As far as big games go, they do not get much bigger for the Badgers than this Saturday. The Badgers (1-6 Big Ten, 6-6 overall) have to deal with a multitude of underlying themes when they take on Minnesota (3-4, 7-4) at Camp Randall Stadium.
The real question is what the Badgers are not playing for Saturday. With the battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe, Senior Day, the quest for a winning season and bowl eligibility all filling the slate, this is by far the biggest game of the year for the Badgers.
\There are just so many things that ride on this game. You talk about a winning season. You talk about the axe'the longest ongoing rivalry in college football history. You talk about the senior's last game at Camp Randall. You talk about qualifying for a bowl game,"" Head Coach Barry Alvarez said. ""There are so many things that ride on it. It is a playoff. It's a one game playoff and all those things are there.""
Minnesota is an opponent that by no means should be taken lightly. Their offense features a balanced attack, highlighted by a terrific tandem of tailbacks in sophomore Terry Jackson and junior Thomas Tapeh and a rushing attack that is second in the Big Ten.
Junior Gopher quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq leads the team and is incredibly mobile and dangerous on the run.
The Badger defense has had problems with mobile quarterbacks in the past, such as Iowa senior Brad Banks a few weeks ago and former Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El's offensive showcase in Camp Randall last year. UW sees many of the same qualities of those mentioned in Abdul-Khaliq.
""[Abdul-Khaliq] will hurt you more with his legs and running the ball and scrambling, so you just have to play smart and guys have to know where they need to be and take care of their responsibility,"" senior defensive lineman Jake Sprague said.
Abdul-Khaliq does have passing options as well. Junior tight end Ben Utecht is a big, reliable target (6'6"" 250 lbs.) that leads the Gophers in touchdown receptions with five and is second on the team in receptions with 29. Utecht could cause mismatch problems among both the Badger linebackers and secondary.
On the other end of the field, the Badger offense will look to continue to build on the consistent running game they have had in recent weeks. While it pulled a vanishing act in the second half of the game versus Illinois, the rushing attack re-emerged against a tough Michigan defense.
The key to the game, however, could be the pass attack, which has faltered lately, averaging only 110 yards in the air over the last two games. The task does not get easier for the Badgers, as Minnesota brings the top pass defense in the Big Ten.
""They play a lot of man to man coverage. We are going to have to do a great job of getting off [of] press coverage and creating some separation for our receivers,"" offensive coordinator Brian White said. ""We have to throw the football better, we have to be more consistent on third downs, and create a few more big plays to get some bigger chunks [of yardage].""
With so many pivotal themes running through the veins of this game: the seniors' last home game, a winning season, becoming bowl eligible and the battle for the axe, the Badgers surely will not look past Minnesota to a more important game down the road. Simply put, this is the most important game of the year.
""First of all, we have got to get that winning season, that will give us the momentum to go into next season for the underclassmen,"" senior defensive back B.J. Tucker said. ""And we gotta get the axe back. We have had it for the past four or five years. I have had it ever since I have been here except last year. We just have to fight and get the axe back.\
