Nick Boyd’s college career took him to the Final Four with a bracket-busting Florida Atlantic team. It took him out West to San Diego State, where he continued to take his game to the next level. And finally, it took him to the Big Ten, where he starred for Wisconsin in his final season.
And after five years, Boyd’s long-traveled career has come to a close after the Badgers lost a heartbreaker to High Point, 83-82, in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 19.
A day later, Boyd took to social media to reflect on all his stops in college.
“That’s a wrap.. Man God is so good,” Boyd wrote on X. “It’s been a blessing to represent these three universities throughout my college career. Lots of highs, lots of lows but most importantly people and memories I will cherish forever. Thank you! Best years of my life!”
The 2025-26 season was Boyd’s fourth straight season playing in March Madness, a run that began with FAU’s incredible run to the national semifinals and were seconds away from the title game if not for a buzzer-beater by San Diego State.
That year, he started 37 games for the 35-4 Owls.
Boyd averaged 9.3 points per game in his third season for FAU, which returned to the NCAA Tournament before falling in overtime to Northwestern in the first round. He then transferred to San Diego State for his fourth college year. Boyd was the team’s leading scorer at 13.4 points and averaged 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 31 games as he earned second-team All-Mountain West honors.
The Aztecs earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament but lost in a First Four game to North Carolina.
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Boyd arrived at Wisconsin with experience who was looking to fill the void left by John Tonje, another transfer guard that Greg Gard tabbed in the portal. He proved to be an excellent fit, playing alongside John Blackwell in the backcourt, and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.
He averaged 20.7 points and played and started all 35 games in 31.9 minutes and shot an efficient 48% from the field and 36.5% on three-pointers, while also averaging a career-high 4.3 assists. Boyd scored in double figures every game, including three 30-plus point games, highlighted by a career-high 38 performance in the Badgers’ Big Ten tournament semifinal win over Illinois.
In the NCAA Tournament against High Point, Boyd scored a game-high 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting but missed two shots at the basket late with the Badgers either trying to extend a one-point lead or trying to regain after the Panthers took their own one-point lead in the closing seconds.
“God thank you for all you’ve done in my life,” Boyd also wrote on his Instagram Story. “I know there’s more on the other side of hard. Thank you for allowing me to put on this Wisco jersey. It was a fun ride!”
What a ride it was.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin’s Nick Boyd bids farewell to college basketball career
Reporting by Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
