QB that the Paul Chryst Wisconsin Badgers defeated in a bowl game is dominating in first NFL start

Here at Badgers Wire, we have a tendency to view national headlines through a Wisconsin-centric lens. Today, those headlines are dominated by Week 1 of the NFL preseason, which includes a first look at many of this year’s top incoming rookies.

The current center of that focus is Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft out of LSU, is making his first NFL preseason start against the New York Jets. His first drive as a professional: 2/3 passing, 45 yards, 15 yards per attempt and a rushing touchdown.

He is off to a dominant start, to say the least. His debut suddenly has many looking at Washington’s long-term future after the franchise chose him at No. 2 over former North Carolina QB Drake Maye, Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, Oregon QB Bo Nix and Washington QB Michael Penix.

We are not here to relitigate the 2024 draft, or Daniels’ college career and 2023 Heisman Trophy campaign. Instead, it’s necessary to note Wisconsin’s tie to the top news of the day:

Daniels was soundly defeated by the Paul Chryst-led Wisconsin Badgers in the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl — that back when he played for head coach Herm Edwards and Arizona State.

Wisconsin won the contest 20-13 thanks to 159 rushing yards from Braelon Allen, a touchdown reception by Jake Ferguson and a suffocating defensive effort. Daniels threw for only 159 yards and an interception in the game, while adding 40 rushing yards.

Arizona State gained 219 yards of total offense that evening, compared to Wisconsin’s 294.

The Badgers famously closed the game with a 18-play, 90-yard, 10-minute drive that killed almost the entire fourth quarter off the clock.

A lot has chanced since that date. Daniels transferred to LSU and blossomed into a rising star, while Chryst was fired after the Badgers started the 2022 season 2-3.

It’s safe to say that the young quarterback has improved greatly since being unable to score against the vaunted 2021 Wisconsin defense.

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