Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

This is it. The Huskers made it. The dream that Husker Nation has been clinging to since Pelini’s bold statement after the Ohio State game, or really since opening weekend for that matter, has come true. The Huskers finished the season 6-0. Tomorrow, they will march onto Lucas Oil field for the Big 10 Championship game for a chance to bring the 13 year drought to an end. (more…)

Sep 29, 2012; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Taylor Martinez (3) runs over Wisconsin Badgers defender Michael Trotter (43) at Memorial Stadium in the first half. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-US PRESSWIRE

A Nebraska versus Wisconsin rematch. A rematch anticipated since the Cornhuskers and the Badgers played in their Big Ten opener way back on Sept. 29th. This may be a rematch, but the game is definitely not a rerun.

Wisconsin capitalized on Big Red mistakes to go up 27-10 in the first round with Nebraska, until the Huskers ripped off 20 unanswered points as they mounted the second-largest comeback victory in school history.

A lot has happened since the last meeting between these two teams. And each team has changed as the year went on.

Following the Wisconsin game, Nebraska came out strong in the first quarter with Ohio State before the wheels totally came off  and the Buckeyes laid down 63 points. Coach Bo Pelini said after the game that Nebraska needed to win out the remaining games on the schedule to get to the Big Ten Championship. People seemed to snicker at the statement. Pelini was criticized by media and fans, and people started speculating on replacements for him.

Nebraska did just what Pelini said, winning six in a row in varying fashions. No running back Rex Burkhead. Overcoming three more double-digit deficits. Overcoming mistakes. Overcoming hurricane-force winds at Iowa. Coming together as a team instead of giving up when the opposition seemed insurmountable. Nebraska comes into the title game 10-2 with losses to undefeated Ohio State and PAC 12 South champ UCLA.

Wisconsin took a different path. Following the defeat at Nebraska, the Badgers had a cakewalk of Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota. Record-breaking, All-American running back Montee Ball got healthier as the year went on, yet Wisconsin ended three of its last four games in overtime losses.  The lone bright spot during that stretch was a 62-14 victory over Indiana to clinch a Big Ten Championship berth. A berth taken by the third-best team in the Leaders Division due to Ohio State and Penn State being on probation and unable to participate in postseason play. Wisconsin enters the title game 7-5 with one win over a team with a winning record, Utah State.

This history lesson is just how the teams got here. Things still need to be played out on the field. So here’s the breakdown.

Wisconsin

What’s New?

Quarterback: Michigan State knocked Joel Stave out for the year. Stave hurt Nebraska in the first half of the opener before the Huskers dropped off from run defense to respect the pass a little more. Stave had tremendous pocket presence and just enough speed to elude rushers. But he’s not playing. Backup transfer Danny O’Brien has been a huge disappointment this season, so coach Bret Bielema decided to go with fifth-year senior Curt Phillips. Phillips has had three ACL surgeries on the same knee and hadn’t played much since 2009. He’s managed the games he’s played in, but his passing numbers have been less than impressive. Of course, he hasn’t been asked to do a whole lot other than hand off. Of course, maybe Wisconsin wins those close OT games with less conservative QB play.

Running Back: As previously stated, Ball was still affected by an injury suffered early in the year the last time these teams met. He’s definitely back to full speed, rushing for nearly 200 yards against both Indiana and Ohio State. The Badgers’ offensive philosophy hasn’t changed much: Road grade the defense and run, run, run. What’s new is that Ball isn’t the only back getting carries. After the coordinator change, Wisconsin seemingly realized that they had James White, the 2010 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, still on the team. Speedy White has a skill set similar to Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah. A great change of pace from Ball, White can – and has – hit a home run from anywhere on the field. Backup Melvin Gordon, a bit larger than White, has also seen spot duty against teams that can’t find an answer for the run game.

Tight End: Another weapon that didn’t see any productivity in Lincoln is Jacob Pedersen. He came on with big games later in the year with 65 yards and a TD against Michigan State and 66 yards and a TD against Ohio State, earning All-Big Ten First Team honors.

Uniforms: No alternates this time around for the teams with nearly identical uniforms. Wisconsin will be in home jerseys in this one. Just like a Red-White Game. This is where Nebraska not having a spring game this season could really hurt them.

 Injuries

Wisconsin has been getting healthy at just the right time this week. Star linebacker Chris Borland has been hampered by a hamstring injury and may be slowed a bit on Saturday. No. 1 receiver Jared Abberderis has been suffering from a concussion. And starting right tackle Rob Havenstein has been battling a knee injury. All players have been cleared to play, but may not be 100 percent.

Keys To The Game

The Passing Game: Wisconsin needs to keep the Blackshirts honest. Pelini’s defense will allow some short and intermediate plays if it means putting a stranglehold on your big-play capability. Big plays through the air are going to be key. At the same time, interceptions would absolutely kill the Badgers. Phillips to Abberderis will be the connection to watch for. Pedersen could also come up huge on third downs. Converting third and longs will help keep the powerful Nebraska offense off the field. Don’t let Nebraska dictate when the Badgers pass. Avoid Eric Martin.

Fresh Legs: Dig deep into that stable of running backs and offensive linemen. Wear out Nebraska’s depleted front four. Get linemen to the second level and run with anyone who can suit up and hold a ball. Don’t settle for field goals in the red zone.

Mistakes: Nebraska will make mistakes, capitalize on them. Get points off of turnovers. Avoid drive-extending/drive-killing penalties.

Take An Early Lead: Nebraska will score. Wisconsin already got burned in the first game against the Big Red. Nebraska will also try to take an early lead to neutralize the running game. If Wisconsin goes down by three scores this one may be over. Running is the Badgers’ strength and running out the clock for your opponent isn’t a great idea.

X-Factor

The Trenches: Nebraska has key injuries at the heart of its offensive and defensive lines. Wisconsin is known for its linemen. The Badgers may be able to expose those areas to break long runs on offense, and stop Nebraska’s plays in the backfield before they start on defense.

Nebraska

What’s New?

Running Back: Burkhead and Abdullah were both in the game against Wisconsin back in September, so that’s not new. What is new is a confidence that Abdullah can carry the load against any team in the Big Ten. This means that the Badgers have to prepare for both RBs as if that guy will be the starter. Throw in a healthy Braylon Heard as a change of pace, and Imani Cross as the short-yardage pounder in lieu of the fullback. That’s a lot to prepare for, and that’s just one position. Not to mention that fullback Mike Marrow may be back from injury and Marrow seemed to carry the rock better than the other options at FB.

Receiver: Nebraska really spread the ball around on Wisconsin in round one. The biggest difference between now and then would be the emergence of Jamal Turner as a clutch receiver. Somewhere along the line it seems like a switch flipped for Turner and he has been much improved in running routes and catching the ball. Tim Marlowe has been dealing with a shoulder injury all season and may also add to the wideouts Wisconsin has to contend with.

Defensive Line: Cameron Meredith has been playing more tackle than end as of late. Martin has evolved into a dynamite defensive end.

Linebacker: Nebraska has finally settled on a rotation of Will Compton, Sean Fisher and Alonzo Whaley that seems to be working. Tackling has much improved as the year has progressed. Redshirt freshman David Santos has also seen some spot duty. Santos flies around and has a nose for blowing up lead blocks; he could have a nice performance against the Wisconsin run game if he sees the field.

Secondary: Ciante Evans has become a solid nickelback. Cornerback by committee is the norm and has been working for the Blackshirts. Great coverage has been bearing fruit in the form of interceptions as the season progressed.

Playing Indoors: Teams play faster indoors. While this will help Wisconsin’s RBs, Nebraska has a lot more weapons and a better capability to get the ball to them.

Injuries

Where Wisconsin is getting healthy, Nebraska has had some injuries at the core of its lines. Anchor defensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler has suffered a knee injury and will not play the remainder of the year. Center Justin Jackson has an injured ankle and will not play. Nebraska has yet to settle on a replacement between Mark Pelini and Cole Pensick. Pelini is a bit undersized but is very intelligent; he had offers to play at Ivy League schools. Pelini came in on short notice for the majority of the Iowa game. Pensick has been seeing relief duty at guard and is considered the better physical specimen between the two. Both will play in a rotation at center. Expect the Huskers to settle on one or the other sometime in the first half. Fullback Mike Marrow might return from a knee injury, but may not see much action. Receiver Tim Marlowe is still dealing with a shoulder injury, although he does not appear on the injury report. No. 1 receiver Kenny Bell has a neck injury, but that is not expected to keep him sidelined. Bo Pelini said that Rex Burkhead is 100 percent during Friday’s press conference.

Keys To The Game

Score Early And Often: Everyone is wondering whether Nebraska can stop the Wisconsin running game. No one seems to be asking whether Wisconsin can slow down the Nebraska offense. Wisconsin isn’t built to overcome large deficits. The Huskers need to score touchdowns and not field goals around the goal line.

Execute: Receivers need to catch the ball. Taylor Martinez needs to play smart. The defense needs to make tackles. Keep Ball and White from breaking big runs. Avoid blown coverages and get lined up correctly.

Mistakes: Fumbles and drive-killing penalties hurt Nebraska in the Iowa game. Untimely turnovers have plagued Nebraska throughout the season on what should be routine plays.

Control Wisconsin’s Dimensions: Force Wisconsin to be one-dimensional. Put pressure on Phillips with hits, sacks and interceptions. Keep the Badger defense off balance with big plays on the ground and through the air. Take the lead and make Wisconsin run when they need to pass.

 X-Factor

Taylor Martinez: The talk of Burkhead and Abdullah is all well and good, but the true wild card in all this is the play of Martinez. Martinez has the ability to rip off a 75-yard run while Wisconsin is worrying about Nebraska’s other weapons. He needs to be an accurate passer and to make good reads on zone-read handoffs. Martinez also needs to avoid throwing the ball up for grabs or putting the ball on the ground if Wisconsin should unexpectedly break through Nebraska’s patchwork offensive line.

By Steve Siedlik

Nov 17, 2012; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Imani Cross (32) celebrates his touchdown against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Memorial Stadium in the first half. Nebraska won 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-US PRESSWIRE

1. Ohio State, 11-0 (7-0 Big Ten). Last Week: W 21-14, OT over Wisconsin. Next: vs. Michigan, 11 a.m. Ohio State has looked totally unstoppable at times. Last week’s victory over Wisconsin was not one of those times. Michigan is firing on all cylinders and is looking to mar the Buckeyes’ season. Upset alert.

2. Nebraska, 9-2 (6-1). Last Week: W 38-14 over Minnesota. Next: at Iowa, Friday 11 a.m. Tom Osborne led the Tunnel Walk on Senior Day. Running back Rex Burkhead suited up, but didn’t see any playing time. He wasn’t needed. Quarterback Taylor Martinez went 21-for-29 passing for 308 yards, nine of those passes went to receiver Kenny Bell for 136 yards with two scores. Martinez now holds the career passing record at Nebraska as a junior. RB Ameer Abdullah had his streak of 100-yard rushing games come to an end, but he did eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the season with his 79 yards. Nebraska can clinch the division title with a win at Iowa on Black Friday.

3. Michigan, 8-3 (6-1). Last Week: W 42-17 over Iowa. Next: at Ohio State, 11 a.m. Michigan may actually be a better team without Denard Robinson at the helm; good enough to defeat Ohio State. Quarterback Devin Gardner went 18-for-23 passing with 314 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, and ran for three more scores against the hapless Hawkeyes. Running back Fitz Toussaint suffered a broken his leg early in the contest. Robinson came back from his elbow injury to play a little bit of everything, running the ball 13 times for 98 yards. He did not throw a pass.  Expect the Wolverines to take shots at big plays while not turning the ball over much as they try and ruin their rival’s perfect year.

4. Wisconsin, 7-4 (4-3). Last Week: L 21-14, OT to Ohio State. Next at Penn State, 2:30 p.m. Running back Montee Ball ran roughshod over the Buckeye defense. Ball ran 39 times for 191 yards and a touchdown that tied him for the career touchdown record. Of course, Ball unnecessarily diving for the end zone on fourth down when a half of a yard would have given the Badgers a first down may have cost them the game. Ball jumped, stretched and had the ball knocked from his hands into the arms of a OSU defender. Thanks to double secret probations, that game didn’t really matter. The trip to Happy Valley doesn’t matter, either. Another tough game against a surging Penn State squad could beat Wisconsin up a bit before the title game.

5. Northwestern, 8-3 (4-3). Last Week: W 23-20 over Michigan State. Next: vs. Illinois, 11 a.m. Northwestern finally gets lobbed a softball after a tough tour of Michigan. It should be interesting how much Pat Fitzgerald’s name comes up in coaching searches this off-season.

6. Penn State, 7-4 (5-2). Last Week: W 45-22 over Indiana. Next: vs. Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m. QB Matt McGloin and receiver Allen Robinson joined forces to produce career days. McGloin threw for 395 yards and four scores, with 197 yards and three scores going to Robinson. Running back Zach Zwinak added 135 yards on the ground on 29 carries. A win over Wisconsin would go a long way to show that the Nittany Lions are for real and not just the benefactors of bad football.

7. Michigan State, 5-6 (2-5). Last Week: L 23-20 to Northwestern. Next: at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m. Michigan State plays like a good team, yet the Spartans’ record doesn’t reflect that. The Spartans need one more win to gain bowl eligibility, and Le’Veon Bell along with a staunch defense should be more than enough to handle the Golden Gophers.

8. Purdue, 5-6 (2-5). Last Week: W 20-17 over Illinois. Next vs. Indiana, 11 a.m. The Boilermakers won the pillow fight against Illinois and now need only defeat in-state rival Indiana to be bowl eligible.

9. Indiana, 4-7 (2-5). Last Week: L 45-22 to Penn State. Next: at Purdue, 11 a.m. The Hoosiers haven’t been able to put up the gaudy offensive numbers that they were earlier in the year. Rival Purdue will check to see if Indiana has truly ran out of gas.

10. Iowa, 4-7 (2-5). Last Week: L 42-17 to Michigan. Next: vs. Nebraska, Friday 11 a.m. Tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz was the lone bright spot for the Hawkeyes, catching 8 passes for 99 yards. Mark Weisman started at running back after being hobbled with injuries. Weisman ran for 63 yards and caught a TD pass, but was otherwise ineffective against a tough Michigan D as Iowa was knocked out of bowl eligibility. Iowa will try to get a run game going against Nebraska to open up the tight end passing game over the middle. A bleak prospective considering how well the Big Red has been tackling as of late.

11. Minnesota, 6-5 (2-5). Last Week: L 38-14 to Nebraska. Next: vs. Michigan State, 2:30 p.m. That was the worst opponent on Nebraska’s schedule since Idaho State. The Golden Gophers were overwhelmed at pretty much every aspect of the game and didn’t score until garbage time against the Husker second- and third-stringers. Minnesota had 98 total yards and no points  going into the fourth quarter. The Gophers face a frustrated Michigan State team that needs a win in the finale to gain bowl eligibility.

12. Illinois, 2-9 (0-7). Last Week: L 20-17 to Purdue. Next: at Northwestern, 11 a.m. Expect Illinois to go 0-8 in conference play with the way Northwestern has been playing lately.

By Steve Siedlik