The 9th ranked Wisconsin Badgers are scheduled to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln this weekend, but that game is officially up in the air. Wisconsin’s current starting quarterback Graham Mertz and backup quarterback Chase Wolf have both tested positive for Covid-19, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Jeff Potrykus.
Wisconsin will await results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to confirm the first result for both quarterbacks. This would either confirm the positives or determine they are false negatives. Both players would be required to miss a minimum of 21 days under Big Ten Covid-19 protocols, per Potrykus.
The Badgers were already without preseason starting quarterback Jack Coan due to a foot injury. Last week, Mertz completed 20 of 21 passes for 248 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-7 win over Illinois. With all three quarterbacks potentially out this weekend, Wisconsin could be down to fourth string quarterback Vanden Boom. Running back Garrett Groshek was a run/pass quarterback in high school and could theoretically serve as a backup to Boom, and maybe even split time with him as needed.