In their first road game and major test, the Wisconsin Badgers fell to the No. 19 Alabama Crimson Tide in disappointing fashion. The game, which never felt close after the first quarter, ended 38-14.
After a quick first possession by each team, backup Wisconsin quarterback Danny O’Neil threw an interception on the Badgers’ first play of their second drive. He forced his defense, who just valiantly kept Alabama to five plays on a no-score drive, right back on the field.
The Crimson Tide’s offense scored a touchdown on this possession, but needed 11 plays to gain 61 yards, a promising defensive effort by the Badgers.
O’Neil was sacked on the first play of the second quarter, which led to a short-lived drive. This was followed by an Alabama touchdown on a short pass up the middle to Germie Bernard, his second touchdown of the half.
The little offensive momentum that the Badgers had in the first half was killed by numerous avoidable penalties. It served the team no favors that their star center, Jake Renfro, went down after being previously injured. After a subpar performance by Wisconsin’s second string center last week against Middle Tennessee State, the Badgers opted to put in redshirt freshman Corey Ryan for several drives before Renfro returned.
Alabama connected on a third touchdown with just 45 seconds left in the half on yet another pass over the middle, this time to receiver Isaiah Horton. The score put the Badgers in a disheartening 21 point deficit going into the half.
Alabama started with the ball in the second half, and their aerial-heavy play exposed Wisconsin once again. It took one play for the Crimson Tide to create a 93-yard passing touchdown.
Badger receiver and returner Vinny Anthony II responded with a 95 yard kickoff return to the house, giving the Badgers a small breath of life in the 28-7 contest.
The remainder of the third quarter ended up being a dumpster fire for Wisconsin, who gave up another touchdown, as well as 235 yards, while leaving Alabama on their 21-yard line for the start of the fourth quarter. The Badger’s offense also found no success, as O’Neil threw a second interception and the team put up a mere 59 yards in a scoreless quarter.
The Crimson Tide scored a field goal in the beginning of the fourth quarter, racking the score up to 38-7.
A perfectly-placed 41 yard pass from O’Neil to receiver Jayden Ballard resulted in a Wisconsin touchdown, but with just over five minutes left in the game, the hole that the Badgers dug themselves into was far too deep to crawl out of.
The 2-1 Badgers will return home to play the Maryland Terrapins next Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11:00 a.m. in Camp Randall Stadium. The contest will be the Badgers’ first conference game of the season.
