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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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Ryan Hopkins threw his first career touchdown pass on Wisconsin’s second possession Saturday.
By the fourth quarter, he had thrown two more, each to a different receiver.
Two days later, coach Luke Fickell said the true freshman would get the first snap at Maryland.
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“That’s the plan sitting here on Monday,” Fickell told reporters when asked whether Hopkins would start against the Terrapins. Fickell stopped short of naming a starter for the rest of the season, leaving room for Colton Joseph to play a role down the stretch.
Hopkins got his opportunity after relieving Joseph in a 30-0 loss at Iowa.
Joseph had thrown for fewer than 100 yards in three straight games, and his 91 carries were the most on the team. Fickell said after the Rutgers game that the physical toll on Joseph factored into the decision to give Hopkins his first start.
The Badgers were coming off a shutout when Hopkins found Eugene Hilton Jr. down the middle for a 21-yard touchdown against Rutgers.
The game was still tight at halftime, with Wisconsin leading 13-10. Hopkins found Ryan Schwendeman for an 11-yard score late in the third quarter, then hit Jacob Harris for a 66-yard touchdown with 10:08 left.
Wisconsin scored all 18 second-half points in a 31-10 win that made the Badgers bowl eligible at 6-3.
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Hopkins completed 18 of 24 passes for 241 yards and earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors Monday. It was the most passing yards by a Wisconsin freshman in a start since Graham Mertz threw for 248 against Illinois in 2020.
Saturday brings a different assignment.
Hopkins last played on the road at Iowa, where he came off the bench with Wisconsin trying to rescue a game that ended without a point.
At Maryland, he’ll have a full week to prepare as the starter and a chance to put the Badgers ahead on their opening drive. Kickoff is set for noon Eastern in College Park.
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