When Chris McIntosh decided to swing big by targeting Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell to be Wisconsin’s head coach, the persona and expectations in Madison changed. The only way to guarantee different results in Year 1 was to hand control over to the first-year head coach.

Total control, including having his choice at quarterback.

Tanner Mordecai takes over for the Badgers, indoctrinating a new era of Badgers’ football that even the diehards have yet to see from the stands at Camp Randall Stadium. This is an offense known for its ground-and-pound mentality. It’s known for implementing the fullback as a staple rather than secondary option. Running backs grow on trees before blossoming into NFL studs.

Sure, new OC Phil Longo will trust the duo of Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi to keep things fresh, but Mordecai is the headliner. He spent the last 2 years earning his degree in the Air Raid offense at SMU. Now, he’s looking to claim his Master’s with Longo as the professor to show him the ropes.

The Badgers could be this year’s TCU, a College Football Playoff sleeper. Fickell’s already led a team to the Final 4 during his 6-year stay at Cincinnati. There’s ample talent returning to Madison — talent that was hindered by insufficient quarterback play and an uninspiring offensive approach.

But just like last season, quarterback play will determine how far the Badgers’ can go — Mordecai’s play, to be exact. Fickell named him the starter once he touched down on campus, and he has no intention of switching up passers throughout his first season.

Can Mordecai kick off the season against Buffalo with a splash? Will there be harmony in the new up-tempo offense that moves a mile a minute? Is this the missing element that’s held Wisconsin back since the days of Barry Alverez?

Not everything will be answered when the clock strikes zero on Saturday, but the Badgers should have a baseline on the season’s outlook.

What makes Mordecai the right choice?

Take a look back at Longo’s history with quarterbacks. He’s had 5 different passers throw for at least 3,000 yards in a season, including talents like Jordan Ta’amu, Sam Howell and Drake Maye at Ole Miss and North Carolina, respectively. Howell, who’ll start Week 1 for the Washington Commanders, garnered 1st-round buzz entering the 2021 season. The same goes for Maye, who surpassed the 4K marker with 38 touchdowns last season, as he enters the Year 2.

Each player had to learn the system under Longo. Maye became an overnight sensation, but also had a full redshirt year to study the playbook. Howell learned on the fly, but the production took a step forward with each start. Even Ta’amu was given nearly a full year before being called into action.

Learning the Air Raid takes time. For Mordecai, it’s already second nature. There’ll be different names and audibles, but that’s just coach speak. The basic offensive concepts remain the same regardless of the play-caller.

Mordecai doesn’t lack confidence. Nor should he. During his time in Dallas, he averaged over 3,500 yards and 35 TDs per year in the Air Raid system. He kept the Mustangs in games and consistently put up jaw-dropping numbers regardless of his competition.

Longo isn’t going into the year having to hold his quarterback’s hand while showing him the ropes. He’s nitpicking at Mordecai’s flaws, which will only elevate the team’s status. And this has been a process that’s been under wraps since Mordecai’s underwhelming debut in the spring game where he tossed 4 picks before the final whistle.

But why Mordecai? Why start a player on his 3rd team in 6 seasons over younger talent that could transform into standouts and set the tone for the future? Therein lies the answer: tone-setter. Wisconsin wants to prove it’s back for good in a new era of B1G football and needs experience running the show.

Mordecai has thrown 967 passes since beginning his college career in an Air Raid attack. The 4 other Badgers’ QBs have made 6 pass attempts combined.

 Mordecai’s main flaw

Mordecai has weapons — game-changing ones who have made headlines during their time in Madison or their former programs. The quick-style offense Longo is trying to bring to the program should provide opportunities for Mordecai to sling it across the yard.

Last season in Dallas, Mordecai trusted Rashee Rice and basically said “see-ya” to the rest of the receiving corps. Rice surpassed 1,300 yards on 95 receptions while the next closet receiver, Jordan Kerley, managed to finish with a hair under 600 yards on 37 catches.

Despite the Badgers finishing 114th in passing last year, there are receivers who can shine with the right QB. Chimere Dike has the size to emulate Rice’s numbers on the perimeter, while Skyler Bell finished the year on the right note in the slot. Wisconsin also added transfers Bryson Green (Oklahoma State), CJ Williams (USC) and Will Pauling (Cincinnati), all of whom are viewed to have starting potential after a successful spring.

Mordecai’s interception total is a blunder on his career, but part of that was due to his supporting cast. Better weapons provide an uptick in targets. More targets lead to more touchdowns. And more touchdowns? You get where this is going.

Real Game 1 expectations

The Bisons ranked 72nd in pass coverage en route to a 7-6 finish and did little this offseason to strengthen the secondary. Mordecai should see action until the team hits the over and decides to see what the second-teamers look like.

The Badgers want to come out swinging to flex their offseason muscles in front of other B1G schools, but fans should be looking at the little details. How does Mordecai look under pressure? Which receivers are jiving with the QB and keeping drives moving in the right direction? Who looks to be the go-to option when things go south?

Graham Mertz was supposed to be the hero of Madison when he signed on the dotted line. He never lived up to the hype and left the second Fickell entered the building. Mordecai won’t have to worry about facing the pressure since he’s already left one major program to reinvent himself.

There’s confidence around the building that Mordecai can be the best passer to touch down at Camp Randall since Russell Wilson joined the mix in 2011. And while a productive day against Buffalo won’t rattle the voters, it could be the tone-setter of a new era of Badger football.