Michigan’s early-season game against Texas prepared the Wolverines for USC. What about Wisconsin? The Badgers played Alabama earlier this season. Like Michigan, they got blown out at home by an SEC opponent. We asked Ben Kenney of Badgers Wire to tell us what Wisconsin might have gained from the Alabama game:
“There’s a very loaded answer,” Kenney said. “Overall, I’d argue the Alabama game helped prepare Wisconsin because it served as a wake-up call. Alabama under Kalen DeBoer is what Wisconsin wants to become — strong enough on defense and explosive on offense. The Week 3 loss showed how far the Badgers are from that standing. It may also be part of a string of results that force the leadership to reconsider its approach to get to that point (that is part of a much longer discussion).
“But the wake-up call should help the team in a few main ways. First, it just got a bye week to reevaluate its identity and approach on both sides of the football. The result of that evaluation should be a continued dedication to the run game, leaning into the offense’s strength up front. That is a departure from the ‘air raid’ that was promised, but that is again part of a larger discussion. It also may see some personnel changes on defense. Importantly, the week also gave the team time to cater the offense around the strengths of backup QB Braedyn Locke (starter Tyler Van Dyke tore his ACL in the first quarter against the Crimson Tide).
“The loss to Alabama should have taught Wisconsin what it isn’t at this point in the Luke Fickell era. That should help it find ways to improve as the season continues.”
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