OFFENSE: A-Other than settling for field goals a couple of times, what's not to like? UW had a 100-yard rusher, two 100-yard receivers, 477 total yards and zero sacks. Tyler Donovan was at his slippery, gritty best.DEFENSE: BUW shut down Michigan's running game and had a consistent pass rush. Jack Ikegwuonu and Shane Carter gave up big plays, then made even bigger ones with fourth-quarter interceptions.SPECIAL TEAMS: B+Ken DeBauche left four punts inside the 20, Taylor Mehlhaff had four touchbacks on kickoffs and the coverage was rock solid. Other than the opening kickoff, the returns were nothing special.OVERALL: A-Michigan was without its quarterback and running back, but beating the Wolverines never is easy. UW could have... >>MORE

It was five years ago this month that Brian Butch signed with the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team.Mindful that another highly regarded 6-foot-11 state prep player, Greg Stiemsma, already had committed to the Badgers, Butch spoke of the two combining to do something special at UW. "People may think I'm crazy for saying it," Butch said, "but I truly believe we are going to win a national championship at Wisconsin." Reminded recently that Butch had made that statement, Stiemsma could only laugh. "That was a young Brian Butch, I think," he said. And what's the difference between a young Brian Butch and the fifth-year senior who will take his final shot at fulfilling that promise starting with UW's non-conference opener Sunday against Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne?"He's maybe not so quick with his tongue," Stiemsma said. No, Butch chooses his words more carefully now, not because he's given up on winning an NCAA title but because he's more mature than he was back... >>MORE

Offense: BUW used the run and play-action passes to hog the ball for more than 35 minutes. The failure to score after any of Indiana's five turnovers was a black mark, as were the two turnovers.Defense: A-UW was fast and physical against a spread offense, forcing five turnovers and holding Indiana 32 points below its average. It all started with Jack Ikegwuonu blanketing wide receiver James Hardy.Special teams: A-Kicker Taylor Mehlhaff and punter Ken DeBauche controlled field position with their strong legs and the coverage units kept Tracy Porter and Marcus Thigpen, two dangerous returners, bottled up.Overall: B+The expected shootout never materialized, mainly because UW's defense is flying around like everyone thought it would all along. The offense must sharpen... >>MORE

OFFENSE: A-UW wanted to run power football and that's exactly what it did. A determined P.J. Hill turned short gains into 72- and 38-yard runs by breaking tackles. Giving fullback Chris Pressley some carries was a nice wrinkle.DEFENSE: AUW's aggressive front seven controlled the game, eliminating Northern's ground attack and putting consistent pressure on the quarterback. Pressure equals turnovers; hence, two interceptions by Shane Carter.SPECIAL TEAMS: B+With Taylor Mehlhaff's deep kickoffs and David Gilreath's returns, UW dominated field position. In the first half alone, Gilreath had a 35-yard kickoff return and four punt returns between 18 and 31 yards.OVERALL: A-The Badgers dominated the overmatched Huskies from the get-go with their size, strength and speed. Players and coaches were committed to the aggressive, physical game UW should have been... >>MORE

OFFENSE: B-There were lots of first downs (28) and yards (519), but only scoring two field goals in the first half and throwing two fourth-quarter interceptions were back-breakers. Travis Beckum was spectacular again.DEFENSE: DIllinois ran more than it passed from its spread offense, but, like earlier opponents, it killed UW by getting to the edge. The Illini had nine plays of 20 or more yards, one more than Michigan State had the week before.SPECIAL TEAMS: D-UW kept Illinois freshman Arrelious Benn under control on returns, but that was the only thing it did well. Penalties on the first two returns and a rare shank by punter Ken DeBauche hurt field position early.OVERALL: C-The Badgers didn't go down without a fight, but the defense's continued futility against spread... >>MORE

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Is it possible they were all correct?The oddsmakers? The pollsters? The national writers? The talking heads on ESPN? The reporters from Wisconsin? The fans from Bayfield to Beloit?Is it possible all of the people who remained unconvinced about the strength of the University of Wisconsin football team even as it rolled off five victories to open the season and climbed to No. 5 in the polls were absolutely, 100 percent on the money?Alas, it appears they were.It was unrealistic to think the Badgers would go through the season undefeated, but the most telling part of UW's streak-ending, balloon-busting 31-26 loss to unranked Illinois Saturday at Memorial Stadium was few people outside of UW's locker room were surprised.Most people looked at the way UW played in its first five games and, aside from the toughness it showed in winning close games, didn't see the Big Ten Conference powerhouse everyone expected back in August. The people who saw this coming had their worst fears confirmed Saturday."We're a Big Ten football team and, ranked that high,... >>MORE

The Bret Bielema era at the University of Wisconsin is now 17 games old and the Badgers football coach is still capable of springing new things on us.Last week, for instance, we witnessed a totally new tactic from the second-year coach.He circled the wagons.That's right, Bielema responded to some mild but deserved criticism of his defense by forming his defenders into a tight, impenetrable group. He did this so purposefully that you might have thought it was Hayden Fry or Barry Alvarez calling the shots. After all, Bielema's mentors were masters at turning a lack of respect, whether real or perceived, into motivation.Still, this was virgin territory for Bielema as a head coach. But with border rival Iowa coming to Camp Randall Stadium for the Big Ten Conference opener Saturday night, Bielema's time-worn 1-0 mentality turned into the us-against-the-world mentality.He made his defensive players off-limits to the media and hoped the criticism would serve as a catalyst for recovery by a veteran unit from which much was expected this season but which had struggled at times in UW... >>MORE

Offense: B+UW did exactly what it needed to do against an undersized opponent; it ran the ball right at The Citadel. Tailback P.J. Hill showed a nice blend of power and speed. The line opened holes and held up under the Bulldogs' heavy blitzing.Defense: D+Yes, the defense stiffened in the second half, but giving up 31 points to a Division 1-AA, er, Football Championship Subdivision team is simply unaccepable. The Badgers never allowed more than 27 points in a game last year.Special teams: BReturn man David Gilreath makes positive yards every time he touches the ball. The kickoff and punt coverage units laid some heavy hits on the Bulldogs. Ken Debauche pinned The Citadel inside the 20 on two of his three punts.Overall: B-Booed off the field when the halftime score was 21-21, the seventh-ranked Badgers took care of business in the second half.... >>MORE

Offense: B+UW figured to have trouble running against Washington State's huge front four and did. It didn't matter in the end because Tyler Donovan and his receivers were able to exploit the Cougars' inexperienced secondary almost at will. Defense: C-Wasn't UW supposed to have a handle on the spread offense? Wazzu's 193 yards in the first quarter were embarrassing for a defense from which much was expected. The defensive intensity, and the grade, improved after that.Special teams: C-David Gilreath looks like the return threat UW has been missing, but mistakes such as Luke Swan's fumbled punt return and Ken DeBauche's 1-yard punt were costly. Freshman Aaron Henry showed great awareness in intercepting a pass from punt formation.Overall: BThe Badgers were shaky at the start but the offense just kept scoring and eventually put the game out of reach.... >>MORE