Erik Smith News

Montee Ball looks like the next in a long line of top-notch University of Wisconsin running backs.

Montee Ball may have a new role in Wisconsin's backfield next week: starter. With Clay out because of a concussion Saturday, the freshman running back Ball delivered a breakout game.

Perhaps fans now understand why the coaching staff pushed to get freshman tailback Montee Ball ready to play at Minnesota and quickly elevated him to the No.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 12:36 a.m. Vote 0 Votes Every week, Herald Sports takes a look back at the Wisconsin football game and grades the position groups on a scale of zero to five.

Line: Wisconsin by 2A1 2. Series Record: Tied 41-41-2. Last Meeting: 2008, Iowa 38-16. What's at Stake Iowa's unbeaten march to a Big Ten title faces its second major road challenge at Camp Randall Stadium after a win three weeks ago at Penn State.

Wisconsin's tailspin started last season after a loss to Ohio State. Faced with a similar scenario this week, coach Bret Bielema believes the Badgers will react differently.

Freshman tailback Montee Ball got his first taste of college football, albeit nothing more than an appetizer, Saturday against Minnesota.

Sunday, September 20, 2009 7:49 p.m. Vote 0 Votes Bret Bielema is done talking about fumbles.

Michigan State at Wisconsin , 11 a.m. CT Line: Wisconsin by 3. Series Record: Michigan State leads 27-20. Last Meeting: Nov.

When things go wrong in big-time college football, the proper reaction is to hold the coach responsible.

MADISON - Attention, tweeting college football players: Wisconsin's coaches may be following you.

Four fumbles by Wisconsin's top two running backs last week has shaken up who will start on Saturday in the Big Ten opener against Michigan State.

That the University of Wisconsin whipped Wofford, an overmatched Football Championship Subdivision opponent, was expected.

Scott Tolzien threw for two touchdowns, Zach Brown ran for two more and Wisconsin blocked a punt for another in the Badgers' 44-14 rout of Wofford on Saturday to remain undefeated.

Ken Golomski is able and willing to share as many stories about University of Wisconsin linebacker Mike Taylor as you'd like to hear.

The downward trend is irrefutable. University of Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst's task is to find a way to cut down the team's turnover total; the average over the last three seasons was 25.3. Defensive coordinator Dave Doeren's task is to find away to pad the team's takeaway total; the average over the last three seasons was 18.7.

Tis' a reasonable question, seeing as I am a beat writer for Bielema's boys this year, and it is with supreme sadness in my heart that I responded the same way every single time: I have no effing clue.

Part 10 of a 12-part series outlining Indiana football's opponents this season. Wisconsin running back John Clay eludes Indiana's Joe Kleinsmith during the team's 2008 contest.

COACH: Bret Bielema, fourth season. 2008 RECORD: 7-6, . LAST BOWL: 2008 Champs Sports, lost to Florida State, 42-13. STADIUM: Camp Randall RETURNING STARTERS: 11 KEY DEPARTURES: DE Matt Shaughnessy, TE Travis Beckum, LB DeAndre Levy, OL Kraig Urbik, RB P.J. Hill.

After guiding Wisconsin to a 21-5 record and back-to-back New Year's Day bowl games in his first two seasons as head coach, Bret Bielema seemed to have his program on the verge of a breakthrough.