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Big 10 quarterbacks Lombardi, Coan look to transfer

EAST LANSING (AP) — Rocky Lombardi, the quarterback who led Michigan State to its two victories, is looking to transfer to another school.

Lombardi told the Detroit Free Press that he’s placed his name in the transfer portal.

He started nine games in four seasons, including victories this season over Michigan and Northwestern, which eventually won the Big Ten West.

But Lombardi struggled against Indiana and Ohio State. He left the Ohio State game after a hard tackle and didn’t play against Penn State. Payton Thorne replaced Lombardi at quarterback.

Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan also has entered the transfer portal after an injury-riddled season in which he didn’t play.

Coan made 18 starts from 2018-19 and helped the Badgers reach the Rose Bowl in 2019, but he injured his right foot in preseason practice and underwent surgery. Although he dressed for Wisconsin’s final three games, the 6-foot-3 senior from Sayville, New York, didn’t play a single down.

In a statement that Wisconsin’s football program tweeted, Coan said “being at Wisconsin has been the experience of a lifetime that I will cherish forever.”

Redshirt freshman Graham Mertz started each of the six games Wisconsin (3-3) has played and completed 60.8% of his passes for 1,108 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions. When Mertz got hurt Saturday in a 20-17 victory over Minnesota, sophomore Chase Wolf came in and went 4 of 5 for 15 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

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