ESPN College Football

2011 record: 11-3

2011 conference record: 6-2 (Big Ten champions)

Returning starters:

Offense: 5; Defense: 6; kicker/punter: 0

Top returners:

RB Montee Ball, LT Ricky Wagner, OL Travis Frederick, WR Jared Abbrederis, RB James White, TE Jacob Pedersen, LB Chris Borland, LB Mike Taylor, CB Marcus Cromartie

Key losses:

QB Russell Wilson, OG Kevin Zeitler, C Peter Konz, WR Nick Toon, DT Patrick Butrym, S Aaron Henry, CB Antonio Fenelus

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Montee Ball* (1,923 yards)

Passing: Russell Wilson (3,175 yards)

Receiving: Jared Abbrederis* (933 yards)

Tackles: Mike Taylor* (150)

Sacks: Beau Allen* (4)

Interceptions: Shelton Johnson*, Aaron Henry and Antonio Fenelus (4)

Spring answers

1. Keep on running: The Badgers are enjoying the luxury of returning last year's Heisman finalist and record-breaking running back Montee Ball, who somehow managed to look a step faster this spring. They also still have the very capable James White, who produced 713 rushing yards a year ago. And while both sat out the spring game -- Ball as a precaution, White with a minor injury -- redshirt freshman Melvin Gordon stepped in and showed he could be the next star tailback in Madison. The Badgers can always run the ball, and this year could be a special season for the ground game.

2. Secondary matters: All-conference performers Aaron Henry and Antonio Fenelus are gone from the secondary, but Wisconsin was feeling good about its defensive backs this spring. Head coach Bret Bielema said Dezmen Southward and Shelton Johnson could be the best safety duo he's had during his tenure. Devin Smith is coming back from a foot injury and should fare well as a fifth-year senior starting cornerback. With fifth-year senior Marcus Cromartie also returning at corner, this is an experienced group that is looking to atone for a couple of late breakdowns last season.

3. Strong in the middle: Despite a few snapping problems in a late spring scrimmage, Travis Frederick looked good in replacing star center Peter Konz this spring. Ryan Groy appears ready to become an all-conference type player at left guard. Across from them lies the strength of the defensive line, with Beau Allen, Ethan Hemer and the developing Warren Herring looming as potentially disruptive defensive tackles. If football is won in the middle of the trenches, then Wisconsin is well set up to defend its Big Ten title.

Fall questions

1. O'Brien to the rescue: The Badgers' passing game had its share of struggles this spring, with only Joe Brennan and walk-on redshirt freshman Joel Stave healthy at quarterback. Stave moved ahead of Brennan by the end of spring, but neither showed great consistency. Of course, Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien is on the way, hoping to replicate the success of Russell Wilson. That's far from guaranteed, though, and O'Brien will have to play more like he did as a freshman for the Terps than as a sophomore to make Wisconsin's passing game a true threat.

2. Who else at receiver? Abbrederis missed the spring with a foot injury, giving the coaching staff a long look at the possible contenders to complement him in the receiving corps. It was a very young and inexperienced group that had its ups and downs. Players like Marquis Mason and Chase Hammond have good size and ability but need to learn how to compete every down. Isaiah Williams showed some potential late in the spring. Having good tight ends and excellent pass-catchers out of the backfield should help, but the receiving group remains very much a work in progress.

3. Living on the edge: Wisconsin's defensive line was stout in the middle this spring but lacked a dynamic pass rusher on the edge. The coaching staff hopes that junior David Gilbert can fill that role, but he was out all spring with a foot injury that cut his 2011 season short. If Gilbert isn't all the way healthy or falls short of expectations, there aren't a lot of other candidates. The Badgers' defense is going to be solid with an experienced secondary and two stars at linebacker in Mike Taylor and Chris Borland, but it only reaches the elite level if someone can consistently get to the quarterback.

Several Big Ten players who didn't hear their names called in New York during the weekend still received some good news about their football futures. As soon as the NFL draft concluded, the undrafted free agent scramble began.

Here's an initial list of Big Ten UFA signings. Every Big Ten squad except Indiana had a player signed through free agency. We'll be sure to post more as they become official.

ILLINOIS

• Derek Dimke, K, Detroit Lions
• Jason Ford, RB, Houston Texans
• Jack Cornell, OL, Baltimore Ravens

IOWA

• Broderick Binns, DE, Arizona Cardinals
• Tyler Nielsen, LB, Minnesota Vikings
• Brad Herman, TE, New England Patriots
• Markus Zusevics, OL, New England Patriots

MICHIGAN

• Ryan Van Bergen, DE, Carolina Panthers
• Troy Woolfolk, CB, Dallas Cowboys
• Michael Shaw, RB, Washington Redskins
• Brandon Herron, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

MICHIGAN STATE

• Brian Linthicum, TE, New York Jets
• Garrett Celek, TE, San Francisco 49ers
• Todd Anderson, FB, St. Louis Rams

MINNESOTA

• Eric Lair, TE, Green Bay Packers
• Duane Bennett, RB, Green Bay Packers

NEBRASKA

• Brandon Kinnie, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
• Yoshi Hardrick, OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NORTHWESTERN

• Al Netter, OL, San Francisco 49ers

OHIO STATE

• Mike Brewster, C, Jacksonville Jaguars
• Andrew Sweat, LB, Cleveland Browns
• J.B. Shugarts, OL, Cleveland Browns

PENN STATE

• Quinn Barham, OL, Detroit Lions
• Derek Moye, WR, Miami Dolphins
• D'Anton Lynn, CB, New York Jets
• Andrew Szczerba, TE, Dallas Cowboys
• Eric Latimore, DE, Minnesota Vikings
• Nick Sukay, S, Buffalo Bills
• Chaz Powell, CB, Oakland Raiders

PURDUE

• Joe Holland, LB, San Francisco 49ers
• Carson Wiggs, K, Seattle Seahawks
• Albert Evans, Miami Dolphins
• Jared Crank, FB, Arizona Cardinals

WISCONSIN

• Louis Nzegwu, DE, Atlanta Falcons
• Antonio Fenelus, CB, Indianapolis Colts
• Jake Byrne, TE, New Orleans Saints
• Aaron Henry, S, Oakland Raiders
• Patrick Butrym, DT, San Francisco 49ers

Several players seem to be in good situations, whether it's playing for their hometown team (Kinnie, Netter) or near a family member (Lynn, whose dad, Anthony, coaches running backs for the Jets). It's still shocking to see Brewster on this list rather than the draft one. I'm also surprised Moye, Wiggs, Linthicum and Dimke didn't get drafted.

Other Big Ten players have tryouts with NFL squads, such as Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa (Tampa Bay), Minnesota wide receiver Da'Jon McKnight (Minnesota Vikings), Indiana offensive lineman Chris McDonald (Miami, Green Bay) and Minnesota safety Kim Royston (Minnesota Vikings).

The NFL draft is a little more than 24 hours away, and our analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. have come out with their final mock drafts.

(Let's pause here for a moment of silence for the 2012 mock draft process. May it rest in peace. But never fear, the 2013 mocks are just around the corner!).

There's not a ton of change in Kiper's final first-round mock . Iowa's Riley Reiff is still the top Big Ten player off the board, now at No. 18 to San Diego. Kiper has Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus one spot behind Reiff, to the Bears. The only other Big Ten player he has going in the first round is Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler, at No. 30 to San Francisco.

McShay, along with Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl from Scouts Inc. have undertaken the massive enterprise of mocking the entire seven rounds of the draft . Whew. Here's where they have Big Ten products heading:

Round 1

No. 13: Reiff
No. 25: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
No. 28: Mercilus
No. 30: Zeitler

Round 2

No. 34: Jeff Allen, OT, Illinois
No. 35: Devon Still, DT, Penn State
No. 43: Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska
No. 44: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
No. 47: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
No. 51: Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
No. 63: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois

Round 3

No. 89: Mike Martin, DT, Michigan

Round 4

No. 96: Mike Daniels DT, Iowa
No. 97: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
No. 99: Adam Gettis, G, Iowa
No. 106: Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin
No. 118: Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa
No. 120: Keshawn Martin, WR, Michigan State
No. 121: Markus Zusevics, OT, Iowa
No. 123: Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
No. 126: Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State
No. 132: Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska

Round 5

No. 137: David Molk, C, Michigan
No. 150: Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa
No. 161: Trent Robinson, S, Michigan State
No. 163: Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State
No. 165: DeVier Posey, WR, Ohio State

Round 6

No. 207: Jack Crawford, DE, Penn State

Round 7

No. 211: B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State
No. 216: Aaron Henry, S, Wisconsin
No. 219: Dan Herron, RB, Ohio State
No. 221: Derek Dimke, K, Illinois
No. 223: Tyler Nielsen, LB, Iowa
No. 231: Marcel Jones, OT, Nebraska
No. 244: Junior Hemingway, WR, Michigan
No. 247: Bradie Ewing, FB, Wisconsin
No. 248: Kevin Koger, TE, Michigan

A few notables not listed on this seven-round mock: Northwestern WR Jeremy Ebert, TE Drake Dunsmore, and QB Dan Persa; Penn State WR Derek Moye; Minnesota WR Da'Jon McKnight, Michigan DE Ryan Van Bergen, Wisconsin OT Josh Oglesby.

How accurate are these mock drafts? It is almost time to find out. Let's do this for real.

MADISON, Wis. -- Just thinking about all the talent Wisconsin has lost in the past two years can be a little daunting.

The Badgers saw four first- or second-team All-Americans leave after the 2010 season (Gabe Carimi, John Moffitt, Lance Kendricks and J.J. Watt) and two more depart after last season (Peter Konz, Kevin Zeitler), along with their NCAA record-breaking transfer quarterback (Russell Wilson). Many programs would expect a dip after having so much star power leave town, but Bret Bielema is feeling fine.

"I used to freak out when we lost players, too," Bielema said. "But we do a good job of just developing. We always talk about being a developmental program, and I think it truly is that type of program now."

Wisconsin's ability to keep reloading will be put to the test in 2012. The team returns just 11 starters from last year's Big Ten champions, and six assistant coaches -- including almost all of the offensive brain trust -- left for other jobs in the offseason. Yet many still predict the Badgers will repeat as Leaders Division champs.

They will need new starters to emerge at receiver, on the right side of the offensive line, on the defensive line, in the secondary and of course at quarterback, where Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien could plug the hole. But O'Brien is the exception, as Wisconsin usually just brings along the next man on the depth chart.

"There are All-Americans sitting behind All-Americans, especially at spots like offensive line and running back," linebacker Chris Borland said. "Like last year, having lost Moffitt and Carimi, and then our line was arguably better. I think it speaks more to the development than it does to the players."

Madison might well be the world's leading producer of offensive linemen, and the running back tradition is just as strong. But other positions are becoming known for their string of successes as well, including tight end and safety. In each of the past two years, Wisconsin has lost an all-conference safety -- Jay Valai in 2010 and Aaron Henry in 2011. But Bielema says this year's pair of starters, Dezmen Southward and Shelton Johnson, might be his best duo yet.

"A guy might not be good enough to play right away, but a lot of times he'll develop for a year and come on the scene when a guy leaves or gets injured," said Jared Abbrederis, who's gone from former walk-on to one of the league's best wideouts. "That's kind of how it goes around here."

What's most impressive about the Badgers' recent run is that they've done it without many high-profile recruits. Bielema mostly signs three-star types and rarely brings in the true blue-chipper that gets scouting services drooling. Even though the program's exposure has increased of late, he still has little interest in trying to recruit much outside of a few key areas.

"We do what we can with what we've got," Bielema said. "I don't think we want more national recruits. A lot of times, those guys come with some issues you don't want to deal with. I take a lot of pride with the way our guys go about their business and handle themselves."

Player development is going to be key for Wisconsin's immediate future, because a cavalry of help isn't coming. The team signed only 12 players in February and expects to bring in an even smaller class next year. The reason? So few players have left before their eligibility ended.

"A lot of places sign 24 or 25 kids every year, so something is happening to those kids," Bielema said. "Of the last 66 kids we signed, 64 of them are still on campus, which is an unheard of number."

Last year's Rose Bowl team had only 24 juniors and seniors, and the rest were underclassmen. If those youngsters develop the way their predecessors have, then the Badgers will have a deep and experienced team soon. In fact, when O'Brien -- who has two years of eligibility remaining -- came on his visit, Bielema told him, "I think we'll be really good this year. But next year, on paper, might be the best team I've ever had."

That's a big statement, given how much talent -- both players and coaches -- has exited Madison in the past two years. But Wisconsin is confident in its ability to reload from within.

"We realize we're a developmental program," athletic director Barry Alvarez said. "We don't have the access to a lot of five-star guys. We might have a Joe Thomas coming out of the state or get a Ron Dayne because of his ties to the area. But for the most part, we develop players. And I think we have the right formula."

MADISON, Wis. -- Greetings from Mad-town.

I'm on the ground here in the Dairy State, ready to get an up-close look at the defending Big Ten champion Wisconsin Badgers. I hope to talk to Bret Bielema and some coaches, see a little practice and catch up with some defensive players today. And there will be even more on Friday.

This is an interesting team, one that replaces just about all of its offensive staff and some very valuable players, like Russell Wilson, Kevin Zeitler, Peter Konz, Aaron Henry, Patrick Butrym and Nick Toon. But the Badgers have shown an ability to reload lately, and they still have stars like Montee Ball around.

What I see here this week may not be an accurate representation of what to expect in the fall. Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien, expected to be the No. 1 quarterback, isn't with the team yet. Several important players are nicked up this spring, including receiver Jared Abbrederis, tight end Jacob Pedersen and linebacker Mike Taylor. Still, I want to see how a new crop of starting offensive linemen look, who's potentially stepping forward at wideout and how many difference makers this defense will have besides Taylor and Chris Borland.

This is somehow my first ever trip to Madison, so I'm eager to check out the town. Stay tuned for lots more coverage from here.

By now, it's pretty obvious who the last men standing are in our countdown of the Big Ten's top 25 players of 2011.

It's always a difficult exercise because there are many deserving players, and limiting ourselves to only 25 nominees means some excellent candidates got left out. So let's take a look at some of the toughest omissions.

First, here are the players who were on our preseason list who didn't survive the cut for the postseason honors and the reasons why:

Preseason No. 25: Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin: One of the hardest players to leave off the list, as Borland had an excellent season with 143 tackles and was one of the top linebackers in the league. We chose to go with his position mate, Mike Taylor, though Borland was probably No. 26 on our list.

Preseason No. 24: Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State: Mauti was well on his way to a strong season before he suffered another knee injury that forced him to miss most of the year.

Preseason No. 22: Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa: Prater's tackle and interception numbers dipped from his junior year, and Iowa's pass defense as a whole was disappointing.

Preseason No. 21: Nathan Scheelhaase, QB, Illinois: Scheelhaase got off to a good start in 2011, but he and the rest of the Illini offense were MIA for the second half of the season.

Preseason No. 19: Ricardo Allen, CB, Purdue: Allen had a good season, with 79 tackles and three interceptions, and just missed our list.

Preseason No. 16: Derek Moye, WR, Penn State: Moye dealt with an injury midseason, but what really hurt him was poor quarterback play.

Preseason No. 9: Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State: Baker didn't build off his breakout 2010 campaign and became the second option behind Le'Veon Bell late in the season.

Preseason No. 3: Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern: Persa was still really good when he was in the lineup; he just wasn't in the lineup enough because of injury issues.

Preseason No. 1: Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska: Crick was a little quiet early in the season, and then he suffered a season-ending torn pectoral muscle in October.

Here are a few other guys who just missed the cut:

Michigan State CB Johnny Adams: I really liked the year Adams had, and he was on my initial top 25 list. Very difficult to leave him off.

Michigan State G Joel Foreman and Wisconsin OT Josh Oglesby: Two of the best offensive linemen in the league, but we already had a bunch of linemen on the list in a strong year for the big uglies in the Big Ten.

Nebraska P/K Brett Maher: Unfortunately, kickers and punters don't get a lot of love on lists like these.

Wisconsin S Aaron Henry: If we could have considered interview skills as part of the criteria, Henry would have been in the top 10.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Many of the underclassmen who finished just outside the top 25 will likely appear on our 2012 preseason list this summer. If you have players you feel strongly about who we didn't include in our top 25 -- and I'm betting you do -- drop me a line and tell me who and why. We'll discuss it in a future post.

Today is the last day of February, and March means spring practice around the Big Ten. To get you ready, we're taking a look at how each team might fill the roles of two key contributors who are no longer on campus.

Today's focus is on Wisconsin.

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Russell Wilson, QB

Why: Though he only played one year in Madison, Wilson leaves large cleats to fill. He set an NCAA record for pass efficiency while giving the Badgers a level of quarterback play that they had never before experienced. Wilson threw for over 3,000 yards with 33 touchdowns and only four interceptions and became a team leader despite his late arrival to the program.

Replacement candidates: Jon Budmayr (6-0, 195, Jr.); Joe Brennan (6-3, 205, Soph.); Bart Houston (6-4, 215, incoming freshman); Curt Phillips (6-3, 225 Sr.); Joel Stave (6-5, 220 RS Fr.).

The skinny: Wisconsin's quarterback candidates have combined to complete 21 passes for 247 yards in their careers, with zero starts and no real important minutes played. This position is easily the most pressing concern for the 2012 Badgers and probably the toughest one to predict an outcome. Budmayr was ready to be the starter last season until Wilson arrived from NC State in the summer, but Budmayr suffered another injury to his throwing elbow in August and was not able to play at all. Phillips is another guy who has been bitten by the injury bug, with two torn ACL injuries. Both Budmayr and Phillips are reportedly recovering well from their setbacks, but they have to be considered question marks because of the health concerns.

Brennan would have ended up as the starter if Wilson didn't transfer and spent the season as his backup, though he didn't see much significant game action. Stave has good size and skill, but the walk-on hasn't seen the field yet. Houston is the wild card as one of Wisconsin's prized recruits. But it's tough to see coach Bret Bielema handing the reins over to a true freshman, especially one who won't go through spring practice.

So this remains a real toss-up, and Wisconsin would be interested if another graduate transfer becomes available. Still, expecting anyone to perform as well as Wilson is probably asking too much.

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Aaron Henry, FS

Why: We could have chosen center Peter Konz or guard Kevin Zeitler for this slot, as both were All-Americans in 2011. But Wisconsin simply reloads on the offensive line. The Badgers might have a harder time finding a replacement for Henry, a leader on defense who was named a first-team All-Big Ten performer by the coaches after posting 62 tackles and three interceptions in 2011. And the Badgers were a little thin in the secondary overall last year.

Replacement candidates: Shelton Johnson (6-0, 190, Sr.); Dezmen Southward ,(6-2, 200, Jr.); Michael Trotter (6-0, 210, Soph.); Frank Tamakloe (6-3, 190, Soph.); D.J. Singleton (6-2, 200, incoming freshman).

The skinny: Johnson started opposite Henry at strong safety last season but is likely to move to free safety this spring, with Southward taking over at strong. If that plan works, it would give the Badgers two experienced veterans at the two safety spots. Trotter backed up Henry in 2011 and could be ready to make a move up the depth chart. Tamakloe mostly saw time on special teams but is a very good athlete who could force his way into the lineup. And Singleton is the top-rated defensive back in the incoming class, though he profiles more as a strong safety and is unlikely to play right away at free, which is responsible for a lot of the defensive play calls.

So Wisconsin has some experience at this spot but once again will lack much depth in 2012.

The postseason position rankings are hitting the home stretch, and today we take a look at the Big Ten secondaries. It's a little tricky to evaluate secondary play from 2011. While seven Big Ten teams ranked in the top 18 nationally in pass defense, only two squads ranked in the top 29 in pass efficiency defense.

Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard was the lone Big Ten defensive back to appear on both the coaches' and media's first-team all-conference squad, so there was some disagreement.

The top seven units are solid, while the bottom three are among the worst in the FBS.

Michigan State once again tops a defensive chart, but the top four or five squads here were all strong in the secondary. Be sure and check out our preseason secondary rankings.

Let's get to the rundown:

1. Michigan State: The Spartans had three of four starting defensive backs — safety Trenton Robinson, cornerback Johnny Adams and safety Isaiah Lewis — selected first-team or second-team All-Big Ten, illustrating the depth coach Mark Dantonio has built in recent years. Michigan State's secondary also continued to be a playmaking unit, recording a league-best 18 interceptions, returning four for touchdowns. The Spartans had five defensive backs record two or more interceptions. Adams will enter the 2012 season pegged as the league's top cornerback.

2. Penn State: Like the other defensive units, Penn State's secondary shouldered a heavy burden because the team's offense struggled for so much of the season. The Lions had veteran leadership with D'Anton Lynn, Nick Sukay and Drew Astorino, and they led the Big Ten and ranked sixth nationally in pass efficiency defense (107.2 rating). Penn State finished third in the league in interceptions (14) and tied with Michigan for the fewest passing touchdowns allowed (12). Sukay earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.

3. Illinois: Although Illinois' strength on defense could be found in the front seven, the secondary held its own as well. The Illini ranked third nationally in pass defense (162.3 ypg), and opposing teams completed just 54.9 percent of their passes against the Orange and Blue. Illinois finished 30th nationally in pass efficiency defense. Although the safety play looked spotty at times, Illinois boasted a strong cornerback tandem in Terry Hawthorne and Tavon Wilson.

4. Michigan: Arguably no single position group in the Big Ten made more dramatic strides than Michigan's secondary, a lightning rod for criticism the previous three seasons. The Wolverines finished 16th nationally in pass defense and 36th in pass efficiency defense. Although they didn't record many interceptions, they tied for the league low in passing touchdowns allowed (12). Safety Jordan Kovacs emerged as an effective blitzer and playmaker and cornerback J.T. Floyd blossomed with two interceptions, eight pass breakups and a forced fumble. Corner Blake Countess is an exciting young talent.

5. Nebraska: The Huskers had the Big Ten's best defensive back in Dennard, who shut down arguably the league's top two receivers (Marvin McNutt, B.J. Cunningham) in Nebraska victories. But the group's overall performance was a bit underwhelming, as opposing teams attacked the deep middle and caused some personnel shuffling. Opposing teams completed just 53.2 percent of their passes against Nebraska, the lowest number in the Big Ten. Hard-hitting safety Daimion Stafford emerged for a group that loses Dennard and veteran safety Austin Cassidy.

6. Wisconsin: For the second straight season Wisconsin displayed good playmaking ability in the secondary, finishing second in the Big Ten with 16 interceptions. Safety Aaron Henry (coaches) and cornerback Antonio Fenelus (media) both received first-team All-Big Ten recognition. The Badgers also played most of the season without one of their starting cornerbacks, Devin Smith. But the unit also had some high-profile lapses at the end of games. Speed also became an issue in the Big Ten title game against Michigan State and in the Rose Bowl against Oregon.

7. Ohio State: The numbers aren't bad -- Ohio State ranked 14th in pass defense and 53rd in pass efficiency defense -- but the Buckeyes seemed to be missing something in the secondary, and throughout their entire defense, for that matter. There were some bright spots, like freshman cornerback Bradley Roby, and some hard hits delivered by safety C.J. Barnett and others. But Ohio State finished just eighth in the league (53rd nationally) in pass efficiency defense, as opposing teams completed more than 60 percent of their pass attempts against the Scarlet and Gray.

8. Purdue: We had high hopes for a group that returned all four starters, headlined by All-Big Ten candidate Ricardo Allen at cornerback. At times, Purdue's secondary looked solid, but the unit's overall performance fell in line with the team's average theme for 2011. Allen struggled to contain some elite wideouts but still finished the season with 81 tackles (62 solo), three interceptions, four pass breakups, a blocked kick and a forced fumble. He and Josh Johnson form an exciting cornerback tandem entering the 2012 campaign.

9. Iowa: Much like Ohio State, Iowa didn't have a typical season on defense, and the secondary had its share of struggles. Iowa had average numbers (58th in pass yards allowed, 72nd in efficiency), and allowed opposing teams to complete 62 percent of their passes. The Hawkeyes saw a big drop-off in playmaking, as they recorded only 10 interceptions and allowed 21 touchdown passes. Safety Micah Hyde earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the media, while cornerback Shaun Prater didn't have the huge senior season some expected.

10. Northwestern: The Wildcats would finish last in some leagues, but they're the best of a bad bunch at the bottom of the rankings. Despite an All-Big Ten safety (Brian Peters) and a four-year starter at cornerback (Jordan Mabin), Northwestern suffered breakdowns in both scheme and execution. The Wildcats endured a particularly bad stretch to begin Big Ten play, as they couldn't stop Illinois receiver A.J. Jenkins, admittedly got confused against Iowa and let Penn State quarterback Matthew McGloin go off. The secondary has to be a huge priority for Pat Fitzgerald and his staff during the offseason.

11. Minnesota: It's a close call for the last spot, but Minnesota avoids the basement, thanks in large part to safety Kim Royston, who made the most of his sixth season with a team-high 123 tackles. But Royston was the lone bright spot for Minnesota's secondary, which stung from the loss of cornerback Troy Stoudermire to a broken arm. The Gophers recorded the fewest interceptions in the Big Ten (4), and allowed opponents to complete 67.7 percent of their passes, the highest total in the league. Minnesota finished 107th nationally in pass efficiency defense.

12. Indiana: The Hoosiers' historic struggles in the secondary continued in 2011, as they surrendered a league-high 26 passing touchdowns and finished 116th out of 120 FBS teams in pass efficiency defense. Opponents averaged 8.5 yards per completion against an Indiana team that played more freshmen than any squad in the FBS. There's some hope with players like safety-linebacker Mark Murphy and cornerback Greg Heban, and Indiana brings in two junior college defensive backs for 2012.

Ready, set, go.

David from Madison, Wis., writes: Hey Adam I thought it was interesting to see the attendance records for the conference this season but I feel like it would be more enlightening to see them in respect to each stadiums capacity numbers in order to see the percentage of the stadium that is full. Comparing Michigan attendance to that of Minnesota for example is going to have a huge disparity simply due to size of the stadiums but how full are they really (guessing Michigan would still be higher).

Adam Rittenberg: No problem, David. Below you'll find the Big Ten attendance sorted by accumulated percentage of capacity (total attendance for the season divided by total capacity for the season).

• Nebraska: 105.15 percent, No. 3 nationally
• Ohio State: 102.84 percent, No. 7 nationally
• Michigan: 102.07 percent, No. 8 nationally
• Iowa: 100 percent, No. 18 nationally
• Wisconsin: 99.37 percent, No. 24 nationally
• Michigan State: 98.76 percent, No. 26 nationally
• Penn State: 95.17 percent, No. 33 nationally
• Minnesota: 93.92 percent, No. 40 nationally
• Illinois: 81.67 percent, No. 66 nationally
• Indiana: 78.18 percent, No. 71 nationally
• Purdue: 72.36 percent, No. 79 nationally
• Northwestern: 70.96 percent, No. 82 nationally

From these numbers, Penn State's percentage has to be a bit of a concern, while Illinois, Purdue, Indiana and Northwestern certainly will be looking for improvement in the coming years.

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Ray C. from Omaha writes: Being a huge Husker fan, I have a couple questions regarding the offense. Don't you think the coaching staff should consider to develop the depth (A. Green, A. Abdullah, & B. Heard) at RB behind Rex? And should there be more of a competition at QB? Jamal Turner came into the program as a highly accomplished HS QB and while depth at WR is thin, couldn't he push Taylor to be a better QB?

Adam Rittenberg: I think you'll see the younger backs get more opportunities in 2012. While Rex Burkhead is so steady, Nebraska needs to be careful about how many carries he absorbs. Plus, backs like Ameer Abdullah and Aaron Green should be ready for an increased load after another offseason. I'd like to see both players get opportunities in non-league play so a nice rotation can be established before the Big Ten season. As for the quarterback spot, while competition is always good and Nebraska will benefit if Martinez is pushed, Turner's future seems to be at wide receiver, a spot where the Huskers need multiple players to step up in 2012.

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Nate from Council Bluffs, Iowa, writes: Adam, I think a lot of Hawk fans are starting to forget that, although we currently have some running back hating God that has taken residence in Iowa City, Iowa tends to always do fine with developing the next person in line. More recent examples: Simms/Young gone Shonn Greene steps up. Hampton goes down so Robinson/Wegher stepped up. Robinson & Wegher gone so Coker stepped up. Coker gone now....can't wait to see next season. What are your thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: I agree, Nate. Iowa fans should feel good about the team's track record of developing running backs. While it's unrealistic to expect another Marcus Coker to emerge in 2012, Iowa still has a chance to have a solid rushing attack. Jordan Canzeri might never be a 175-carry guy, but he has some skills that can be used effectively in spots. The Hawkeyes also are bringing in two running back recruits, and there's a lot of excitement about Greg Garmon, who ESPN Recruiting ranks as the nation's No. 22 running back. He's a very intriguing prospect and one who could flourish in an offense that emphasizes the run game.

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Hunter from Saint Johns, Mich., writes: Dear Adam, what is your opinion about this plan for Michigan State to possibly add new scoreboards to Spartan Stadium? I read an article in the paper that showed what the new scoreboards would look like and I love their proposed look. However, it is supposed to cost the athletic department 10 million dollars to add them! Do you think that it's a good idea for MSU to want to add new scoreboards or do you think it's just MSU wanting to keep pace with Michigan after they got new scoreboards too, or a little bit of both?

Adam Rittenberg: I hear you, Hunter, as this is essentially an expensive cosmetic upgrade. But the scoreboards and sound system at Spartan Stadium are outdated, as MSU admits, and need to be upgraded in some fashion. Athletic director Mark Hollis is one of the best in the business and understands the significance of the game experience for fans. Recruits also pay attention to what game days are like, and these upgrades could help Michigan State on that front, too. Michigan State recently replaced the scoreboards at the Breslin Center, too. While some will see this as trying to keep up with Michigan, you've seen similar upgrades at schools around the country.

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Nittany Ned from Upper PA writes: How is the Wisconsin Athletic Department's looking the other way when the Assistant AD is supplying underage employees with alcohol with university funds WHILE on university trips NOT getting more coverage? Even if you put the sexual harassment aside, which is easier because it's an adult and the offender resigned immediately, you STILL have Alvarez and others at the top looking the other way. It's the SAME problem as at PSU. How does this not get more attention in our current environment?

Adam Rittenberg: Ned, there has been some more coverage like this strong column from Tom Oates in the Wisconsin State Journal. Oates writes: "This story shouldn't be allowed to die that easily. Yes, the investigation got to the bottom of this particular allegation, but it also raised as many questions as it answered." He's absolutely right, and how Wisconsin didn't have a strict policy prohibiting these types of events is surprising, given the potential liability. The school should be commended for acting quickly and the student victim should be applauded for courageously coming forward immediately, but the athletic department also needs to take a look at how this could happen. While I don't agree it's the same issue at Penn State, where officials sat on their hands, Wisconsin should learn from the Penn State situation.

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Jeff from Whitewater, Wis., writes: Why can't Wisconsin attract top recruits in football? It seems like Michigan State, Ohio State, and Michigan can go out and recruit top players in the country. Yes Wisconsin gets huge lineman and always has a good running back, but for them to compete for Big Ten titles, Rose Bowl crowns and possibly Nat'l Titles, they need to be fast and skilled at positions such as defensive backs and linebackers. Also, why cant UW recruit any of the top quarterbacks in the nation. Just wanted to get your thoughts and maybe Brian's if he has an opinion.

Adam Rittenberg: Jeff, to be fair, Wisconsin has a decorated quarterback recruit in this year's class in Bart Houston, ranked as the nation's No. 15 QB by ESPN recruiting. But I agree on your larger point about the need for more speed on defense. Wisconsin has recruited "speed" areas like Florida well, luring players like cornerback Antonio Fenelus (Boca Raton) and safety Aaron Henry (Immokalee), and many of the Badgers' defenders come from the south and southeast. But defensive speed needs to be an even bigger point of emphasis going forward, as Wisconsin has been exposed a bit in the past two Rose Bowls.

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Drew from State College writes: Adam,I think you are missing the point in regards to the Bernstein article comment you received. Nowhere in there did the comment state that he thought Paterno did no wrong. Most of us Penn Staters agree, as Joe himself said, that he made an error. However, posting articles like that is a mistake on your part. Please reread the Bernstein articles, particularly the one where he "shreds" the PSU letter and states that he wants Paterno to die. That's not journalism Adam, and you should know that. That is nothing short of a man with some personal vendetta (for some unknown reason) who is writing out of anger or just to get a rise out of the Penn Staters. To call that anything other than opinionated, narrow minded, and ignorant confuses me. He has posted 5 articles all just as tainted as the next and all with the same anger. Again, that's nothing other than a man who was somehow given a platform to publish on CBS intentionally trying to get a rise out of a group and most likely also writing with anger of someone who felt wronged at some point by PSU. With all of your and Brian's fairly balanced writing, I would have expected better honestly. I love the blog and read often but to defend that is just not right. Just wanted to let you know the other side of it and hoped I could explain it a bit better than the original poster.

Adam Rittenberg: Drew, you definitely explain the viewpoint better than the other poster. While the Bernstein article I linked didn't include anything about wanting Paterno to die and makes some points I feel are valid in the overall discussion of the issue, the tenor of his stories as a whole goes too far. My goal in links posts about a single issue is to present a variety of viewpoints. As I've mentioned many times, this blog isn't going to always tell you what you want to hear. There are other outlets for that. Jim Souhan's recent column in the Star Tribune gives a different viewpoint than most of the other commentary pieces I've seen. Do you have to agree with Souhan? No. Is it worth reading multiple viewpoints? Absolutely. I have no issue with the celebration of Joe Paterno's life that took place this week. I enjoyed hearing all the stories about him and about all the good things he did. What bothers me is the refusal of some Penn Staters and Penn State fans to acknowledge the possibility that their beloved coach made mistakes. You and many others haven't taken that stance, but I get other emails, like the one from KJ in Fairfax, who writes, "We do know what Joe knew and when he knew it which leads to only one conclusion, Joe did exactly what he should have." Glad to hear KJ has it all figured out. This type of blindness based on loyalty or denial or some other force -- Paterno admitted he made mistakes -- is why I think it's important to state other viewpoints.

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Josh from WPAFB writes: Adam, What about Armani Reeves? The recent four star Penn State decommit is down to Ohio State and Michigan. Latest I've seen showed a 52% Michigan lean but who really knows. Either way, that should be on your list of Big Ten signees.

Adam Rittenberg: Josh, Reeves wasn't listed on our experts' list of top uncommitted prospects, but it should be very interesting to see where he ends up. He recently received visits from both Urban Meyer and Brady Hoke, and it looks like the former Penn State commit will be headed to Ann Arbor or Columbus.

Michigan State receiver B.J. Cunningham and Penn State safety Nick Sukay were among the stars at Saturday's East-West Shrine Game, a showcase for potential NFL draft prospects.

Sukay won defensive MVP honors after grabbing an interception in the end zone with 5:51 to keep the score tied, though his East team lost 24-17 to the West squad. Cunningham, who had a strong week of practices leading up to the game, had a 17-yard touchdown catch and another nine-yard reception.

Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa was 1-of-3 passing for 10 yards, while Illinois receiver A.J. Jenkins was held without a catch. Jenkins rushed one time for no gain. But the Sporting News said Jenkins and Iowa cornerback Shaun Prater were among the players who helped their draft stock the most during the week in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Here are some more notes on Big Ten players from the game by our ESPN Scouts Inc. staff:

• Penn State's Nick Sukay did a good job of tracking the ball and making the play on an interception, though Northern Illinois QB Chandler Harnish put too much air on the ball and made it a much easier play. Sukay is a former strong safety now playing outside linebacker, and at only 211 pounds he needs to add 15-20 pounds. Still, he showed coverage range and ball skills on the pick.
• Wisconsin DS Aaron Henry laid out Massachusetts H-back Emil Igwenagu and got flagged for unnecessary roughness, but at least he led with his shoulder and not his helmet.
• Northwestern QB Dan Persa's lack of size is coming into play, but he's moving around well and creating passing windows. He overthrew South Dakota State WR Dale Moss on a fade down the left side, and Alabama WR Darius Hanks down the right side two plays later. He later rolled to his right and took a sack when he couldn't find anyone, but Persa has to throw the ball out of bounds to avoid unnecessary contact in addition to not losing yards in that situation
• Iowa DC Shaun Prater got to Mayo a split second early and was flagged for pass interference near the goal line, nullifying SS Duke Ihenacho's interception. Prater also got away with holding Mayo on another play.

The East-West Shrine Game wasn't the only all-star showcase on Saturday. The inaugural NFLPA Collegiate Bowl was held in Carson, Calif., and some Big Ten players stood out there, too.

Minnesota's Da'Jon McKnight led all receivers with four catches for 49 yards. Michigan State Hail Mary hero Keith Nicol had one catch for 37 yards. Illinois' Jason Ford, who was suspended for the team's Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl win, paced the American team with five rushes for 27 yards. Indiana's DaMarlo Belcher, who was dismissed from the team mideason, had two catches for 27 yards.

PASADENA, Calif. -- The simple storyline coming out of the Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO will likely be that Wisconsin simply wasn't fast enough to beat Oregon.

Plenty of evidence would support that conclusion. Never in the 98 years of the Rose Bowl has a team averaged as much as 9.7 yards per play, as the Ducks did in their 45-38 win. Oregon racked up 621 total yards and had scoring plays of 91, 64, 54 and 41 yards as Badgers defenders often hopelessly chased from behind.

Wisconsin players bristled at the notion that they couldn't run with Oregon, and not surprisingly. They've heard the too-slow critique for years and have won enough games to disprove much of it. They preferred to blame Monday's defensive performance on things like "gap accountability," missed assignments and just plain brain cramps.

"I think we lost our mind on some plays," defensive end Louis Nzegwu said.

Fans and media are often guilty of not thinking clearly when trying to explain a team's losses. Wisconsin has now dropped two straight Rose Bowls by the thinnest of margins, and there will be those who try to diagnose why the program "can't win the big one." It's the same stuff Oregon heard until late Monday evening. Never mind that the Ducks lost close games in their last two BCS losses, or that the Badgers might be celebrating a second straight Rose win if just a couple of plays had gone differently.

Yet if there's anything the past two Rose Bowls have taught us -- and especially this one -- it's that Wisconsin needs more difference-makers on defense.

That doesn't necessarily mean more speed, though that wouldn't hurt. Even though De'Anthony Thomas and LaMichael James spent a lot of time gliding down the field alone or with a friendly escort, the Badgers didn't come away thinking they couldn't keep up with the Ducks.

"I thought they were fast, but I thought we matched them pretty well," safety Aaron Henry said. "Whenever we did what we were supposed to do, we got off the field. When we allowed them to run through holes without being touched, they took advantage of it."

Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema used the month of preparation to simulate Oregon's accelerated pace as much as possible. The defense faced two scout team offenses at once during practice and went through extra conditioning work to get ready for the up tempo.

It turned out that didn't play much of a factor. The Ducks often didn't go at warp speed with their snaps. They just scored really quickly. Two examples were particularly galling for Wisconsin.

The Badgers had pinned the ball with a punt on the Oregon 9-yard-line late in the first quarter, only to have Thomas rip off a Rose-record 91-yard touchdown. On the first series after halftime when adjustments should have been fine tuned, the Ducks scored in just 33 seconds on a 64-yard Thomas run.

"With a month to prepare, we shouldn't have had problems like that," linebacker Mike Taylor said. "Their mixing up of formations and things they do get you off of your keys. But there's really no excuse for it."

Oregon averaged 8.6 yards per rush -- another Rose record -- and quarterback Darron Thomas threw for 268 yards, his third-highest total of the season. Wisconsin only sacked him twice and did not stop much of anything outside of the Ducks' screen game.

"What hurt us was the play-action pass," Nzegwu said. "We respected their run, and when some of our D-ends hit the edge we couldn't tell whether it was a run or pass. We kept on following the running back, and that kind of hurt our pass rush."

What also hurts is a lack of defenders who can blow up plays on their own. Nzegwu returned a fumble Taylor caused by a hit on Thomas, and Henry came up with an interception. But there were too few other impact plays. Oregon has lost under coach Chip Kelly when it has faced teams with standout defensive line and other disruptive presences, like Nick Fairley of Auburn or Tyrann Mathieu of LSU. The Badgers have many good defensive players -- Taylor and fellow linebacker Chris Borland were All-Big Ten selections -- but not enough stars or blue-chip NFL prospects.

The program has shown it can produce those types of players. Defensive end J.J. Watt won the Lott Trophy last year and just wrapped up a strong rookie regular season for the Houston Texans. Even with Watt last year, though, Wisconsin struggled to contain TCU's skill players in a 21-19 Rose Bowl loss.

Wisconsin is known for offensive studs like quarterback Russell Wilson and Montee Ball and those NFL offensive linemen; Bielema's next challenge is to attract and develop similarly elite talent on the other side of the ball. Wisconsin may have to rely more on its defense next year without Wilson, offensive coordinator Paul Chryst and most likely Ball.

It's true that Oregon will make a lot of teams look slow when its offense is clicking. But it's also true that teams don't win many BCS games by giving up 621 yards and 45 points.

"We didn't even challenge them on two or three of their scores, and nobody can win doing that," Bielema said.

The Badgers were just a couple plays short of winning every game they played this season, so a major overhaul is not in order. A few more defensive difference-makers, however, could have changed those outcomes.

ESPN.com's Brian Bennett talks with Wisconsin safety Aaron Henry following the Badgers' loss in the Rose Bowl.

PASADENA, Calif. -- If the fourth quarter is anything like the first three here at Rose Bowl Stadium, we could be headed for a finish for the ages.

Wisconsin and Oregon traded punches and turnovers in the third quarter, and it remains anyone's game.

Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas opened the half by burning Wisconsin for another big play, going 64 yards for a touchdown just three plays and 33 seconds after halftime. When Thomas turns the corner, it's lights out for the defense.

That looked like it might be dispiriting for the Badgers, but Russell Wilson led the team on two scoring drives, throwing a touchdown pass to Nick Toon after picking up two key third downs on the drive. An earlier Wisconsin field goal felt like a win for the Ducks defense with the way this game has gone.

The Badgers defense forced a rare three-and-out and came up with their second turnover of the game when Aaron Henry intercepted Darron Thomas on an overthrown third-and-long pass. But Wisconsin gave it right back on a Russell Wilson interception, just his fourth of the season. Oregon's Kiko Alonso came up with the pick.

Wilson was having a tremendous game in his first opportunity to play in a big bowl. That interception could cost him his quest to finish ahead of Baylor's Robert Griffin III for the NCAA single-season passing-efficiency record, though I'm sure all he wants is the win.

Surprisingly, it hasn't really been Oregon's pace that has bothered Wisconsin. It has been Oregon's speed and skill. And Wisconsin's passing game has been better than most people probably expected, though, that interception really hurt.

All the stars have show up -- Wilson, Montee Ball, Thomas, LaMichael James. If the fourth quarter is anything like the first three, this could go down as one of the best Rose Bowls ever. And that's saying something.

LOS ANGELES -- Wisconsin's defensive players met the media on Thursday at Rose Bowl headquarters, and Aaron Henry was unsurprisingly one of the most popular subjects.

The outspoken Henry is one of the most effusive players on the Badgers and in the Big Ten. When he talks, it's usually interesting and entertaining. So here are some quotes straight from the senior safety's mouth:

On his experience:

Man, it's been utterly amazing. How did I leave Florida and come to Wisconsin? I think Coach [Dave] Doeren, who was the recruiting coordinator at the time, I think he was the linebackers coach at the time, he did a tremendous job of recruiting me. It boiled down to University of Wisconsin, University of Florida. I mean, Florida came on kind of late and Coach Doeren pretty much stuck with me throughout the whole way.

He was actually -- he went down there originally to recruit my teammate and he went down there to see my teammate and he saw me one day and he asked my coach about me, and from then on he kind of followed me throughout the season. It was like four weeks in a row I had a punt return for a touchdown but I was also on defense, and even prior to him offering me, I can remember having an interception like right on the sideline where he was, and I tossed him the ball. ...

But my time at Wisconsin has been amazing. For me to be in my second year at safety and for this to be my second Rose Bowl, you kind of think, how come he didn't make the switch earlier? But I mean, I was a cornerback at heart. I felt comfortable playing cornerback. After suffering a couple of knee surgeries, Coach [Bret Bielema] B felt that I needed to move to safety. ... I knew I could play safety, but my whole life people have been trying to move me to safety because of my size. I was always bigger than the average corner.

I hated it. I didn't like Coach B for it at all, and I was upset. I can remember calling and talking to my Pop Warner football coach. It was just crazy. But to see this thing come full circle and for me to be in the position that I'm in today, man, I'm very, very thankful for the opportunity, and I'm very excited about this game.

On being known as "The Closer" as a host on recruiting trips:

My redshirt sophomore year when I messed up my knee, I sat out that whole year. What they were doing was they were bringing guys in and having me host them, and so all the guys that I dealt with, all of them that I talked to and that I hosted, all of them eventually ended up committing here. If they really, really liked the guy, they put him with me. Dezmen Southward, Conor O'Neill, Antonio Fenelus. I'm trying to think of some of the other guys that I dealt with, Russell Wilson. But every guy that I dealt with, it was pretty much, like they loved the place.

I don't know if I had anything to do with it, but I just think I did a really good job in relating them to Wisconsin and trying to keep it real with them. A lot of players, a lot of people on the outside, especially when you're being recruited, they want a player's perspective, so any time you can put it in perspective, and me coming from Florida, any time guys dealt with distance, OK, I'm right here, I'm dealing with distance. I know you can deal with it as well.

On coming to Wisconsin from Florida:

I know for me, when I set out to come to the University of Wisconsin I didn't just want to come here and play and do my time and get out. I wanted to come here and definitely make an impact. I mean, I definitely wanted to make an impact on the field but also off the field with my faith and what I stand for.

It's been a great ride of just representing the University of Wisconsin down in South Florida. Between Naples and Fort Myers I didn't have any idea of how many Wisconsin people were down there. It's ridiculous. Any time I go back home, people are constantly, constantly, oh, my gosh, we're so proud of you and this and that, and that's great to hear coming from a really, really small area and heading up to Madison and not usually being around it, whether it's the weather, whether it's the cultural background or even the football atmosphere.

So I mean, it's just been a great ride thus far being up there and enjoying my time there and the friends and relationships that I've made with people. It's been utterly amazing. I'm just looking to cap it off right this time.

On preparing for Oregon's offense:

I can remember when we first found out we were going to play them, and our first day going out to practice, man, it was probably about four weeks ago, and when we found out we were going to play them, we were trying to do the up-tempo thing. It got really, really sloppy, just for us. That wasn't something that we were used to. ... Guys were tired and rightfully so, but now, when we did that same up tempo drill yesterday, guys were flying to the ball, guys were excited, guys were -- I mean, it wasn't no slacking in guys being tired or anything like that. Everybody was getting to the football, and I think with our preparation of us doing a lot of conditioning, I think that definitely prepared us for a game like this.

On being an underdog:

According to the media we [are], but I definitely think in our locker room we definitely know what we're capable of. I think the only thing that matters at the end of the day is all those guys in the locker room with you and those coaches. If you've got any guy in that locker room that doesn't believe we're going to go out there and win, I don't want him in there. If you've got any coaches that feel that way, I don't want them in there. I guess it kind of does feel like an underdog situation, but at the end of the day we've got to go out there and play football, whether you're considered underdogs or not.

Everything I've been hearing is Oregon's speed and uniforms. The uniforms have gotten more play than we have as a whole team and unit. They do have some nice uniforms. I think they're nice. I think any time you have the ambassador for Nike, and as far as a school goes, I'm sure all of your stuff is going to be top tier and top of the line. I don't think you really can compete with those kind of things.

On seeing celebrities this year:

We saw Wiz Khalifa, Amber Rose. But I think when I saw them last year and seeing Meagan Good, I was so in awe. She is a beautiful woman, but I was so in awe that I'd seen her, it was kind of overwhelming. But this year I felt like, OK, I see the celebrities, and now I hope they kind of see me.

If it's bowl season, that must mean it's time for people to question whether or not Wisconsin has enough speed to compete.

That's a more reliable refrain than any Christmas song around the holidays. The Badgers heard the questions when they played Florida State in 2009, Miami in 2010 and last year against TCU. So, of course, that same old tune is popping up again for the Rose Bowl showdown versus Oregon.

"I remember hearing a line about this game, that the headline is going to be speed versus power," Wisconsin center Peter Konz said Wednesday. "I was like, 'Where have you been the last four years?'"

So, yes, Wisconsin's quickness or supposed lack thereof is a tired storyline and one that was overblown to begin with. Except that there is a legitimate speed concern looming in this game, one that has little to do with the Badgers' athleticism. It's the same problem everyone who plays the Ducks has: how to prepare for, and stop, their freakishly fast offense.

"Oregon is probably faster than every defense in the nation," Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland said. "We're not unique in that."

Hardly anyone can simulate the rapid pace at which Oregon plays. Chip Kelly's offense likes to sprint to the line of scrimmage and snap the ball before the defense sets. Wisconsin has come up with a few ways to try and get ready for that.

For the first time since he's been a head coach, Bret Bielema said he has ended bowl practices with conditioning work for the defense. The Badgers' first-team offense has run a lot of two-minute drill situations against the first-team defense to give them a high-tempo look.

Wisconsin is using two separate scout team offenses in practice. After one scout squad finishes a play, the second unit hustles to the line to snap another play in an effort to simulate Oregon's speed.

"We use two waves in order to get two plays off in about 20 seconds," Borland said. "I think we've been able to emulate the tempo pretty well."

A main problem against the Ducks is getting the defense set before they yell hike.

"So many of their big plays come against defenses that are actually looking over to the sideline when they're ready to snap the ball," defensive coordinator Chris Ash said. "One of our No. 1 priorities is just getting lined up."

To that end, Ash has simplified many of the defensive calls for this game. Borland, the middle linebacker, will use shorter phrases and quicker hand gestures to signal his teammates where to be. Wisconsin will probably rely less on making checks at the line, which is OK since Oregon often runs the same plays repeatedly. The challenge will be getting the assignments right while moving at a higher speed.

"You have to be in great physical shape and also have a great mental capacity to be ready for all the things they're going to throw at us," safety Aaron Henry said. "It's so quick that everybody has to know where to be play from there."

Opposing teams have tried all sorts of ways to prepare for the Ducks. The list of those who have succeeded is a short one.

"In all reality, there's really not much you can do to simulate it until we get to the stadium and play the opening series to see how fast it is and how we're going to match up," Ash said.

Wisconsin's defense doesn't get much attention because of how large a shadow the team's offense casts (quite literally, in the case of the offensive linemen). But Ash's side of the ball ranked No. 8 nationally in total defense and sixth in the FBS in points allowed at just 17 per game. While the last-minute, long touchdown passes by Michigan State and Ohio State stick in most people's minds, the Badgers quietly excelled in just about every facet defensively this season. Bielema ays Ash -- who took over for Dave Doeren as coordinator before this season -- and his assistants are as good as any defensive coaches he's worked with at making in-game adjustments.

"Bret's done a great job of hiring the right people on the defensive staff who have similar philosophies," Ash said. "We know our package inside and out, and we know our strengths and weaknesses. We game plan, but we also make a lot of contingency plans for things that can be potential problems. And I think our players can adjust."

It's likely that, with a month's prep time and all the wrinkles Kelly injects into the Oregon attack, Wisconsin will be forced to make major changes on the fly Monday evening. If there's a question about the Badgers' speed worth asking, that's the one.