Notes: UW's normally stout defense collapses
Indianapolis – Justin Wilcox’s defense had been Wisconsin’s anchor for 12 games.
The Badgers entered the Big Ten title game Saturday night allowing 13.7 points per game. That included an average of 6.5 points in the second half.
Ohio State had the high mark against UW this season with 30 – in overtime.
Penn State eradicated those numbers by scoring 24 points in the second half and a total of 31 over the final 30 minutes 58 seconds in a stunning 38-31 victory.
“We'll have to look at the film, but we had good pressure in the first half,” UW senior linebacker Vince Biegel said. “I think give credit to Penn State for being able to come out the second half, make those adjustments.
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“The pass rush wasn't as effective in the second half. That goes down to players like myself and our pass rushers who need to get after it.
“But also give credit to Penn State, their players on their team, for making those adjustments, and allowing those big plays to happen.”
Secondary burned: UW entered the night with 21 interceptions, including 11 in the last three weeks.
To say Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley and his receivers carved up UW’s secondary is an understatement.
The Nittany Lions often picked on the third cornerback – first Lubern Figaro and then Natrell Jamerson.
Figaro had an especially rough night. He was beaten for a 33-yard touchdown by tight end MikeGesicki in the first quarter despite being in position to make a play on the ball.
D'Amato: UW's collapse swift, severe
Then in the final minute of the half, Figaro was burned for a 40-yard touchdown by Saeed Blacknall.
Figaro missed an attempted tackle at the 31 and Blacknall turned and headed to the end zone to help Penn State pull within 28-14.
McSorley, who entered the night with 21 touchdown passes and only five interceptions, was almost flawless against UW.
He had touchdown passes of 33, 40, 70 and 18 yards and no interceptions on 31 attempts.
Houston goes the distance: UW coach Paul gave redshirt senior Bart Houston the start at quarterback over Alex Hornibrook for the first time since Week 3 against Georgia State.
Houston went the distance for the first time since the opener against LSU and completed 16 of 21 attempts for 174 yards.
Chryst was asked if he contemplated giving Hornibrook a shot with the offense struggling in the second half.
“No, didn’t think about that,” he said.
Scoring: Penn State 38, Wisconsin 31
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UW converted 4 of 6 third-down chances in the first half but just 1 of 6 after halftime.
“I guess third down,” he said, “it’s a stretch where we weren’t great on third down.”
What if? With the game tied, 28-28, UW faced second and 8 from the Penn State 10.
Houston had tight end Troy Fumagalli open for what would have been a touchdown but had to rush the pass because of pressure from end Garrett Sickels.
The throw was off the mark and UW failed to convert the third down on the next play, with Houston hitting Jazz Peavy for only 5 yards.
UW settled for a field goal and a three-point lead, which Penn State erased quickly.
“We just missed Fum at the goal line,” Chryst said. “They bring pressure… and we missed on that. That changes the game.”
Playoff? The Playoffs? Chryst was asked if he would like to see the NCAA step in and guarantee that a conference champion qualifies for the playoffs.
That was the last subject on Chryst’s mind.
“I haven't spent any time…we came here to win a Big Ten Championship. And I don't have any comment about it.”
Sheehy out: UW was without defensive lineman Conor Sheehy, who suffered an arm injury in the 31-17 victory over the Gophers. Sheehy was listed on the team's injury report as questionable. The Badgers' top two nose tackles were Olive Sagapolu and Garrett Rand. Sagapolu missed five games because of an arm injury before returning last week.
Oh so close: The near misses have been few but maddening since Barry Alvarez resurrected the UW program.
Beginning with the breakthrough season in 1993, UW has finished in the top six of the national polls four times.
After the 1993, '98, '99 and 2006 seasons UW fans were left to wonder what more the Badgers could have done to win a national title.
Chryst, who is 20-6 in his first two seasons as head coach, believes UW eventually can finish No. 1.
“I think every program strives for that,” he said before the game. “Yeah, I think it is possible in a lot of places, Wisconsin being one.”
In 1993, UW finished 10-1-1 and No. 5 in the final poll. The only loss was a 28-21 decision at Minnesota.
In '98, UW was 9-0 and ranked No. 8 when it traveled to Michigan. A 27-10 loss to the Wolverines dropped UW five spots in the rankings. The Badgers went on to upset UCLA in the Rose Bowl to finish 11-1 and No. 5.
In '99, consecutive losses to Cincinnati and Michigan dropped UW from No. 8 to unranked. The Badgers won their final eight games behind redshirt freshman quarterback Brooks Bollinger and Ron Dayne to finish 10-2 and No. 4.
In 2006, UW’s lone loss came at Michigan in the Big Ten opener. UW won its final eight games and finished 12-1 and No. 5 in Bret Bielema’s first season as head coach.
UW entered the Big Ten title game Saturday with only an outside chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff. The consecutive losses to Michigan and Ohio State left UW needing to defeat Penn State and see Virginia Tech upset No. 3 Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game to reach the playoff.
“I think Wisconsin is a team that competes for the national championship every single year and will continue to compete for the national championship,” Biegel said. “We’ve got a guy who believes in that motto, that mindset. We’re fortunate to have him on board.”