Wisconsin has a starting quarterback for its big season-opening game against LSU.
Head coach Paul Chryst named Bart Houston the team's starting quarterback Thursday, picking the senior over freshman Alex Hornibrook.
"One thing I was impressed with was the way Alex and Bart approached camp," Chryst said in a video interview posted by the team. "I thought they both got better, and one of our keys was to make sure that both were ready to play this season and not just play but be able to win with them playing. And I felt both did that. As a team, they're no different than the group, we've still got a ways to go.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Chicago sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"Coming out of it, felt like Bart did everything that he needed to do and earned the right to get the start and was also energized by what Alex did. Love the way that he grew during fall camp, and both need to continue to keep growing. Wanted to get it done as we begin our preparation for LSU and make sure that everyone knew where we were at with it internally, and I'm excited to go forward now."
Houston has appeared in 15 games in his career but got the majority of his playing time in Wisconsin's win over Illinois last season. In that game, he completed 22 of his 33 passing attempts for 232 yards and a pair of touchdowns, also throwing a pair of interceptions.
Houston has a tough test in his first game of the season, going up against the No. 5-ranked Tigers at Lambeau Field. And things don't get much easier from there, the Badgers' schedule an absolute gauntlet to begin Big Ten play a few weeks later with six consecutive games against Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Nebraska and Northwestern, with four of those games coming on the road.