MADISON, Wis. -- The manner in which Wisconsin's past two football seasons have mirrored each other is almost uncanny. Lose the season opener to a powerful SEC foe on a neutral site, unexpectedly stumble in the Big Ten opener and become an afterthought in the league. Then, rally to win the rest of the regular season games, slowly climbing back into the national picture.
Unfortunately for the Badgers faithful, there is one substantial difference this time around: Nobody could have counted on Iowa using a 10-6 victory against Wisconsin in Week 5 as a springboard toward a possible undefeated regular season and running away with the Big Ten West.