Week 3 of the 2024 college football season has now officially arrived, and with that brings what is likely the toughest test for Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide so far this year in a road trip to face the Wisconsin Badgers.
Alabama’s first road trip to the Big Ten since 2011, the Crimson Tide will be big favorites in the contest against Wisconsin, and will be going head-to-head with the Badgers for the first time since 2015. As a result of this lengthy gap in between prior matchups, as well as having only met two times previously, Wisconsin is largely an unfamiliar opponent for the Crimson Tide, and rightfully so.
So, let’s take a deeper look at the Badgers in particular, and list everything you need to know about Wisconsin entering Saturday’s matchup.
Overview
Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Team Name: Wisconsin Badgers
Conference: Big Ten
Stadium: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
2024 Record: 2-0 overall (0-0 in Big Ten)
Ranking: Unranked in AP Poll, Unranked in Coaches Poll
Beginning with an overview, the Wisconsin Badgers enter this Week 3 matchup undefeated at 2-0 overall, but have yet to play a conference game. The Badgers are also coming off back-to-back 7-6 seasons, and own victories so far this season at home against Western Michigan and South Dakota.
Coaching Staff
Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Head Coach: Luke Fickell
Offensive Coordinator: Phil Longo
Defensive Coordinator: Mike Tressel
The Badgers are led by a name that might be familiar to Alabama fans in Fickell, who was the head coach at Cincinnati when the Bearcats faced the Crimson Tide in the 2022 College Football Playoff Semifinal. Both of Longo and Tressel are also in their second seasons as coordinators, while the Badgers have another notable name on their staff in safeties coach and Co-DC Alex Grinch, who was the defensive coordinator with the USC Trojans from 2022-23.
Offensive Stats
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
PPG: 27.5 (No. 87 in NCAA)
Total Yards Per Game: 386.5
Passing Yards Per Game: 203
Rushing Yards Per Game: 183.5
Wisconsin is not necessarily the Big Ten’s most potent offensive team, as the Badgers rank No. 14 in the conference in scoring at 27.5 PPG. If there is a strength for the Badgers offensively however, it’s with their running game which ranks No. 9 in the Big Ten at 183.5 YPG.
Defensive Stats
Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
PPG: 13.5 (No. 43 in NCAA)
Total Yards Per Game: 249
Passing Yards Per Game: 127.5
Rushing Yards Per Game: 121.5
Defensively, Wisconsin is allowing an average of 13.5 PPG to opponents so far this season. The Badgers also rank No. 7 in the Big Ten with only 249 YPG allowed, but will be facing a significant step up in talent as opposed to the first two weeks.
Offensive Names to Know
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Tyler Van Dyke, Quarterback
Chez Mellusi, Running Back
Will Pauling, Wide Receiver
Bryson Green, Wide Receiver
Tawee Walker, Running Back
The leader of Wisconsin’s offense is one that might sound familiar to Alabama fans in quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who transferred from Miami during the offseason. Outside of Van Dyke, a name to know is Mellusi, who is an experienced running back in his sixth season of college football.
Defensive Names to Know
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Hunter Wohler, Safety
Jaheim Thomas, Linebacker
Jake Chaney, Linebacker
Christian Alliegro, Linebacker
Elijah Hills, Defensive Line
Wisconsin will be without one of their top defensive players for the first half Saturday, as linebacker Jake Chaney was ejected for targeting a week ago. There are a few options that could take his place in the first half, while others such as Wohler, the Badgers leading tackler, will be counted on to make an impact.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66e4341828734c4588fdd67747fcd9e5&url=https%3A%2F%2Frolltidewire.usatoday.com%2Flists%2Falabama-football-wisconsin-badgers-team-preview-week-3%2F&c=13964224904326287036&mkt=en-us
Author :
Publish date : 2024-09-12 23:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
