Wisconsin heads to Tuscaloosa this Saturday to face No. 19 Alabama after struggling in a 42-10 win over Middle Tennessee State.
The performance dropped the Badgers from 36th to 40th in ESPN’s Football Power Index.
Luke Fickell didn’t sugarcoat his team’s readiness when asked about facing Alabama.
“At this moment, right now? No,” the Badgers head coach said.
Alabama bounced back from its season-opening loss to Florida State with a 73-0 demolition of Louisiana-Monroe. The Crimson Tide used three quarterbacks in that blowout.
Wisconsin’s quarterback situation remains unsettled. Danny O’Neil is now starting after Billy Edwards Jr. got injured in the season opener.
The Badgers lost 42-10 to Alabama last season. They kept it close until starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke suffered a season-ending injury that deflated the team.
Fickell expressed disappointment with his team’s first-half performance against Middle Tennessee. He knows they’ll need significant preparation for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama’s defense looked much better against Louisiana-Monroe after struggling against Florida State. Players showed more enthusiasm and executed their assignments.
The weather could be another factor. Temperatures are expected to reach 90 degrees in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
Wisconsin will need to find answers quickly if they want to compete with a Crimson Tide team looking to prove itself after that early season stumble.
