Searching for a way to get the University of Wisconsin football team to finish games strong -- something the Badgers have failed to do in each of the last two games -- coach Bret Bielema has mixed things up this week in practice.

Instead of the No. 1 offense and No. 1 defense going against scout teams at the end of practice as they have in the past, the Badgers' top units have instead gone against each other this week during preparations for Saturday night's game against No. 6 Penn State (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at Camp Randall Stadium.

"Usually, at the end of practice it's against the scout and things are kind of winding down," senior right guard Kraig Urbik said. "But I definitely like that where we're ending it with some good competition."

The inability to finish games strong is a big reason UW (3-2, 0-2) is mired in a two-game losing skid instead of being undefeated through five games and in the driver's seat to win the Big Ten Conference crown.

The fourth quarter hasn't been kind to the Badgers, who have lost the last two games by a combined five points. UW took a 19-7 lead into the fourth quarter against Michigan on Sept. 27 only to collapse and drop a 27-25 decision. The Badgers held a four-point lead late in last Saturday's game against Ohio State, but the Buckeyes scored a touchdown with 69 seconds remaining and held on for a 20-17 victory.

The difference between being 3-2 and out of the Associated Press rankings and being 5-0 and perhaps ranked in the Top 5 ultimately has come down to UW's inability to close out games -- and both sides of the ball are to blame.

"You've got to find a way to dig deep and get it done,'' defensive coordinator Dave Doeren said.

Doeren's defensive unit has been stellar at times this season, particularly in the first half of games against the last three opponents. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find many defenses in the country more dominant than the Badgers during the opening 30 minutes of games during that stretch.

But the second half has been a different story for UW in a victory over Fresno State and the back-to-back losses against Michigan and Ohio State.

In the first half of those games, opponents have run the ball 46 times for 115 yards, an average of 2.5 yards per carry. In the second half, those numbers have climbed to 61 rushes for 358 yards, an average of 5.9 yards per carry.

In the first half of those games, opponents have completed 47 percent of their passes (14 of 30) for 121 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions for an awful passing efficiency rating of 53.88. In the second half, opponents have completed 55 percent of their passes (26 of 47) with two touchdowns and no interceptions for an efficiency rating of 130.84.

Of the 12 plays of 20 yards or more the UW defense has allowed in those three games, nine have come in the second half.

"It's like we're right there, but I think we just get to a certain point and we have to dig and give a little more, make that play down the stretch,'' senior linebacker and co-captain DeAndre Levy said. "I think we've played decent, but just didn't make the plays.''

The UW defense produced a more consistent effort last week against Ohio State, but it wilted with the game on the line. After P.J. Hill scored a touchdown with 6:31 remaining in the game to give the Badgers a 20-17 lead, Ohio State took the ball 80 yards in 12 plays to regain the lead.