Northwestern Wildcats defeat Wisconsin Badgers, 33-31

Evanston, Ill. — Everyone affiliated with the Wisconsin football program, from the coaches to the players to the managers, should hope Big Ten Conference rival Iowa (10-2, 6-2) enjoys good fortune and lands a Bowl Championship Series at-large berth.

If the Hawkeyes join league champion Ohio State (10-2, 7-1) in the BCS, UW could still play in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1 in Tampa, Fla., despite its 33-31 loss Saturday at Northwestern.

Unthinkable?

Here are the scena...

Evanston, Ill. — At daybreak Saturday, coach Bret Bielema and the Wisconsin football players knew they still had an opportunity, albeit a slim one, to win a share of UW's first Big Ten Conference title since 1999.

As Bielema and his players left Ryan Field on Saturday night, shrouded in darkness and dazzled by the play of Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka, they were tied for fourth place with the Wildcats.

From a chance for a title to a fourth-place tie, all in a s...

Evanston, Ill. — A number of times after the game, the Wisconsin players and coaches mentioned how the Badgers had held Northwestern to six points in the second half.

But by then, of course, the damage had been done.

Throwing for 210 yards in the first half alone, Wildcats senior quarterback Mike Kafka sliced and diced the Badgers early and often in Northwestern's 33-31 victory Saturday at Ryan Field.

"Their offensive line did a great job, and Kafka got the ball o...