• 

  Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterSep 14, 2024, 12:36 PM ET

  Close

  • College football reporter.
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
  • Graduate of Northwestern University.

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke left Saturday’s loss to No. 4 Alabama with a right knee/leg injury following a run on the game’s opening drive.

Van Dyke, a transfer from Miami, scrambled for 5 yards along the Wisconsin sideline when his right knee appeared to buckle. The senior didn’t put any weight on his leg as he went into Wisconsin’s injury tent and then was carted to the locker room, visibly upset and holding his head in his hands. He was later ruled out of the game before returning to the sideline in street clothes and on crutches, with his right leg in a brace.

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell didn’t have any definitive word on the severity of Van Dyke’s injury after the 42-10 loss to the Tide.

“We’ll get a little more clarity hopefully here soon, get an MRI and things like that,” Fickell said. “I don’t think it looks real good for us, for him.”

Jalen Milroe threw three touchdowns and ran for two more in the win, with scoring strikes to Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard and Josh Cuevas. He also rushed for 75 yards on 14 carries.

Alabama (3-0) was playing its first true road game against a team from north of the Mason-Dixon Line since a 27-11 victory at Penn State in 2011. It also marked the Crimson Tide’s first trip to Camp Randall Stadium since a 15-0 loss to Wisconsin in 1928.

“There was a businesslike approach in the locker room,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “They had energy right from the start.”

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Van Dyke suffered a rare right knee lesion last year against North Carolina but returned for Miami later in the season. The 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year missed parts of six games because of injury at Miami in 2022. Van Dyke had 406 passing yards with a touchdown and no interceptions on a 60.3% completion rate in his first two starts at Wisconsin, and he had completed his first five pass attempts for 16 yards against Alabama.

Braedyn Locke replaced the injured Van Dyke, completing 13 of 26 pass attempts for 125 yards and Wisconsin’s lone touchdown of the game.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.