Jeff Potrykus

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Madison – Quarterback Alex Hornibrook’s impressive second-half performance against unranked Georgia State not only helped Wisconsin avoid a stunning loss to a 35-point underdog, but it was apparently good enough to earn the starting job.

Two sources close to the program told the Journal Sentinel late Sunday that the redshirt freshman from West Chester, Pa., is set to start UW’s Big Ten opener Saturday at Michigan State.

Tenth-ranked UW (3-0) has lost its last four games at Michigan State (2-0), which is the defending Big Ten champion and ranked No. 8.

BADGERS CHAT: Jeff Potrykus at 7 p.m. Monday

Hornibrook replaced starter Bart Houston on UW’s second series of the third quarter against Georgia State, with the Badgers clinging to a 6-3 lead. He led UW to scores on three of his first four possessions and finished 8 of 12 for 122 yards and a touchdown in the 23-17 victory. He improved his two-game totals to 13 of 17 for 183 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception.

Houston finished 10 of 18 for 91 yards and led UW to two field goals on his six possessions, though his efforts were hurt by dropped passes and Bradrick Shaw’s fumble at the Georgia State 1.

Head coach Paul Chryst was noncommittal immediately after the game when asked if he planned to make a change at quarterback.

“Just got done with the game,” he said. “Like I said, Bart's our starter right now. I'm proud of what Alex did and how he came in.

“So I’m not planning anything right now other than appreciating this win.”

Hornibrook impressed BTN analyst Chuck Long, who worked the Georgia State game.

Long, a consensus first-team All-American quarterback as a senior at Iowa in 1985, raved about the redshirt freshman.

“It’s tough because you’re head’s spinning,” Long said during the telecast when asked about having to enter the game with little warning. “All of a sudden you get call and you have to produce and create a spark and he has done that.”

Hornibrook directed a 69-yard touchdown drive on his first possession to help UW take a 13-3 lead and then on his third possession engineered 59-yard touchdown drive to help UW take the lead for good, 20-17.

The interception on his second possession was the result of a drop by wide receiver George Rushing and UW ran the ball on all six plays of the final drive to kill off the last 3 minutes 12 seconds.

“They were struggling with Bart Houston,” Long said of UW’s starter, who finished 10 of 18 for 91 yards. “Houston just didn’t throw the ball well in that last series he was in and obviously Paul Chryst wasn’t happy.”

Long noted that Hornibrook, playing in only his second college game, displayed the ability to scan the field quickly to find different receivers and deliver the ball accurately on a variety of throws.

“He has some really nice touch on the football,” Long said. “Very catchable ball.”

UW 23, Georgia State 17: Badgers survive scare