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Wisconsin’s football program continues to take devastating hits.

Fresh off the team finishing 5-7 and a 22-year bowl streak coming to an end, head coach Luke Fickell has seen a mass exodus of players to the portal.

Quarterbacks Tyler Van Dyke and Braedyn Locke are already out the door, and there’s another passer now added to the list.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 19: Head coach Luke Fickell of the Wisconsin Badgers looks on in the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Martin Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Wisconsin went 5-7 in Luke Fickell’s second year and have seen a flood of players hit the transfer portal. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Wisconsin QB Mabrey Mettauer transferring.

Wisconsin QB Mabrey Mettauer is entering the transfer portal, according to Matt Zenitz. Mabrey retweeted the report to confirm it, and it’s without a doubt one of the worst blows the team has taken during all the chaos of 2024.

The highly-touted freshman from Texas appeared in just three games, but was the clear heir apparent in Madison after choosing the Badgers over other major programs.

Now, he’s gone after throwing for a grand total of two yards while taking a redshirt.

It’s honestly hard to put into words the situation that we’re witnessing unfold in Madison. The QB room isn’t just changing.

It’s going to look unrecognizable in 2025. It’s now made up of Billy Edwards (Maryland transfer), Danny O’Neil (SDSU transfer) and incoming dual-threat freshman Carter Smith.

Not a single one of those players was on the team this past season. Not one. Losing Mabrey is just brutal. The young man has a high ceiling, all the physical tools you want in a QB and was clearly being groomed to be the guy for years to come.

I guess preserving his redshirt doesn’t matter at this point. The Badgers got a whole two passing yards out of the QB of the future. Fans thought Mabrey Mettauer could take Wisconsin back to regular 10+ win seasons. Not so fast, my friends! He’s gone and will likely have a ton of suitors in the portal!

Wisconsin QB Mabrey Mettauer is transferring (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images)

I wish him all the best, and I hope he has a solid career elsewhere. As for Luke Fickell, I truly have no idea what’s going on. He better hope his retooling of the QB room with new OC Jeff Grimes works or his seat is going to get very hot. Let me know what you think at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.