got to make some of those decisions, we’ll have to make it,” Fickell said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why Luke Fickell, Wisconsin football might not name QB2 in 2026