Alabama Football faces its first road test of the 2024 season on Saturday afternoon in Madison against the Wiscosin Badgers. On Wednesday, we previewed the Wisconsin offense. Today, we take a look at a Badgers defense that has the talent, playmakers, and scheme to give Alabama’s offense trouble.
The unit is coordinated by Mike Tressel, the nephew of former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. Tressel spent 12-years at Michigan State before becoming the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati in 2021 and then following Fickell to Madison last year.
Tressel runs a 3-3-5 defensive scheme and likes to send disguised blitzes and run exotic coverages that have historically caused issues for Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, who frequently bails from the pocket early if he feels pressure or drops back so deep that it makes the tackles jobs extrememly difficult.
I’m not much of an X’s and O’s guy, particularly when it comes to defenses, so if you want a deep dive on the Badgers’ defensive scheme, you can read an excellent one here. Tressel mixes and matches his coverages, with about a 50-50 split between man and zone coverage.
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I would expect more zone coverage on Saturday afternoon as I’m not sure if the Badgers have the corners to hold up on an island for long against the Tide’s receivers, particularly if they struggle to get pressure without bringing blitzes.
The Badgers ranked 56th in yards-per-play defense a year ago, and they currently sit at 56th through two games in 2024 despite the inferior competition it has faced.
The strength of Wisconsin’s defense is in the secondary. Safety Hunter Wohler is one of the very best at his position in the entire country. He led Wisconsin with 120 tackles last year and was a 1st team All Big Ten performer.
At one corner, redshirt junior Ricardo Hallman was a 3rd team All American a year ago and picked off 7-passes. He’s a guy who has to be accounted for. He’s the best corner Alabama has seen so far this season, and Wohler the best safety, and it will be a good challenge for an unproven group of Tide receivers led by 17-year-old phenom Ryan Williams.
Both Wohler and Hallman are projected mid-round NFL draft picks in next April’s draft.
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At linebacker, Arkansas transfer Jaheim Thomas and Jake Chaney form a good tandem inside and both are projected as 7th round/UDFA’s in the draft. Unfortunately for Wisconsin, much like Alabama’s Justin Jefferson, Chaney was the victim of a questionable targeting foul in the second of last week’s win over South Dakota and will sit the first 30-minutes on Saturday.
Wisconsin will start USC transfer Tackett Curtis for the first half in place of Chaney. Curtis started 8 games as a freshman with the Trojans in 2023.
Where Alabama has the biggest advantage should be up front. The Badgers’ defensive line is a real concern for Wisconsin fans. Depth and experiene on the defensive line was a concern before a season-ending injury in the preseason to James Thomas, who had 18 career starts in two seasons in Madison.
Now, Wisconsin starts a career reserve in senior Ben Barten and redshirt sophomore Curt Neal, who had made one career start prior to this season. Alabama likely getting Kadyn Proctor back for his 2024 debut would go a long way in the Crimson Tide being able to control the game and not put Milroe in unfavorable down and distances where he might feel he needs to force a throw to make something happen for a stagnant offense.
Proctor’s return gives Alabama a distinct advantage inside with Tyler Booker moving back to left guard and joining center Parker Brailsford and right guard Jaedan Roberts. South Dakota found success running up the middle against the Badgers, rushing for 147 yards on a 5.8 yards-per-carry clip if you exclude the yardage lost on three sacks.
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Alabama’s gameplan should be real simple: run the football. Utilize the two-headed monster at RB in Jam Miller and Justice Haynes, mixed with more than a few designed runs for Milroe and wear down a Wisconsin front-seven that doesn’t have a ton of depth, particularly in the first half while Chaney sits.
You can bet that Wisconsin is going to bring pressure as the book on Milroe has been him panicking a bit in the pocket when he feels pressured. I’d look for more quick, decisive reads on passes with Milroe getting the ball out to playmakers in space. Wisconsin doesn’t have the team speed to stick with the Tide receivers for four quarters.
Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan just has to avoid getting impatient and trying too hard for the homerun shots. The deep balls will come as Wisconsin struggles to stop the run and the quick passing attack. It will force tighter man-coverage and safeties creeping into the box, which should allow for a knockout punch or two down the field in the second half that allows the Crimson Tide to pull away for a comfortable victory.
Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
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Here’s a look at July 15, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from July 15 drawing
02-07-18-29-38, Powerball: 16, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 15 drawing
Midday: 0-6-9
Evening: 8-6-6
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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 15 drawing
Midday: 9-3-8-0
Evening: 4-5-2-7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from July 15 drawing
Midday: 01-04-05-07-09-11-12-17-18-21-22
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Evening: 05-06-10-11-12-13-14-16-17-19-21
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from July 15 drawing
05-06-23-28-31
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from July 15 drawing
04-08-15-16-21-33, Doubler: N
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Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Megabucks numbers from July 15 drawing
10-19-25-31-37-40
Check Megabucks payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.
Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?
No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.
When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?
Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **
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WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.
(WLUK) — Northeast Wisconsin community groups that helped during historic spring flooding can now apply for relief.
Applications for the United Way Fox Cities and Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Flood Relief fund are now open.
The grants are available to local nonprofits and churches serving residents in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca, and the Neenah/Menasha area of Winnebago counties who are engaging in relief efforts both short-term and long-term.
Grants are available to:
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501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Groups fiscally sponsored by a qualified 501(c)(3)
Churches and other public entities able to receive tax-deductible contributions
These grants are not available to private foundations, individuals or businesses directly, labor unions, or 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) organizations.
The funding provided to these community organizations will help with housing and safe shelter, food, health and well-being, and financial assistance.
For individual homeowners and renters seeking relief, you can apply for FEMA assistance.
President Trump recently approved $22.6 million in federal aid for Northeast Wisconsin. The request made earlier this year asked for $27 million.
