Heavy Underdogs: Wisconsin Gears Up for Alabama

Sep 12, 20243 min read

Alabama | Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe — © William McLelland-Imagn Images

The Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) will face the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) at noon EST on Sept. 14 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.

During the Nick Saban era, Alabama’s dominance turned “We want Bama!” into a tongue-in-cheek chant among opposing fanbases. Whether Badgers fans want them or not, Alabama is rolling into town for an early kickoff this weekend.

What's at Stake?

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell said this week that the Alabama game was mentioned at his first press conference when he was introduced as Wisconsin’s next coach. Badgers fans have had this game circled on their calendars since it was announced in July 2019. Although Wisconsin is 2-0, they have struggled against weaker opponents Western Michigan (0-2) and South Dakota (1-1). The odds do not favor the Badgers (Alabama -16.5, per Action Network), but a win would be a program-defining moment for Fickell.

Wisconsin | Badgers head coach Luke Fickell — © Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

This is head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first real challenge at Alabama since taking over for Saban. The Crimson Tide have won their first two games by at least 26 points, but the South Florida (1-1) game was tight. Alabama led just 14-13 going into the fourth quarter. DeBoer will need to keep his team focused on Wisconsin and avoid looking ahead to their next game on Sept. 28 against No. 1 Georgia (2-0).

Key Players: Wisconsin Badgers

Jake Renfro, C (PFF Season Grade: 71.0)

Alabama’s defense is allowing 16 points and 227 yards per game while holding opponents to a 14.3 percent success rate on third-down conversions. Center Jake Renfro and his teammates on the offensive line must perform well to give quarterback Tyler Van Dyke and the running backs the time and space they need to be productive.

Renfro needs to improve on his last performance against Alabama in the College Football Playoff when, as a member of the Cincinnati Bearcats, he earned a 63.3 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus in that 2021 matchup.

Wisconsin | Offensive lineman Jake Renfro — © Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK

Ricardo Hallman, CB (PFF Season Grade: 59.1)

Fickell noted in his weekly press conference that Wisconsin’s defense has not been challenged downfield in the first two games. But that will likely change against Alabama. Cornerback Ricardo Hallman, a second-team AP preseason All-American, has had a quiet start statistically to the season after recording 7 interceptions in 2023. He needs to rediscover his playmaking ability and create turnovers to give the offense a short field in this game.

Key Players: Alabama Crimson Tide

Jalen Milroe, QB (PFF Season Grade: 69.8)

Jalen Milroe is among the top contenders for prestigious awards like the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award. He opened the season by accounting for 5 touchdowns against Western Kentucky (1-1) and followed up with 4 more TDs against South Florida. Milroe’s dual-threat capabilities—both throwing and running—will challenge the Badgers’ defense both horizontally and vertically.

Jihaad Campbell, LB (PFF Season Grade: 86.4)

Jihaad Campbell leads Alabama with 20 tackles and will have plenty of chances to add to that total against a Wisconsin team focused on running the ball. He played in the box 85 percent of the time against South Florida last week and is expected to stay near the line of scrimmage in this matchup. If the Alabama defensive line can eat up blockers, then Campbell will have space to attack the Badgers' run game.

Trends to Watch

This game marks the first time since 1989 that a top-five nonconference opponent has played at Camp Randall Stadium. That year, then-head coach Dennis Erickson’s No. 3 Miami Hurricanes defeated Wisconsin 51-3 before going on to win the National Championship that season. The best memory from that game was when the Badgers took an early 3-0 lead, prompting the student section to chant “overrated” at the Miami bench.

Game Prediction

On a day when Wisconsin will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ron Dayne’s 1999 Heisman Trophy win, the Badgers face a tough challenge against a talented, deep Alabama team. Expect Wisconsin to keep it close in the first half before Alabama pulls away for a 35-17 victory.