Bart Houston

==College career==

==College career==

Houston enrolled at the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] to play [[college football]] for the [[Wisconsin Badgers football|Wisconsin Badgers]]. He [[redshirted]] the 2012 season, and was a four-year [[Letterman (sports)|letterman]] from 2013 to 2016. He was the third-string quarterback in 2013, behind backup Curt Phillips and starter [[Joel Stave]].{{cite news | url=https://archive.jsonline.com/sports/badgers/third-string-qb-bart-houston-finds-field-as-rugby-style-punter-for-uw-b99385230z1-281870191.html | title=Third-string QB Bart Houston finds field as rugby-style punter for UW | work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] | date=November 6, 2014 | accessdate=22 April 2026 | author=Potrykus, Jeff}}{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/bart-houston-1.html | title=Bart Houston | publisher=[[Sports Reference]] | accessdate=22 April 2026}} Houston played in two games during the 2013 season but only attempted one pass, a completion for eight yards. In 2014, he continued as the third-string quarterback behind [[Tanner McEvoy]] and Stave but also became a part-time rugby-style punter.{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/2014.html | title=2014 Wisconsin Badgers Stats | publisher=[[Sports Reference]] | accessdate=22 April 2026}} Houston appeared in six games overall during the 2014 season, completing one of three passes for six yards and a touchdown while also punting seven times for 243 yards. He was promoted to second string behind starter Stave in 2015.{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/2015.html | title=2015 Wisconsin Badgers Stats | publisher=[[Sports Reference]] | accessdate=22 April 2026}} Houston played in seven games during the 2015 season, completing 27 of 47 passes (57.4%) for 281 yards, three touchdwons, and two interceptions.

Houston enrolled at the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] to play [[college football]] for the [[Wisconsin Badgers football|Wisconsin Badgers]]. He [[redshirted]] the 2012 season, and was a four-year [[Letterman (sports)|letterman]] from 2013 to 2016. He was the third-string quarterback in 2013, behind backup Curt Phillips and starter [[Joel Stave]].{{cite news | url=https://archive.jsonline.com/sports/badgers/third-string-qb-bart-houston-finds-field-as-rugby-style-punter-for-uw-b99385230z1-281870191.html | title=Third-string QB Bart Houston finds field as rugby-style punter for UW | work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] | date=November 6, 2014 | accessdate=22 April 2026 | author=Potrykus, Jeff}} Houston played in two games during the 2013 season but only attempted one pass, a completion for eight yards. In 2014, he continued as the third-string quarterback behind [[Tanner McEvoy]] and Stave but also became a part-time rugby-style punter.{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/2014.html | title=2014 Wisconsin Badgers Stats | publisher=[[Sports Reference]] | accessdate=22 April 2026}} Houston appeared in six games overall during the 2014 season, completing one of three passes for six yards and a touchdown while also punting seven times for 243 yards. He was promoted to second string behind starter Stave in 2015.{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/2015.html | title=2015 Wisconsin Badgers Stats | publisher=[[Sports Reference]] | accessdate=22 April 2026}} Houston played in seven games during the 2015 season, completing 27 of 47 passes (57.4%) for 281 yards, three touchdwons, and two interceptions.>{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/bart-houston-1.html | title=Bart Houston | publisher=[[Sports Reference]] | accessdate=22 April 2026}}>

On August 25, 2016, head coach [[Paul Chryst]] announced that Houston would start the season opener on September 3 against [[2016 LSU Tigers football team|LSU]] at [[Lambeau Field]].{{cite news | url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2016/08/25/houston-named-uws-starting-qb/89331124/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z1198xxe1198xxv004257d--47--b--47--&gca-ft=10&gca-ds=sophi | title=Bart Houston named UW's starting QB | work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] | date=August 25, 2016 | accessdate=22 April 2026 | author=Potrykus, Jeff}} Against No. 5 ranked LSU, Houston completed 19 of 31 passes (61.3%) for 205 yards and two interceptions as Wisconsin won 16–14 in what ESPN called a "historic upset".{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/bart-houston-1/gamelog/2016/ | title=Bart Houston | publisher=[[Sports Reference]] | accessdate=22 April 2026}}{{cite news |url = https://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/135993/wisconsin-secures-historic-upset-as-lsu-sputters-in-season-opener |title = Opening ouch: LSU sputters as Wisconsin lands historic upset |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241201182725/https://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/135993/wisconsin-secures-historic-upset-as-lsu-sputters-in-season-opener |archive-date=December 1, 2024 |publisher = [[ESPN.com]]}} He started the team's next two games but was benched for [[Alex Hornibrook]] after only throwing for 91 yards against [[Georgia State Panthers football|Georgia State]].{{cite news | url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/2016/12/31/bart-houston-became-wisconsin-s-qb-after-years-of-patience-a-trait-he-s-had-to-use-all-the-way-to-the-cotton-bowl/ | title=Bart Houston became Wisconsin's QB after years of patience, a trait he's had to use all the way to the Cotton Bowl | work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] | date=December 30, 2016 | accessdate=22 April 2026 | author=Baby, Ben}} After Hornibrook suffered an injury, Houston started the [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] championship game against [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]], completing 16 of 21 passes (76.2%) for 174 yards as Wisconsin lost 38–31. Houston earned the start over a healthy Hornibook in the [[2017 Cotton Bowl Classic (January)|2017 Cotton Bowl Classic]] against [[Western Michigan Broncos football|Western Michigan]].{{cite news | url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2017/01/02/uw-24-wmu-16-redemption-badgers-cotton-bowl/96073108/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z1106xxe1106xxv005557d--61--b--61--&gca-ft=156&gca-ds=sophi | title=UW 24, WMU 16: Redemption for Badgers in Cotton Bowl | work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] | date=January 2, 2017 | accessdate=22 April 2026 | author=Potrykus, Jeff}} Houston completed 11 of 12 passes for 159 yards as Wisconsin won 24–16. His 91.7 completion percentage tied the Cotton Bowl record. He played in 11 games, starting five, overall during the 2016 season, recording 96 completions on 141 attempts (68.1%) for 1,245 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. He majored in kinesiology at Wisconsin. Houston earned Academic All-Big Ten honors each year from 2013 to 2016. He finished his college career with totals of 125 completions on 192 attempts (65.1%) for 1,540 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions.

On August 25, 2016, head coach [[Paul Chryst]] announced that Houston would start the season opener on September 3 against [[2016 LSU Tigers football team|LSU]] at [[Lambeau Field]].{{cite news | url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2016/08/25/houston-named-uws-starting-qb/89331124/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z1198xxe1198xxv004257d--47--b--47--&gca-ft=10&gca-ds=sophi | title=Bart Houston named UW's starting QB | work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] | date=August 25, 2016 | accessdate=22 April 2026 | author=Potrykus, Jeff}} Against No. 5 ranked LSU, Houston completed 19 of 31 passes (61.3%) for 205 yards and two interceptions as Wisconsin won 16–14 in what ESPN called a "historic upset".{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/bart-houston-1/gamelog/2016/ | title=Bart Houston | publisher=[[Sports Reference]] | accessdate=22 April 2026}}{{cite news |url = https://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/135993/wisconsin-secures-historic-upset-as-lsu-sputters-in-season-opener |title = Opening ouch: LSU sputters as Wisconsin lands historic upset |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241201182725/https://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/135993/wisconsin-secures-historic-upset-as-lsu-sputters-in-season-opener |archive-date=December 1, 2024 |publisher = [[ESPN.com]]}} He started the team's next two games but was benched for [[Alex Hornibrook]] after only throwing for 91 yards against [[Georgia State Panthers football|Georgia State]].{{cite news | url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/2016/12/31/bart-houston-became-wisconsin-s-qb-after-years-of-patience-a-trait-he-s-had-to-use-all-the-way-to-the-cotton-bowl/ | title=Bart Houston became Wisconsin's QB after years of patience, a trait he's had to use all the way to the Cotton Bowl | work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] | date=December 30, 2016 | accessdate=22 April 2026 | author=Baby, Ben}} After Hornibrook suffered an injury, Houston started the [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] championship game against [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]], completing 16 of 21 passes (76.2%) for 174 yards as Wisconsin lost 38–31. Houston earned the start over a healthy Hornibook in the [[2017 Cotton Bowl Classic (January)|2017 Cotton Bowl Classic]] against [[Western Michigan Broncos football|Western Michigan]].{{cite news | url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2017/01/02/uw-24-wmu-16-redemption-badgers-cotton-bowl/96073108/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z1106xxe1106xxv005557d--61--b--61--&gca-ft=156&gca-ds=sophi | title=UW 24, WMU 16: Redemption for Badgers in Cotton Bowl | work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] | date=January 2, 2017 | accessdate=22 April 2026 | author=Potrykus, Jeff}} Houston completed 11 of 12 passes for 159 yards as Wisconsin won 24–16. His 91.7 completion percentage tied the Cotton Bowl record. He played in 11 games, starting five, overall during the 2016 season, recording 96 completions on 141 attempts (68.1%) for 1,245 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. He majored in kinesiology at Wisconsin. Houston earned Academic All-Big Ten honors each year from 2013 to 2016. He finished his college career with totals of 125 completions on 192 attempts (65.1%) for 1,540 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions.