Where Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph sits in ESPN power rankings

[ASFN Admin]

Back on January 4, 2026, the Wisconsin Badgers added Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph in the transfer portal.

Joseph is the Badgers' projected starting QB entering the 2026 season, which should come as no surprise. Joseph excelled leading the Monarchs in 2025, throwing for 2,624 yards, 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also added 1,007 yards and 13 scores on the ground.

Wisconsin's starter a year ago, Billy Edwards Jr., attempted just 16 passes as he was kept out of action due to a knee injury. As a result, the Badgers didn't have a single QB throw for more than 1,000 yards last year. Senior Hunter Simmons finished with 664 passing yards with two touchdowns to seven interceptions, while sophomore Danny O'Neil had a 5:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio with 635 yards.

Clearly, neither of those two was a top option to start in 2026. Head coach Luke Fickell made it a top priority to go out and get a new quarterback, and Wisconsin did just that. Now, it's time to see where he sits in ESPN's Power Four rankings.

Where Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph lands in ESPN power rankings​

Joseph fell at No. 24 in ESPN's Bill Connelly's Power Four-wide quarterback rankings on Thursday.

All things considered, this is an impressive ranking. Of course, there are plenty of Big Ten teams with quarterbacks ranked higher (six, to be exact), but landing at No. 24 out of a possible 68 teams is a great sign.

Here's what Connelly had to say about the Badgers' new signal-caller:

"The 2025 ODU offense was one of the most delightful surprises of the season, aiming for and frequently uncorking big plays via run and pass. It seems like decades since Wisconsin's offense has boasted any sort of explosive threat, and there's no guaranteeing that Joseph will have the skill corps that he needs in Madison, or that he'll withstand a season's worth of hits to provide the same level of rushing threat in the Big Ten. But he earned this promotion of sorts and should turn around three straight years of horrid offensive regression for the Badgers."

Connelly noted he had 1,100 non-sack rushing yards, which goes to show he didn't have the best offensive line at Old Dominion. That's something the Badgers will hope to provide him next season. Joseph will look to utilize a skill position corps that struggled to produce, given the team's struggles under center in 2025.

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph ESPN power ranking preview

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