Alabama football will be on the road for the first time this season, traveling to Madison for a Big Ten versus SEC matchup.
The two programs last met in 2015 in a neutral site game and the Crimson Tide came away with the victory, 35-17. Derrick Henry led the way for the Tide, rushing for 147 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns. Jake Coker was Bama’s starting quarterback and was 15-for-21, 213 passing yards and a touchdown. Joel Stave started at quarterback for the Badgers and finished the game 26-of-39 with 228 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Alabama is coming off a Week 2 victory over USF, in which the final scoreboard was not indicative of the entire game. Bama won the game, 42-16, but it was a close game going into the fourth quarter. Bama led 14-13 entering the fourth, they struggled with penalties the majority of the game and a switch at right tackle sparked life into the Alabama offense as they scored 28 points in the final frame.
Wisconsin is at home for its third consecutive home game, but this will be the toughest test for both teams thus far. The Badgers faced Western Michigan and South Dakota, winning both games by 14 points. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke leads the Badgers after transferring from Miami. So far this season, he’s thrown for 406 yards and a touchdown.
Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. on FOX. Here’s what to look for in Tide versus Badgers:
How will Alabama handle the atmosphere?
- It will be a tough environment for Alabama as Madison will be hostile. It’s an opportunity for the Badgers to return to national relevance in the college football world considering the Badgers haven’t had a 10-win season since 2019 and last won its conference in 2012. Alabama struggled with penalties in the win over USF, recording 13 penalties for 120 yards. So it’ll be interesting to see how disciplined the team can be when over 80,000 fans are cheering against them.
How will the Crimson Tide offensive line look?
- Bama had two touchdowns called back for holding penalties in the USF game. Wilkin Formby got the start at right tackle last week and was called for holding three times while allowing four quarterback pressures. The absence of Kadyn Proctor has been massive as the Tide have had to move Tyler Booker around to left tackle. Head coach Kalen DeBoer has said Proctor is doing “well” in practice, so it’ll be interesting to see if he plays Saturday, or will be held until the Georgia game.
Bama must own the line of scrimmage
- Alabama didn’t necessarily dominate the line of scrimmage against the Bulls as it seemed as if it was the other way around until the fourth quarter. The Bulls matched Alabama’s physicality and that’s a large reason they were still in the game going into the fourth. For Alabama to come out victorious over Wisconsin, Bama must win in the trenches and develop some type of run game, that’ll help them take shots down the field and be explosive.
