Indiana @ Wisconsin preview
Camp Randall Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 7, 2009 ) Wisconsin 31, Indiana 28
Wisconsin took care of business without running back John Clay last week.
The Badgers, ranked No. 5 in this week's USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, might have to do it again Saturday when Indiana visits Camp Randall Stadium.
Clay left last week's 34-13 win at Purdue early in the second half with a knee injury and could be out again Saturday with what coach Bret Bielema is calling a slight MCL sprain. Clay leads the Badgers with 929 yards rushing.
Since Wisconsin (8-2, 4-1 Big Ten) was able to win without Clay playing a full game last week, Bielema might be wise to rest his star back against the Hoosiers. Wisconsin rallied from a 10-6 halftime deficit and scored 28 points in the second half to beat Purdue.
Montee Ball, listed third on the depth chart at running back, scored two touchdowns and ran for a career-high 127 yards against the Boilermakers.
James White, who began the season as Clay's backup, is expected to return from the sprained knee he suffered in Week 8 against Iowa. White was second on the team with 570 yards rushing and nine touchdowns before being injured.
Wisconsin is locked in a four-way tie atop the Big Ten with Michigan State, Iowa and Ohio State. The Badgers lost to Michigan State, but have beaten the other two conference leaders.
On paper, the Badgers appear to have the easiest schedule down the stretch. After playing Indiana, Wisconsin visits Michigan next week and hosts Northwestern in the final game of the season.
Indiana (4-5, 0-5) saw its chance for its biggest win of the season fall short in the closing seconds last week in an 18-13 defeat to Iowa. The Hoosiers outplayed the Hawkeyes throughout the game, but gave up a field goal and a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Leading 13-12, Indiana's defense saw Iowa drive 88 yards in three plays. Ricky Stanzi's 52-yard touchdown pass to Marvin McNutt with 2:50 to play put Iowa up by five, but Indiana still had a chance to win after stopping the two-point conversion.
Quarterback Ben Chappell led a drive to Iowa's 18-yard line. On fourth down, he found Demarlo Belcher open in the end zone, but the receiver couldn't hold on to the ball while attempting to make a leaping grab.
The Hoosiers have lost 10 consecutive conference games and 13 straight Big Ten games on the road. Indiana is running out of chances to win a league game this season.
The Hoosiers play Penn State at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., next week and visit Purdue to close the season.