Just two games into the 2025 season, No. 19 Alabama and new coach Kalen DeBoer are already navigating a challenging year. After entering the season with national title aspirations, the Crimson Tide suffered a stunning 31-17 blowout loss to Florida State despite being a two-touchdown favorite.
The team responded decisively last week with a 73-0 victory over UL-Monroe. Now, Alabama returns to Bryant-Denny Stadium to host a tougher opponent in the Wisconsin Badgers. The game marks the second leg of a home-and-home series that began with Alabama’s 42-10 win in Madison last season.
However, both teams are significantly different a year later. Neither starting quarterback from that game will be playing in the rematch, and Wisconsin has overhauled its defense through the transfer portal. The Badgers’ defensive changes have shown early promise, as the unit has allowed only 10 total points through a 2-0 start. Still, containing Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee is a different challenge than stopping Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Wisconsin’s primary concern is on offense, which has been inconsistent and will be without its starting quarterback. Billy Edwards, a transfer who was injured in the season opener, will be replaced by Danny O’Neil for the second straight week.
Meanwhile, Alabama brings a historic home-field advantage into the matchup. The Crimson Tide have won 83 consecutive home games against unranked opponents, a streak that dwarfs the next longest of the past 30 years—Boise State’s 64 straight wins from 2001 to 2011. Alabama’s last such loss occurred in 2007 against UL-Monroe, the same program they defeated by 73 points last week.
The contest is also a rare occasion, marking only the second time a Big Ten team has ever played at Alabama. The first was a visit from Penn State in 2010. Given Wisconsin’s offensive struggles against lesser opponents, it is difficult to envision the Badgers finding consistent success unless Alabama commits frequent turnovers.
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