Wisconsin has only geared up against Alabama twice in program history. The first, hosted at Camp Randall in 1928, saw an at-home win for the Badgers. During the second — a season opener in 2015 that took place in Arlington, Texas — the Badgers fell 35-17.
When the teams first met on Nov. 3, 1928, college football was still coming of age. The Big Ten comprised 10 schools, as opposed to the new 18-school conference it is today, and the SEC hadn’t yet formed as Alabama entered their seventh season as a member of the Southeastern Conference.
The Badgers welcomed the Crimson Tide to Madison with a 15-0 shutout in 1928. Despite having back-to-back Rose Bowl appearances at the time, one being a victory, Alabama was not the powerhouse they are widely recognized as today. But the game made for an interesting match-up even if the score didn’t show it.
To close out the first quarter, Wisconsin’s running back Harold Smith rushed for 15 yards to give the Badgers a 6-0 lead. Their defense then shut down Alabama inside the one-yard line in the second quarter to give the Badgers possession. Following a 33-yard field goal from Badgers kicker August Backus, quarterback Francis “Bo” Cuisinier cemented the win for Wisconsin after adding a 15-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
“Wisconsin showed us one of the greatest teams we have ever met in an intersectional game,” head coach Wallace Wade said. “The team was much stronger than we expected to find. Coach Thistlethwaite has a well-balanced line and deceptive, hard-running backs.”
“Alabama just simply wasn’t entitled to beat Wisconsin,” Wade noted.
Although Wisconsin prevailed in their first head-to-head against Alabama, their next meeting didn’t proceed as comparably. Their Sept. 5, 2015 matchup saw the No. 3 Crimson Tide defeat the No. 20 Badgers 35-17.
Alabama had transformed from the 1928 squad into the notorious Nick Saban-led powerhouse current college football fans are familiar with. The Badgers, who were entering their first year under head coach Paul Chryst, held on as the game commenced. They trailed by a touchdown at halftime but ultimately could not keep up with the eventual national champions and Heisman trophy winner Derrick Henry.
When the Crimson Tide returns to Madison for the first time in 96 years on Saturday, it will be a matchup that will determine who takes a 2-1 edge in head-to-head competition.
Molly Sheehan is the Sports Editor for the Daily Cardinal. She has covered the Wisconsin Badgers sports teams, written in-depth feature articles including player profiles and game previews, and covered match-ups as a photojournalist. Follow her on X @mollyrsheehan and Instagram @msheehan.photography
