The No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide lost to an unranked Florida State, and it wasn't even close. Leaving the Crimson Tide looking a lot more beatable than many thought this season. They are loaded top to bottom with talent, but weren't able to put it together in week one. Is there a chance that the Badgers can keep up with Alabama or even steal one?
It sounds crazy, but remember the Seminoles had only two wins all season. The five that Wisconsin was able to put together look like light-years better. So, don't say there isn't a chance. But what would it take?
So, No. 8 Bama gets punched in the kisser, 31-17, at Florida State. Crimson Tide likely will plummet in the polls and host UL Monroe in Week 2. #Badgers' trip to Tuscaloosa in Week 3 suddenly doesn't look so daunting, does it?
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) August 31, 2025
The recipe for beating Alabama has been posted and Wisconsin took notes
Related: Luke Fickell turned the Badgers' biggest weakness into a superpower
How did Florida State do it? In the trenches. One team ran the ball 49 times for 230 yards while the other ran it 29 times for 74 yards. You can guess which of those teams won. The Seminoles were so good along the offensive line, but they were also great on the defensive line. They had seven tackles for loss and three sacks. Ty Simpson was never overly comfortable.
If the Badgers are going to beat Alabama, they just got the recipe. The good news for Wisconsin fans is that head coach Luke Fickell was building for this exact recipe. He worked all offseason to improve both of these units. While the offensive line didn't look great against Miami (OH), there is talent there. The running back room is so good and could generate some excitement.
On the defensive line, this was priority one in the offseason, and Fickell has even referenced the Alabama game last year as one of the indicators of how much bigger and stronger they needed to be in the trenches.
Did the Badgers do enough? The jury is still out, but Alabama may be more in reach than we initially thought. It could still be ugly and could still be bad, but let a little sliver of hope creep into your hearts.