BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin football team has a unique history where the Big Ten Championship Game is concerned.
Of course, the Badgers won the inaugural title contest in 2011, then became the first repeat winner in 2012.
When No. 10 Wisconsin (10-2 overall) squares off with second-ranked Ohio State (12-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, it will be making its sixth appearance in the event, which is more than any other school.
The title-game duel brings another oddity — and a good omen — to light for the Badgers. It will mark the third time that they'll have a rematch with a team they met during the regular season.
In 2011, Wisconsin went on the road and lost to Michigan State 37-31 in October, but answered with a 42-39 victory in the title game.
In 2012, the Badgers went on the road and lost to Nebraska 30-27 in September, but atoned with a 70-31 rout in the championship contest.
So far the pattern has been repeated with the Buckeyes, who hosted Wisconsin in October and pounded out a 38-7 triumph.
Here are five more things to know:
STARTLING STAT
In four-plus seasons under Paul Chryst, the Badgers have been ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll for 33 games and, going into championship week, are 26-6 (.813). Compare that to his immediate predecessors: Gary Andersen never had a top-10 club from 2013 to '14; Bret Bielema had 22 top-10 squads from 2006 to '12 (17-5, .773); while Barry Alvarez had 24 outfits ranked in the top 10 from 1990 to 2005 (18-6, .750).
DEFYING THE ODDS
In order to bounce back from a two-game losing streak, sweep their way through November and win the Big Ten West Division, the Badgers found a way to overcame some of their own worst habits from the Chryst era. They're 1-4 when committing four-plus turnovers, but had four vs. Purdue. They're 3-6 when allowing 400-plus yards of total offense, but yielded 493 to Nebraska. They're 3-6 when allowing double-digit points in the fourth quarter, but yielded 16 to Iowa. They've allowed only two opponents to convert at least 50 percent of their third downs, but saw Nebraska go 6-for-12.
PASS, FAIL
Wisconsin recorded 10 passes defended in its regular-season finale vs. Minnesota, marking the third time in 2019 that it has reached double digits (13 vs. Northwestern and 12 vs. Michigan). The Badgers are tied for second in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 74 passes defended overall. LSU leads with 80.
TOUGH JOB DESCRIPTION
Junior running back Jonathan Taylor needs 68 rushing yards to become the first FBS ball-carrier to reach 6,000 in just three seasons. In two career outings vs. Ohio State, he's averaging 46.5 yards per game and 2.7 yards per carry.
REMEMBERING WHEN
The Badgers have gone 4-0 in November nine times in the modern era, which dates back to 1946. Three have occurred on Chryst's watch as head coach (2016, '17 and '19) and two occurred during his time as offensive coordinator (2010 and '11).
