Week 3: Wisconsin (1-1) vs No. 6 Alabama (2-0)
A slow start compounded by mistakes in the secondary kept the Badgers from avenging their startling week one loss to Western Michigan by taking down a top-10 team in the Crimson Tide at Camp Randall.
Offensively, Wisconsin couldn't find a rhythm, with Tyler Van Dyke missing multiple throws early on and failing to log a single completion in the first quarter. But, the defense had Van Dyke's back, forcing punts on back-to-back possessions to open the game.
Alabama's third possession, though, ended with a crushing 47 yard touchdown pass from Jalen Milroe to Germie Bernard with RJ Delancy in coverage. The Badgers answered with a solid drive, running the ball on all seven plays and entering Alabama territory for the first time before punting on 4th and 1 at the Alabama 41 to end the first quarter.
Atticus Bertram's punt pinned the Crimson Tide at their own 14 yard line, and following a sack by Sebastian Cheeks on second down, it looked like the Badgers were going to get the ball back with excellent field position. Instead, Delancy was beat on a go-ball by Bernard, who went untouched and into the endzone for an 87-yard touchdown.
Needing points to curtail Alabama's mounting momentum, Wisconsin came up empty, with a pair of negative runs by Chez Mellusi and a sack resulting in a three-and-out, handing the ball back to Milroe in plus-territory.
Just three plays later, the Crimson Tide added six more points to its lead, with Jam Miller taking a screen pass 31 yards to the endzone, putting the Badgers behind 21-0 with 10 minutes left in the first half.
Van Dyke's first completion came on the next drive, finding Vinny Anthony for a 15-yard gain. Yet, the drive resulted in a punt.
Marching down the field, Alabama was looking to deliver the crushing blow. Firmly in field goal range, Milroe decided to take a shot to the endzone on 2nd and 1, throwing a laser right into the hands of Delancy, who went to a knee and gave Wisconsin a chance to trim the deficit heading into halftime.
With three minutes on the clock Van Dyke led a six-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a Will Pauling 14-yard TD grab, making it a two-score game.
Still 90 seconds left in the half and all three timeouts remaining, Wisconsin generated a sack and a pair of negative rushes, getting the ball back near midfield and had a shot at the endzone on a hail mary. The heave fell incomplete, but a late pass interference call gave the Badgers a second chance. the 15-yard penalty allowed Nathanial Vakos to attempt a 49-yarder, but it went wide right.
The third quarter was a defensive stalemate, with neither team threatening to put points on the board until a late Wisconsin drive brought the team into Alabama territory as time expired.
The Badgers cashed in shortly thereafter, with Van Dyke finding Riley Nowakowski for an 18-yard gain and Anthony for a 14-yard score on back-to-back plays, making it a one score game.
Milroe was quick to answer, finding Kobe Prentice for what looked to be a chunk gain. However, after shedding a pair of tackles, Prentice broke loose and took the pass into the endzone for a 66-yard score, deflating the Badgers comeback hopes.
Wisconsin wouldn't score in the final 13 minutes of play, and the Crimson Tide were able to run out the clock and exit Madison victorious.
Van Dyke finished 18-for-29 with 183 yards and two touchdowns, Mellusi turned 16 carries into 68 yards and Anthony tallied eight catches for 79 yards and a score.
Milroe went 13-for-16 with 316 yards, four TD's and an interception and Bernard totaled six catches for 174 yards and two scores.
Final: No. 6 Alabama 28, Wisconsin 14
Stat Leaders After Three Weeks
Passing - Van Dyke: 45/67 for 529 yards and 8/0
Rushing - Mellusi: 57 rushes for 249 yards (4.4ypc) and 0 TD
Receiving - Anthony: 15 receptions for 236 yards and 3 TD
Tackles - Chaney: 26
Sacks - Pius: 4.5
Interceptions - Delancy: 2