Alabama will be without an impact starter during first half against Wisconsin

Those tuned into Wisconsin’s 27-13 win over South Dakota saw Badgers senior linebacker Jake Chaney get ejected for targeting. The ruling, coming in the second half, means he will also miss the first half of the team’s upcoming battle with No. 4 Alabama.

The decision is a big blow to Wisconsin’s chances against the Crimson Tide. Chaney is by far the Badgers’ best inside linebacker. He emerged toward the end of the 2023 season, finishing with 80 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks. Next up will be USC transfer Tackett Curtis, who performed well in limited action during the team’s Week 2 win.

That is on the Wisconsin side. Those who spent their Saturday night watching Alabama struggle to pull away from South Florida saw the Crimson Tide suffer a similar fate.

Impact linebacker Justin Jefferson, the team’s third leading tackler, was also ejected for targeting. His penalty carries the same implication as Chaney’s, as he’ll miss the first half of Saturday’s game.

Jefferson recorded 12 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack during the Crimson Tide’s 2-0 start to the season. He is listed as a backup on the team’s depth chart, but he is starting to emerge as one of its more impactful second-level defenders.

Wisconsin and Alabama will take the field in Madison at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT on Saturday. We will then wait until the second half to see Chaney and Jefferson enter the game.

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