Wisconsin Football: 3 bold predictions for 2020 opener vs. Illinois

2. Graham Mertz breaks out, secures starting job

Wisconsin fans have been excited for the start of the Graham Mertz era in Madison and it’s coming a little early as Jack Coan will miss the season opener with a foot injury.

Mertz is going to start for the Badgers against the Illini and he’s going to have himself quite the game. Believe it or not, the fact that Coan, despite his experience as a starter, is out is actually going to help Wisconsin on Friday as well as in the long run.

Coming to Wisconsin in the 2019 recruiting class as a highly-regarded four-star prospect, Mertz has all the talent in the world and some were even calling for him to start last season.

The redshirt freshman will have a coming-out party against Illinois, sewing up that starting job for the rest of the season and never looking back — I’m talking 250 yards and three touchdowns with no picks and a 70 percent completion rate.