The former starting quarterback for the Wisconsin Badgers, Graham Mertz, led the Florida Gators to a win on Saturday. Mertz, a redshirt junior, led the charge for the Gators with a 79.2 completion percentage and a 91.6 QB rating. His team secured a 29-13 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers to start conference play.
Wisconsin Badgers and Florida Gators Fan Reactions
Fans of both the Badgers and the Gators came out in support of what Graham Mertz did in the win over Tennessee to improve to 2-1 in a Gators uniform. Here’s a look at some fan reactions on X:
The Good:
Only time Tennessee sacked our QB was the cheap shot with seconds remaining.
Congratulations to Graham Mertz who silenced a lot of doubters last night.
All he did was what he was asked to do – and almost perfectly. pic.twitter.com/vdqjKYAGDk
— Country Boy (@UF1) September 17, 2023
As a former Badger fan, Graham Mertz is a great QB.
— R.Vair i 🇺🇸✝️🇨🇺 (@VairElMaton) September 17, 2023
Graham Mertz was 17/20 in the first half. Two of those three incompletions were smart throwaways.
We didn’t go and get Graham Mertz to win games. We got him to manage games and let the talent around him win games. He did that beautifully tonight. All credit in the world to him.
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) September 17, 2023
Graham Mertz is a team player
Anything for 15 yards pic.twitter.com/wfaBJVhX2w
— RanDynasty (@ran_dynasty) September 17, 2023
Graham Mertz with an elite pump fake 🐊pic.twitter.com/WsdzVPdFqR
— RanDynasty (@ran_dynasty) September 16, 2023
The Bad:
Graham Mertz shouldn’t be allowed to wear Tim Tebow’s 15 if we’re being honest here.
— 302 Birdland (@302birdland) September 17, 2023
The Funny:
Graham Mertz bloody towel game. Warrior😂🔥
— Jerry Jr. (@JBreezyII) September 17, 2023
graham mertz i am free to hang out on thursday at 7 if you are free to hang out at 7 on thursday when i am free
— ashtyn (@ashtynmckayla) September 17, 2023
Graham Mertz in the training room this morning pic.twitter.com/N0nqWA7e7f
— Hersh (@JHershey21) September 17, 2023
You spelled Graham Mertz wrong. https://t.co/yI35rgZKfW
— Drew Allen (@DAllen_10) September 17, 2023
The game ended in what some called a cheap shot to the former Wisconsin Badgers QB that made for some social media fodder as well.
A brawl ensued after a Tennessee player struck Graham Mertz when he kneeled. Targeting was called. Such a lack of sportsmanship. #Tennessee pic.twitter.com/997s0DnHbh
— PPY (@huyppy) September 17, 2023
Regardless of fan reactions, Graham Mertz is doing his best to solidify himself as a top quarterback in the SEC with this win over the Vols.
In this 3 weeks with the Florida Gators, the former Wisconsin Badgers QB has put up some stellar numbers. He’s gone 64 for 85 in passing attempts for a 75.3 percentage. He’s amassed 692 yards along with 3 touchdowns through the air. He’s added two more touchdowns rushing. Graham Mertz has only thrown one interception, which is among the leaders in the SEC.