Alabama Football: 3 X-Factors for the Crimson Tide against Wisconsin

Alabama Football is 2-0 as they head to Madison to face Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. The Badgers also come in 2-0 after a pair of 14-point victories over Western Michigan and South Dakota.

Winning on the road in college football is notoriously difficult, and performing to the program's standard is something Kalen DeBoer hopes to get the Crimson Tide back to in raucous environments. Alabama may be a heavy favorite, but recent history should have us believe that the Tide will be in for a fight in Madison.

In order to win games on the road, you need x-factors to step up. Guys who aren't going to immediately come to mind like Jalen Milroe and the freshman phenom Ryan Williams. Those guys performing well is more of a given, but it will take more than just the Tide's stars to walk out of Camp Randall 3-0 heading into a bye week.

3 X-Factors for Alabama

3. Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson will miss the first half of the game Saturday after a controversial targeting call in the 2nd half against South Florida last week. That doesn't mean he won't play a pivotal role for Alabama when he enters the game in the third quarter.

Jefferson was in the midst of perhaps his best game in a Tide uniform a week ago. He was second on the team in tackles with 10, despite only playing 20-snaps. He has maximized his time on the field so far in 2024, and his emergence gives Alabama perhaps the most talented linebacker core in the country with Jefferson serving as a sub-package LB behind Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell.

With Wisconsin running a lot of pro-set formations on offense, which is a two-back shotgun set, Jefferson will likely see a lot of snaps, particularly if the Crimson Tide struggles in the first half. The Badgers run a lot of RPO's and throw the ball to the running backs out of the backfield a lot. Jefferson is Alabama's top coverage linebacker, and functions more as a hybrid safety/linebacker in Kane Wommack's defensive system.

He's fast enough to matchup in coverage, but he's also unafraid to stick his nose in and make plays against the run. Look for Jefferson to make an immediate impact when he sees the field in the second half.

2. Elijah Pritchett

Redshirt sophomore OT Elijah Pritchett has had an up-and-down career with Alabama so far, but his performance when called upon on Saturday in a closer-than-expected game against USF has raised him to a near cult-status among Tide fans, at least for now.

With Alabama leading 21-16 with 6:45 to play against the Bulls, Pritchett entered the game and immediately gave the Crimson Tide offense a much needed shot in the arm. In the three drives he was in to replace struggling redshirt freshman Wilkin Formby, Alabama scored three touchdowns. Those three touchdown drives ultimately accounted for 42% of the Tide's offensive production on Saturday night.

That small sample has given fans hope that the fully realized potential of what this offense can be isn't far away. With the potential return of Kadyn Proctor on the horizon, we could see the offensive line finally take shape and help the Crimson Tide find its identity.

The strength up-front remains on the interior, with perhaps the two best guards in college football in Tyler Booker and Jaedan Roberts flanking center Parker Brailsford. If Proctor and Pritchett can provide stability at tackle, then this offense could really take off. Against a beleagured Wisconsin defensive line, this could be the game to establish some joyless murderball and continue to instill confidence up front.

1. Kendrick Law

A breakout season has been expected for junior WR Kendrick Law, but through two weeks he has been a bit quiet. Part of that is due to Ryan Williams' emergence, but I think some of it could be that the coaching staff hasn't wanted to tip its hand with what it has in the speedy, shifty, versatile receiver. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking. We'll find out for good in the next two games.

Law scored a touchdown on his only catch of the season, a 22-yard catch-and-run against Western Kentucky. He was quiet last week against USF with his only touch coming on a kickoff-return that he ultimately fumbled after what was setting up to be a dynamic return.

There's more to the game than just touching the football, though, and Law has proven himself as a willing blocker on the edge and down the field, something that is invaluable to an offense's success. With his blazing speed and DeBoer's history of creative play-calling, it feels like only a matter of time before Law makes a huge impact on a game. It could be as early as this Saturday.

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