MADISON, Wis. – If there was one opponent on Wisconsin’s football schedule that deserved to be called a “trap game,” it was Saturday’s matchup against FCS opponent South Dakota at Camp Randall Stadium. One week after the team’s expected season opener Friday night. One week before a key showdown against Alabama.

Wisconsin had plenty of reasons to be wary in its 27-13 victory. The Badgers didn’t play particularly well in their season-opening win over Western Michigan, where they trailed by one point until four minutes into the fourth quarter. Keeping Wisconsin’s attention was the fact that South Dakota was a serious threat. The Coyotes were ranked No. 6 in the FCS Top 25, were coming off a 10-win season and won their season-opening game by six touchdowns.

Even though the Badgers recognized the challenge, they won another game and left fans wanting more. Wisconsin only led by one point in the fourth quarter and the win probably didn’t generate much excitement about the potential outcome against the Crimson Tide.

“I knew going into this game that it was going to be a tough battle,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. “I’m not saying everyone knew that or that everyone knew what kind of week it was going to be. Our guys respected that. But to be honest, I just knew it was going to be kind of a real battle and fight.”

Here are four initial takeaways from the victory:

1. The lack of explosive plays in Wisconsin’s offense became a problem a week ago. No run was longer than 12 yards. No pass was longer than 17 yards. And no matter what reasons coaches and players offered – a new opposing coordinator using different plays, an aversion to long balls to establish the running game – the Badgers needed to show they were capable of more, especially through the air.

Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Van Dyke showed flashes of big-play ability early on, although the offense couldn’t maintain its initial tempo. He completed three passes of at least 22 yards in the first quarter to help the Badgers take a 14-0 lead. Van Dyke completed a 32-yard pass to receiver Vinny Anthony II after being forced out of the pocket and later threw a 22-yard pass to receiver Bryson Green on a third-and-7 from the South Dakota 32-yard line.

One of the traits that set Van Dyke apart in the preseason quarterback duel with Braedyn Locke was his ability to pressure the defense with his legs. Van Dyke showcased that talent on a 50-yard touchdown pass in which he rolled right and hit receiver CJ Williams on a run-pass option – Williams’ first career touchdown catch.

Van Dyke completed 17 of 27 passes for 214 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers. And while there have been strong moments, he needs to show more consistency to keep the offense going.

“That was definitely a focus,” Van Dyke said of finding big plays. “I definitely got off to a good start with that. I wish we could do that the whole game. But I think we did a better job of getting more explosiveness in the passing and running game. I think we just need to do that the whole game.”

2. Fickell said Monday that there will be “a lot of opportunities” for running back Cade Yacamelli at some point, and that proved true Saturday. With tailback Tawee Walker out, Yacamelli became the No. 2 running back behind Chez Mellusi and ran for a career-high 73 yards on eight carries, surpassing his previous record of 48 yards in the second quarter. Walker suffered an injury early last week and returned to finish the game against Western Michigan, but his participation for South Dakota was questionable.

“Coach (Devon) Spalding wanted me to punish defenders more,” Yacamelli said. “He knew I could do it. He came up to me after practice at the beginning of spring ball and said, ‘Dude, you’re 220 pounds, you should punish people.’ Then when I started changing my mindset and going on offense, they started to see what I could really do, and then I added other things to my game, my feet and my explosiveness, and now I’m kind of putting it all together.”

Yacamelli had the longest run of 12 yards a week ago and managed a 29-yard run in the second quarter against South Dakota. Mellusi, meanwhile, scored an early 9-yard touchdown run and later a fourth-and-deciding attempt from the 1-yard line to seal the win. Wisconsin also finally got to use its two talented freshmen, as Darrion Dupree and Dilin Jones came on late in the game.

3. Wisconsin’s defense was more disruptive in Week 2, but still faced challenges. The Badgers posted three sacks and six tackles for loss, up from just one sack and one tackle for loss the previous week. Their biggest problem was the running game.

South Dakota opened the third quarter with a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive without a single pass. Coyotes running back Keyondray Jones-Logan sprinted down the field and scored a 35-yard touchdown run to cut South Dakota’s deficit to 17-10. The Coyotes got within 17-13 when Anthony fumbled a punt return at his own 8-yard line, leading to a field goal.

Wisconsin’s run defense was a problem early in the season, and that malaise persists. The Badgers have had to adjust without relying on James Thompson Jr., who is expected to miss the season with an upper-body injury.

Also of note, Wisconsin linebacker Jake Chaney was ejected in the third quarter for targeted assault and will miss the first half of the game against Alabama. Chaney’s absence for one half could be significant, as he has played in 32 games in his career and started 13 times.

4. What does Wisconsin’s win mean for the game against Alabama? If anything, the result is more of a concern for a Badgers team that is considered a double-digit underdog. There will be no greater challenge for the Badgers this season than against the Crimson Tide, and we’ll learn even more about where this program stands in year two under Fickell.

Are there enough playmakers on the field to seriously challenge Alabama’s defense? Can Wisconsin slow down quarterback Jalen Milroe, who is a Heisman Trophy candidate? A tremendous effort is needed for the Badgers to have a chance. Wisconsin comes to Alabama undefeated in the week and has a chance to change its season trajectory and accelerate Fickell’s push to improve the program. But it’s hard to be particularly confident that Wisconsin is capable of such a feat given what it has shown through two games.

(Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Van Dyke photo: John Fisher / Getty Images)