Bye weeks in college football are well known for creating more opportunities for up-and-coming talent. With six consecutive losses in the rearview mirror, Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell seems to be leaving no stone unturned. At his weekly press conference, Fickell said true freshman Carter Smith is ‘in the mix’ to start this week against the Washington Huskies.

The potential switch comes amid seemingly endless questions about the availability of injured players, not just for UW’s quarterbacks but for impact players throughout the lineup. Eight of Wisconsin’s projected Week 1 starters did not play against the Oregon Ducks. No position group has seen more consistent inconsistency than the offensive line. In eight games, the Badgers have trotted out seven different starting fives on the OL.

Talkin’ Badgers breaks down the latest injury updates shared by Fickell, including three season-ending injuries, and how it impacts the four regular-season games remaining. Plus, what has been the Wisconsin offense’s biggest Achilles heel: the quarterback or the bodies in front of him?

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