In the aftermath of last year’s 42-10 win over the Wisconsin Badgers in Camp Randall Stadium, Alabama fans were flying high with dreams of an unlikely championship in Kalen DeBoer’s first season.
Spin forward a year after, and neither Alabama’s DeBoer nor Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell – once a satellite candidate himself for jobs like Ohio State and Alabama – are leading a lot of most-popular-coaches polls. However, neither has forgotten how to coach, and both teams come into this game with a fair bit of optimism still left in the minds of their schools’ respective fans.
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The question for Alabama is whether last year’s win – fueled by one of Jalen Milroe’s best games under center for Alabama, and affected greatly by a season-ending injury to then-Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke early in the game – was the product of two things that won’t be happening again. Neither Milroe nor Van Dyke remain with their respective schools, and Alabama comes into this game with a loss this time around, thanks to an opening-week disaster of a game against Florida State. That changes the tenor of this game substantially – a second loss here would throw the Bama program into a spiral.
For Wisconsin, the Badgers again might be without their starting quarterback for this game, but the backup QB situation is far better than it was a year ago. Alabama may be getting some of its pieces back for this game but if it happens, especially in the case of DT Tim Keenan, it won’t be a full workload for the affected players.
This game represents a significant opportunity for both programs to make a statement for inclusion in the College Football Playoff. But a loss probably dooms the chances of either team.
OFFENSE
Wisconsin is in the middle of an offensive transition, going from the wide-open concepts of former offensive coordinator Phil Longo to something resembling more of a traditional one-back, pro-style attack under Jeff Grimes. As such, any statistical carryover from 2024 is probably a sheer accident. So far in 2025, the intended plan – get back to running the football and use it to set up the pass – hasn’t exactly come out of the gate firing on all cylinders. Wisconsin is mid-pack in both run and pass so far, but has also been dealing with an injury to QB Billy Edwards Jr. Alabama bounced back nicely from its opening-week rotten egg by being virtually perfect against Louisiana-Monroe. Given Alabama’s challenges at running back, the offense will still lean heavily on the quarterbacks and veteran receivers.
QUARTERBACKS
There hasn’t been any word yet whether Edwards will be back for this game – he got hurt in the second quarter of the opener against Miami-Ohio – but backup Danny O’Neil hasn’t been bad in relief. Edwards, a Maryland transfer, was only average in his one season as the Terrapins’ starter, and needed to improve his TD-to-INT ratio (1.67:1). He was just 6-of-13 (46.2%) for 68 yards and a QBR of 90.1 in the opener before getting hurt.
O’Neil played the rest of that game and the entirety of the MTSU win, and so far on the season is 35-of-46 (76.1%) for 403 yards, 4 touchdowns, but also 2 interceptions. O’Neil was the starter for San Diego State as a freshman in 2024, and put up numbers similar to what Edwards accounted for at Maryland. Neither player is a dual-threat at quarterback but both are athletic enough to escape pressure. Hunter Simmons, a senior who began his career at Southern Illinois, will be the backup if Edwards is out.
Alabama counters with Ty Simpson, who showed exactly why a lot of Alabama fans have been excited to see him under center, as he put up a statistically perfect performance against ULM. Backups Austin Mack and Keelon Russell also saw extensive action, and the verdict on all three collectively is that Alabama has perhaps the deepest quarterback room in the country. O’Neil and Edwards can both run an effective offense, but what Alabama saw from its quarterbacks last week was next-level. Advantage: Alabama
RUNNING BACKS
Kevin Riley seems to have secured the starting running back job for Alabama, at least until Jam Miller gets back around midseason. Riley put together his second solid week in a row, while Richard Young, Daniel Hill and Dre’lyn Washington will probably all play, but do so in supporting roles. The question is whether the 190-pound Riley can take a full season’s worth of punishment, but so far he hasn’t been bothered by his inside running assignments. He’s also a threat as a receiver and not bad as a pass blocker. We’re not sure where Akylin Dear fits in at the moment; he put up big numbers late against ULM, but is probably ticketed for a redshirt unless something happens above him on the depth chart.
Wisconsin will start freshman Dilin Jones, with sophomore Darrion Dupree and junior Cade Yacamelli backing him up. So far the stats of Jones mimic those for Kevin Riley, while Dupree and Yacamelli have been slightly more effective than Alabama’s backups. This one is close, but not because either team has really put anything superlative on tape yet. We’re going to have to go on the basis of reputation because the production for each hasn’t spoken for itself so far. Advantage: Alabama
WIDE RECEIVERS
Wisconsin will feature four receivers mainly, including returning starter Vinny Anthony II, 2024 backups Trech Kekahuna and Chris Brooks Jr., and Ohio State transfer Jayden Ballard. Ballard brings much-needed quality depth to this group and gives the Badgers a solid, proven weapon off the bench. Anthony is reliable, but Kekahuna is a weapon in the slot, not just as a receiver but also as a runner on jet action. Missouri State transfer Lance Mason has been a true find at tight end; he’s just one behind Anthony for the team lead in receptions already and is an upgrade at that spot. Wisconsin is making greater use of the tight end in its new offense.
For Alabama, Germie Bernard continues to stand out at receiver, and Ryan Williams should return to the lineup this week after sitting out the ULM game for a concussion. Isaiah Horton was able to make an impact last week after being knocked out of the Florida State game with a hip injury, but the real revelation was freshman Lotzeir Brooks in the slot. Add in Rico Scott and Cole Adams and Alabama has a deep receiver group that can take a variety of roles.
Tight end Josh Cuevas continues to be a weapon, with Kaleb Edwards, Marshall Pritchett and Jay Lindsey also getting work. Alabama will certainly have to account for Wisconsin’s group; they’re not bad by any means. Alabama just has more big-play ability and also better depth. Advantage: Alabama
OFFENSIVE LINE
Both teams return veteran units with a lot of experience playing together. Wisconsin added Central Michigan LT Davis Heinzen out of the transfer portal, which has allowed Joe Brunner to slide to left guard and solidify that side of the line. Center Jake Renfro returns along with RT Riley Mahlman. The other new starter besides Heinzen is Emerson Mandell, who draws the right guard assignment. Wisconsin’s offense struggled last year, but the line did its job, ranking 14th in sacks allowed and 10th in tackles for loss allowed. They arguably got better with the addition of Heinzen. The question will be whether Renfro is healthy; Wisconsin has given starts to Kerry Kodanko and Colin Cubberly while Renfro has been hurt.
Alabama will start Parker Brailsford at center, Kadyn Proctor at left tackle and Kam Dewberry at left guard. The right side may have a new look for this game. For the first two games, Wilkin Formby has started at right tackle and Geno VanDeMark at right guard, the latter because of an injury to Jaeden Roberts. Roberts returned against ULM and his presence was immediately felt in the running game. If he’s ready for a full game’s load of work, he’ll probably start ahead of VanDeMark and allow VanDeMark to backup both guard positions.
The question at right tackle is whether true freshman Michael Carroll showed enough last week to displace Formby, who has been inconsistent through two starts this year. In a strict analysis of athletes, Alabama should be the leaders here, but the Crimson Tide has underperformed. We need to see more to start giving Alabama the benefit of the doubt again. Advantage: Wisconsin
DEFENSE
Wisconsin is another team that has been experimenting with the 2-4-5 sub defense as a base front, but the Badgers are far more sold out to the idea than most teams. They’ll rotate fronts and personnel, but the base formation was to blame by many last year for the team’s troubles in stopping the run. Alabama will utilize its 4-2-5 Swarm scheme, but in both of the last two games, the Crimson Tide has gotten its best results utilizing odd fronts. As it stands now, Wisconsin ranks 4th in rushing defense and Alabama ranks 102nd, but we’re too young in the season to draw firm conclusions.
DEFENSIVE LINE
It’s an odd thing to examine this category and find ourselves discussing only two players. Wisconsin will start returning tackle Ben Barten, and LSU transfer Jay’Viar Suggs. That’s it. Wisconsin considers its outside players to be pure linebackers. Barten is a massive nosetackle at 6’3â€, 330 pounds. Suggs is a bit smaller, but still big enough to get the job done; the setup is not that unlike Alabama’s when the Crimson Tide has Tim Keenan and James Smith both available.
Depth will be provided by Brandon Lane and Tulane transfer Parker Petersen, along with UT-Martin transfer Charles Perkins. All three players go 320 pounds or bigger. Alabama could surely use some of that beef, and it may get an infusion of it if Tim Keenan is able to return a week early. If he’s available, he’ll be limited; Georgia week was his original timetable for return from an ankle injury and subsequent tightrope surgery.
Against ULM, Alabama started true freshman London Simmons at nose next to James Smith, the latter having one of the best games of his career. Without Keenan, the backup situation gets thin – figuratively and literally – in a hurry. Edric Hill and Isaia Faga are the next wave, but both go in the 280-pound range. Jordan Renaud will work some at the spot, and JUCO transfer Steve Mboumoua made his debut last week and, while he was a bit out of control at times, his talent was evident. Mboumoua weighs in at close to 310 pounds, which would be helpful. L.T. Overton will start at Bandit end, with either Renaud or Jah-Marien Latham, who missed the ULM game, backing him up. Keon Keeley might also get some work there. Going off last year’s numbers,
Alabama would have a modest edge here, but Wisconsin has been more effective in 2025 so far and the addition of larger tackles can’t be overlooked. Advantage: Wisconsin
LINEBACKERS
You don’t see four linebackers in a base package much anymore, although outside linebackers Daryl Peterson and Corey Walker are larger than some teams’ defensive ends – especially Walker, who clocks in at around 290 pounds. Wisconsin insists he’s a linebacker, so we’ll call him one, too, but he’s basically a Bandit in Alabama’s scheme and suddenly the Badger 2-4-5 sub begins to look like a 3-1-3 Jack split, or even a stack front. Sebastian Cheeks and Louisville transfer Mason Reiger provide depth, and they’re much more in line with the size of Alabama’s outside linebackers. Inside, Tackett Curtis and Christian Alliegro are new starters for 2025.
For Alabama, Qua Russaw will start outside at Wolf linebacker, while Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson will start inside. Nikhai Hill-Green will rotate with Lawson and Jefferson, while Yhonzae Pierre has found some success as a pass rusher in the early going; he’s still seeking his first sack, but he directly caused an interception last week with his pressure and nearly caused a second one. The most encouraging thing for Alabama last week was that Lawson and Jefferson both upped their games from the opener, a performance so stiff there was nothing good to say about it. Alabama needs better QB pressure from this entire unit, but especially from Russaw outside, who remains elite as a run stopper but who can’t seem to get home to the quarterback.
This is the toughest call on the board, because Alabama has a substantial edge in experience, but we can’t really identify a standout player on either side yet and statistically both teams are all over the place. We’ll revert to known quantities, but this one really could go either way. Advantage: Alabama
DEFENSIVE BACKS
These two teams were mirror images of one another in 2024, both solid secondaries that didn’t give up much free yardage or many big plays. And for the most part, each returns intact. Wisconsin returns corner Ricardo Hallman and safeties Austin Brown and Preston Zachman. Another corner, Nyzier Fourqurean, was set to return but his eligibility has been caught up in a court case that the NCAA actually won – at least for now. With Fourqurean out for this game, Miami transfer D’Yoni Hill takes over there. Jacksonville State transfer Geimere Latimer is the new nickel.
Alabama returns corners Domani Jackson and Zabien Brown from a year ago, with freshman Dijon Lee Jr. rotating in. Safeties Keon Sabb and Bray Hubbard return. The soft spot here is the nickel corner/safety spot, called the Husky in Alabama’s defense. DaShawn Jones has worked there the first two games but Bama isn’t seeing the production it got from Malachi Moore last year. In addition, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. will miss the first half of this game as the result of a targeting foul late against Louisiana-Monroe. Red Morgan will back up Jones for a half, while Zavier Mincey, Ivan Taylor and Kameron Howard provide depth at safety.
It’s possible that CB Cameron Calhoun may get an audition at Husky. So far, the two teams are tracking close together again statistically, but Bama holds a slim edge both there and in the talent evaluation. Advantage: Alabama
SPECIAL TEAMS
The kickers here are about as equal as they come, although Wisconsin’s Nathanial Vakos has an edge in experience over Alabama’s Conor Talty. Functionally, they’re the same guy, with the same range. Punter Blake Doud didn’t have to kick against Louisiana-Monroe, but his opening-week work against Florida State was solid. Wisconsin has struggled in net punting so far this season, even though Atticus Bertrams is a returning starter from a year ago. Vinny Anthony II is a solid kickoff returner with a good resume, but the Badgers are again struggling in punt returns, continuing a theme from a year ago. Alabama holds a big edge there in the form of Cole Adams, who is a natural at the spot.
In general, Alabama should hold the edge in returns and return defense based on superior athleticism alone, although losing Dre Kirkpatrick for a half could affect those units. Advantage: Alabama
OVERALL
Alabama leads in six categories, Wisconsin in two. But the linebacker group could truly be called either way. As for the OL-DL cross-matchups, Wisconsin controls both, but the Alabama OL/Wisconsin DL matchup may be the slimmest of margins depending on what happens with Alabama RG Jaeden Roberts.
It’s rare to see a team control both lines of scrimmage – and perhaps linebackers, too – and come up on the short end of a prediction. But Wisconsin has too many unknowns in the offensive skill group, especially at quarterback, and we’re not sold yet on the total athleticism of the defense. We’re hamstrung here by the early schedules both teams have played. At least Alabama has the Florida State game on tape, but Wisconsin has nothing to serve as an analog yet.
Against Miami-Ohio in the opener, the Badgers slopped around to a 17-0 win. Nice to get a shutout, yes. But 17 points against a team like Miami-Ohio is evidence that the new offense isn’t a baked cake yet. Miami’s next game was against Rutgers – a 45-17 loss.
Against MTSU – which opened the season by losing to FCS Austin Peay – Wisconsin held just a 14-10 lead at the half before finally pulling away after intermission. Danny O’Neil had a solid, almost Ty Simpson-like day (23-of-27, 85.2%, 283 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT), but the game was really won by the Badger DL, which snuffed out the MTSU running game almost entirely.
That’s what could give Alabama some trouble here. The Badger DL looks like the real deal, at least against the run. But the Badger offense probably won’t be able to keep pace with the Alabama offense, especially if Alabama can take advantage of favorable matchups between its receivers and the Wisconsin secondary.
Alabama is far from being out of the woods against teams like this. Far worse teams have come into Bryant-Denny Stadium and beaten better Alabama teams than this one. But we’re also encouraged about what we saw from Alabama’s sideline, both coaches and players, against ULM. If Alabama keeps that kind of enthusiasm and focus rolling, the Crimson Tide should be able to play around the challenges of the trench matchups.
Alabama 30
Wisconsin 17
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