Camp Randall Stadium. At night.

Back-to-back games. Ohio State and Penn State.

Does anything more need to be said?

The University of Wisconsin football team's daunting start to the Big Ten Conference season looks slightly more manageable with the announcement Wednesday that games against the Buckeyes (Oct. 4) and Nittany Lions (Oct. 11) will start at 7 p.m. and be televised nationally by ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.

The Badgers have won 20 of their last 21 night games, including six in a row at home. The most recent was a 17-13 victory over Iowa last year.

UW coach Bret Bielema recently let it slip while meeting with UW students that the games would be played at night. The official confirmation came from the Big Ten Conference.

Under current agreements, networks can move any games of their choosing, when initially setting the television schedules, to prime time. It's only the games that are moved at a later date that need the approval of both schools.

''Any time we have a night game in Camp Randall, is something that can be a positive,'' Bielema said recently. ''The networks have agreed with us in the past. The way the rules are, if there's a request by ESPN, ABC, CBS, whatever it is, if they come to terms and make a decision this early, no school can deny (it).''

The Badgers have a non-conference game at Fresno State Sept. 13, then get a week off, before opening Big Ten play at Michigan Sept. 27. They follow that with Ohio State and Penn State at home.

UW is the first Big Ten team to start conference play against Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State since the Nittany Lions joined the conference in 1993.

The Badgers have not lost a home game in Bielema's two years as coach. They are 25-1 at home over the past four years, which includes Bielema's two years as defensive coordinator. Their 14-game home winning streak is the second-longest in the nation behind Oklahoma's 17 straight.

UW announced last week it is making changes to its student ticket policy for football games. That could result in students arriving earlier for games, which Bielema hopes will make a formidable home-field advantage even better.

''I just know this: Our kids feed off the crowd,'' Bielema said last week. ''Our student section, although I don't condone some of the stuff that is said, I do know it has an effect on our (games).

''As a head coach, I've never walked off that field a loser. Obviously, I think we're a good football team. But we play well in Camp Randall. For that matter, the whole crowd has energy, but when that place is going nuts, it has a huge effect on (our team).''

Bielema has been careful not to be critical of the late-arriving students, many of whom are not in their seats until midway through the second quarter. The gaping holes in the north end zone sections stand out in a streak of 32 straight home sellouts.

''When I go talk to these (student) groups, I say, we probably have one of the best student sections in college football and within the Big Ten,'' Bielema said. ''But it's only true after the (start of the) third quarter, or midway through the second quarter.''