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Speed, power, and the sport's best venue made for an instant classic in the Granddaddy. | SI.com: Box Score and Rose Bowl FAQ
A 95-year Rose Bowl win drought for the Oregon Ducks came to an end on Monday as the No. 5 Ducks used a 10-point fourth quarter to beat No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers 45-38 in the 2012 Rose Bowl on Monday.
For Ducks head coach Chip Kelly, who scored his first BCS bowl in three tries, the Rose Bowl drought wasn't an issue.
"None of us were around 95 years ago, and we never talked about it," Kelly said. "We're a forward-thinking operation, and we're always looking ahead."
Looking forward, the Ducks getting a big-time performance from freshman running back De'Anthony Thomas is a sign they'll likely remain in the BCS bowl picture for the foreseeable future. The electric freshman had two carries for 155 yards and two touchdowns, including a 91-yard score at the end of the first quarter and a 64-yard run on the third play of the second half to giving the Ducks a seven-point lead. Thomas also caught four passes for 34 yards and averaged 25 yards on five kick returns.
Monday was the Badgers' second consecutive Rose Bowl loss in heartbreaking fashion. The Badgers gave up over 600 yards of total offense to the speedy Ducks, burned two timeouts in the first five minutes of the second half that could have come in handy on the final drive, and fumbled inside the Ducks' 30-yard line with a little over four minutes to play.
Head coach Bret Bielema has guided the Badgers program to back-to-back 11-win seasons, but is looking to take that next step.
"I'm kind of tired of tears of sadness," Bielema said. "I want to come out here and experience tears of joy at some point."
For more on the Rose Bowl, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter and Oregon blog Addicted to Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
It was evident early in Oregon's 45-38 win over Wisconsin that this Rose Bowl would be unlike any other -- and not just because of Oregon's blinged-out helmets.
The Ducks and Badgers set Rose Bowl records for points scored in the first and second quarters, scoring a combined four touchdowns in each frame. Even though the two teams slowed down (just slightly) in the second half, they'd eventually combine to score the most points ever in Rose Bowl history.
Russell Wilson got things started early in the first quarter with 38-yard touchdown pass to Jared Abbrederis. Just moments later, LaMichael James tied the game:
James finished the game with 25 carries for 159 yards. Wilson kept the ball on the next touchdown, running a bootleg all the way into the end zone:
The Ducks and Badgers traded punts on the next two drives, but De'Anthony Thomas made up for lost time as the clock expired to end the opening quarter with a 91-yard run into the end zone, tying the game at 14-14:
Wisconsin's Montee Ball responded on the next possession with his 39th touchdown of the year, tying Barry Sanders' FBS record:
Darron Thomas needed just one play and 16 seconds to the game, throwing a 54-yard touchdown to Kenjon Barner:
Thomas also factored into the next touchdown -- but this time it was his fumble that set up a score by Wisconsin defensive Louis Nzegwu:
But just like they did to close out the first quarter, the Ducks played until the very last second of the first half, evening the score at 28-28 on this Thomas-to-Lavasier Tuinei touchdown from three yards out:
Get to work, Puddles!
The Ducks opened the scoring in the second half, needing just 49 seconds before De'Anthony Thomas found the end zone from 64 yards out:
That put the Ducks up 35-28, their first lead of the game. The Badgers responded with a field goal to cut into the lead before Russell Wilson found Nick Toon from 18 yards out to regain the lead, 38-35:
From here on out, though, it was all Oregon. Thomas found Tuinei one more time for an 11-yard touchdown in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, giving the Ducks a 42-35 lead they'd never relinquish. It would prove to be the game's final touchdown:
Oregon added another field goal to give them a full seven-point lead, but Wisconsin's window for a comeback essentially closed when Abbrederis fumbled with four minutes and change left on the clock:
The Ducks milked 3:54 off the clock on the ensuing possession, giving Russel Wilson and Co. the ball back with no timeouts and just 23 ticks left. To his credit Wilson was able to gain 64 yards in that span, but the clock struck zero a split-second before he could spike the ball to stop the clock, ending any chance for a miracle ending.
Jared Abbrederis just fumbled away Wisconsin's Rose Bowl with the weirdest dead-drop knuckler of a football to ever not bounce on the hallowed turf of the Rose Bowl. Football is a game of inches, and in this case precious inches of green grass separated a live, perfectly motionless ball from the sideline. Oregon defenders picked the ball up, the Ducks ran the clock down to nothing, and Russell Wilson then came down with a case of Miles' Chronodysfunction with two seconds left on the clock. (Translation: he did not get the final play off.)
The obvious reason for Abbrederis and Wilson simultaneously blowing fuses when Wisconsin needed them most?
The Oregon Ducks have handed the Wisconsin Badgers their second Rose Bowl loss in a row in one of the highest-scoring games in Rose history (and one of the highest-scoring games of a HIGH-SCORY bowl season), 45-38. The Ducks left Russell Wilson only 16 seconds on the clock to attempt a comeback, but, as has been the case all year, the closing moments were not kind to the Badgers.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
UW made it all the way to midfield with only nine ticks left, then found Nick Toon near the red zone as two second remained. A spike attempt did not make it to the ground in time, and after a review, that was that. In a game filled with close calls, that was the closest, but it's in the books.
Oregon's 621 yards worth of offense came in only 24 minutes worth of possession. A BCS bowl win for the Ducks, a possible top-four finish, and the conclusion of perhaps the finest season in school history.
For more on the Rose Bowl, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter and Oregon blog Addicted to Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
The Wisconsin Badgers got the football back from the Oregon Ducks after the Ducks added a field goal and pushed their lead to 45-38. The Badgers started off the drive with a run, followed by two quick passes from Russell Wilson to Nick Toon. On third down, Toon stretched out just enough to get the first down.
On the next play however, Russell Wilson hit Jared Abbrederis down the field and as the receiver turned upfield to pick up some more yardage he fumbled away the football.
The play was reviewed and upheld, and as you can see the ball clearly pops out of Abbrederis' hands and somehow stays in bounds for Oregon to recover. The Ducks can put the game away now by killing clock or with another score.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
Facing a fourth down in Wisconsin Badgers territory, Chip Kelly called for the attempt. Darron Thomas hit Lavasier Tuinei -- who now has 158 yards -- for the first down. Moments later, reached fourth down again, but this time sent out Alejandro Maldonado to give Oregon a full touchdown lead late.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
The drive killed more than five minutes worth of clock, which isn't really Oregon's bag but certainly works against Wisconsin at this point.
Fewer than seven minutes remain, and while Wisconsin can score in bursts, they haven't had a scoring play of longer than 20 yards since their opening drive. A lengthy Badgers scoring drive plus a quick Oregon retort could just about end it. But we're wildly speculating here.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
The Oregon Ducks picked up a touchdown after picking off Russell Wilson on defense to take a 42-38 lead over the Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin took the ensuing kickoff back 30 yards, beginning their drive in solid field position. Someone reminded the Ducks they were allowed to play defense in the game, as they forced Wisconsin to punt for just the second time today.
On the first play of the drive, Wilson was flushed out of the pocket and had to throw the ball away putting the team in 2nd and 10. On the next play, Montee Ball was stopped in the backfield for a loss when linebacker Michael Clay shot a gap and made the tackle in the backfield. On third down, Russell Wilson was again pressured by the Oregon pass rush and had to dump the ball off to Montee Ball, short of the first down marker, forcing the Badgers to punt the ball away.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
Oregon Ducks quarterback Darron Thomas responded to throwing an interception with his third touchdown toss of the 2012 Rose Bowl, putting Oregon up, 42-38, on the Wisconsin Badgers. The recipient this time was once again Lavasier Tuinei, who has two scores and 109 yards in his columns.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
Thomas and Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson remain neck-and-neck in the box score. Right around 210 total yards each. Three touchdowns each. One interception each. Only five incompletions each. Quite a duel between a pair of solid passers.
Here's a look at Thomas' arm in action, zipping the ball to the back of the end zone as he uses his legs to help freeze the linebacker in coverage:
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
Russell Wilson has had an absolutely brilliant day for the Wisconsin Badgers, but he's given the Oregon Ducks a route back to the lead in the 2012 Rose Bowl. After nearly three quarters of mistake-free football, Wilson threw a bad interception in his own territory at the end of the third quarter, gifting the Oregon Ducks some fantastic field position and an opportunity to erase the Badgers' three-point advantage.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
Kiko Alonso was the man who made the play for the Ducks defense, undercutting Wilson's intended target to make a fantastic play. Wilson apparently didn't see him, and threw the ball in a place where Alonso could easily make a play. The Badgers lead 38-35 at the end of the third quarter, but the Ducks are in Badgers territory with the ball.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
You guys, this game was supposed to feature like 100,000 points. This probably isn't going to happen if the Wisconsin Badgers keep doing things like sealing off shovel pass routes and forcing Darron Thomas into overthrows across the middle and picking off passes.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
That makes for the game's first turnover, and with Wisconsin stealing the lead on the drive before, looks like it marks the Rose Bowl's seventh or eighth major momentum swing. Who could track such a thing?
Oregon's still winning the yardage battle, but as of right now, Bucky's done more with all his acreage than Puddles has done with his.
In troublesome news, Ducks offensive lineman Carson York is downed with an apparent knee injury.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
More scoring! The Wisconsin Badgers were stalled on their last drive and forced to kick a field goal, but they lead the 2012 Rose Bowl once again by a score of 38-35, thanks to a brilliantly engineered drive by Russell Wilson. He capped it off with a great touchdown pass to Nick Toon, and did a lot of work with both his arm and his legs to march the Badgers down the field for the score.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
Wilson converted two massive third downs on the drive, scrambling to run for one and picking up another with a pass to Montee Ball. The last play was the most impressive of all, as he hit Toon with a back shoulder throw in a spot where the defense had no play on the ball. Toon made the catch, and the Badgers lead by three with 4"44 remaining in the third quarter.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
The 2012 Rose Bowl may now officially have it all, as an Oregon Ducks kick return that came darn close to leaving the end zone before being downed for a touchback sure looked like a safety to the assembled Wisconsin Badgers fans. The largely pro-UW crowd booed through the entire Ducks drive, even after the eventual punt (PUNT!), becoming especially riled upon showing of in-stadium replay.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
De'Anthony Thomas did come very close to the goal line, but it did appear the correct ruling was made. His foot crossed the line, and the ball touched the line, but the ball didn't break out of the end zone.
Bret Bielema evidently felt he came out, burning through what was already his second time out of the second half in hopes of an overturning.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
Hey, did you know that there is a rule in football that allows a team to score three points? If you are not able to get into the end zone but you are reasonably close to it, you can kick the ball through those yellow things at either end. The Wisconsin Badgers have become the first team in the 2012 Rose Bowl to take advantage of this rule, and after kicking a field goal, trail the Oregon Ducks, who lead by a score of 35-31.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
UW didn't do much on the drive, but they were in a position to score before it started. Jared Abbrederis returned the kickoff 66 yards, giving his team the ball on the Oregon 36. A few runs by Montee Ball, including this first down and hurdle attempt, put the Badgers into field goal range.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
They say these chromed-out Oregon Ducks helmets are changing color as the sun sets in Pasadena. Not really sure if we're supposed to say they look different yet, but they must already look transparent down on the field. That or Wisconsin Badgers running back Montee Ball just thinks he can jump way higher than he really can (warning: Ball takes a helmet directly into a sensitive region):
We've already seen Oregon Ducks time bomb De'Anthony Thomas toss up the longest run from scrimmage in Rose Bowl history. How about starting off the second half with a 64-yard jet sweep for another touchdown, giving Oregon its first lead over the Wisconsin Badgers? Why not!
Watch here -- we say it every time, but it's like nobody else is even moving:
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
That's 155 yards on two runs by the Black Mamba, 171 yards overall. The Ducks have yet to break 10 minutes worth of possession, and they've still managed to score five touchdowns on one of the 10 best teams in the country. Football! What a sport!
For more on the Rose Bowl, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter and Oregon blog Addicted to Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
Your school's mascot probably does pushups after every score. However, your school's mascot has never mascotted a game that's already set the Rose Bowl record for first half points.
Poor, poor Puddles:
If not for a pair of plays, the Wisconsin Badgers could be undefeated right now. If not for a pair of plays in the 2012 Rose Bowl, they'd be up by quite a bit on the Oregon Ducks, too, so there's your transition. De'Anthony Thomas' 91-yard scoot, the longest in Rose Bowl history, and a 54-yard catch by Kenjon Barner nullified Wisconsin's mighty time of possession edge, and it's 28-28 at the break.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
Darron Thomas and Russell Wilson: both nine-of-12, both for right around 150 yards heading into Wiscy's final-seconds drive. Each has a pair of touchdowns to his credit. Oregon's Thomas and LaMichael James have led a 180-yard rushing game, with Wisconsin defender (!) Louis Nzegwu's fumble return touchdown proving the equalizer so far.
Hey, I bet there are gonna be more points!
For more on the Rose Bowl, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter and Oregon blog Addicted to Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
The Oregon Ducks have had one of their best wide receivers removed from the game, and it's not clear whether he'll have to sit down for a bit or if he can come back into the game shortly. Just before Oregon gave up a defensive touchdown to the Wisconsin Badgers, Josh Huff was injured when he took a hit over the middle from safety Aaron Henry. It wasn't intentional, but Henry made contact with Huff's head and he had to be helped off by trainers.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
Huff did not look good as he left the field, as he failed to walk in a straight line and trainers had to assist him off the field. The good news is that he's still on the sidelines instead of back in the locker room, leaving a window of hope open that he does not have a concussion and that he can return to the game.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
Well, maybe this game has defense after all! The Wisconsin Badgers are on the board through a defensive touchdown, and have re-taken the lead over the Oregon Ducks in the 2012 Rose Bowl. On a third down play in their own half of the field, Ducks QB Darron Thomas was stripped by Mike Taylor and fumbled the ball. Louis Nzegwu picked it up and ran 33 yards for the score, putting UW up 28-21.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
The play was reviewed, as Thomas was attempting a pass as he was hit by Taylor. It was close, but there wasn't indisputable evidence that Thomas' arm was going forward at the time he lost possession, and the play stood as called on the field. The Ducks will get the ball back with 3"26 left in the second quarter.
Earlier in the drive, Oregon WR Josh Huff took a nasty hit and appeared to be wobbling as he was helped off the field by a trainer.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
The Oregon Ducks sent the ball back to the Wisconsin Badgers with 42 points and 466 combined yards of offense already on the board. The Alamo Bowl has been remembered, and it's time we recall Oregon can do this all night, and both teams finished top-five nationally in points.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
But points there would not be on Wisconsin's ensuing drive, with a fourth down attempt deep in Oregon's territory snuffed by Kiko Alonso. Russell Wilson rolled out to the right, but was brought down by Alonso near the sideline. Defense! Defense all over the place!
The time of possession battle favors Wisconsin by 16 minutes already, proving that time of possession means just about nothing.
For more on the Rose Bowl, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter and Oregon blog Addicted to Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
Is this game a real thing? Once again, the Oregon Ducks have opened a drive in the 2012 Rose Bowl with a long touchdown play. This game has a ridiculously awesome lack of defense and is making the Alamo Bowl look like a clash between Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler. This time, Kenjon Barner was the man who scored for Oregon, burning the Wisconsin Badgers for 54 yards to tie the score up at 21-21.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
This score also gets Darron Thomas on the board with his first touchdown pass of the day, though the throw was a simple one for him. The TD came on a play action pass, with the entire UW defense biting on the fake. This left Barner wide open for one of the easiest touchdown passes Thomas will ever have to throw.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
How do you respond to the longest touchdown in Rose Bowl history? If you're the Wisconsin Badgers, you just keep doing Wisconsin Badgers things, because you score a lot of points anyway. So no problem!
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
Russell Wilson continued flaying the Oregon Ducks defense early in the second quarter, starting from his own 36 and finding Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis, but it was again Montee Ball who starred. Driving in his second touchdown of the day, Ball tied Barry Sanders' single-season touchdown record with his second of the day.
Haters would point out that it's taken Ball 14 games to do what Sanders did in 11, but 39 touchdowns in a single year is nothing to scoff at. Here's how the latest happened:
For more on the Rose Bowl, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter and Oregon blog Addicted to Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
When the Wisconsin Badgers forced the Oregon Ducks to punt for the first time in the 2012 Rose Bowl while up 14-7, it appeared they had taken an advantage in the game. They went down the field and were stopped on their last drive, but pinned the Ducks inside their own 10-yard line, a positive gain of field position. That was wiped out by De'Anthony Thomas in one play, as he ripped off an incredible 91-yard touchdown run to tie the score up at 14-14 with the last play of the first quarter.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
It's been a wild opening 15 minutes in Pasadena, but Thomas truly stole the show with his run. Taking a handoff in the backfield, he showed off his world-class speed, blowing by the entire Wisconsin defense virtually untouched. We sincerely hope that you bet the over. Here's the video of Thomas' TD.
And as a bonus, Oregon's mascot was exceedingly happy about developments.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
The Oregon Ducks finally got a stop against the Wisconsin Badgers after being torn apart by Russell Wilson and Montee Ball on the opening drives of the 2012 Rose Bowl. On drive No. 3, a sack of Wilson by Kiko Alonso and John Boyett set up a third-and-long, which was redeemed for the Badgers by a pass interference call on -- hey! -- Mr. Boyett*.
SI.com: Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
* It actually should've been on Terrance Mitchell, but nobody can make heads or tails of any part of these Oregon uniforms, which are all shiny green and chrome.
After crossing midfield, the Ducks stopped Ball on third down, bringing about perhaps the throatiest cheer of the day from the Oregon faithful in Pasadena. Brad Norton sent the ball inside the five, setting the Ducks up with a whole lot of green ahead of them. They love green!
For more on the Rose Bowl, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter and Oregon blog Addicted to Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
Finally, the 2012 Rose Bowl will feature a punt. The first three possessions between the two teams all went for touchdowns, but it is the Wisconsin Badgers defense who has stepped up first, forcing a three and out and giving their team a change to build on their 14-7 lead over the Oregon Ducks.
Check out the Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
Oregon actually appeared to be getting their drive off to a promising start, as a screen pass to De´Anthony Thomas went for six yards on first down. A drop by LaMichael James and a false start penalty put the Ducks in a tough position, however, and they were forced to punt after failing to convert on third down and nine. Wisconsin takes the ball at their own 41-yard line with 4"50 remaining in the first quarter.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
The Wisconsin Badgers found themselves in an insta-shootout in the first quarter of the 2012 Rose Bowl, sacrificing an 80-yard scoring drive after opening the game with a touchdown of their own. Giving the rock to Montee Ball seemed like a good idea in response, and it was!
Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
A 42-yard run featuring a gruesome stiff arm (see below!) was followed by a 30-yard reception from Russell Wilson, and we've got ourselves quite a Ball game already.
With the ball at the five, Wilson was able to take a bootleg into a wide, wide field of green (how wide? See below!), trotting in for the touchdown to make it 14-7, Wisconsin. That's the second seven-play scoring drive of the day for UW so far. We're on to something here, folks.
For more on the Rose Bowl, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter and Oregon blog Addicted to Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
The Oregon Ducks have done well to issue a response to the Wisconsin Badgers, who scored a touchdown on a great series of scripted plays to start the 2012 Rose Bowl. Oregon ripped off a great drive of their own, capped off by a LaMichael James touchdown run to tie up the score at 7-7 with 9"41 remaining in the first quarter.
Darren Thomas started the drive with a couple of keepers, but things really got started on third down and three, when James ripped off a 23-yard run for a first down that got the Ducks into Badgers territory. Three plays later, Thomas hit Lavasier Tuinei for a 35-yard pass that got the team down to the one-yard line, where James was able to punch in for an easy score.
For more on the two teams, check out Wisconsin Badgers blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter and Oregon Ducks blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. Also, check out the Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
The Wisconsin Badgers opened the 2012 Rose Bowl in very Wisconsin Badgers fashion, with Russell Wilson bombing deep to Jared Abbrederis, a 38-yard score. It's the 32nd passing touchdown of the year for Wilson, famed N.C. State Wolfpack transfer. Wiscy leads, 7-0, after the three-minute, 77-yard drive.
Live Rose Bowl box score and Rose Bowl FAQ.
The Oregon Ducks are known for scoring in three minutes or so, so we could be well on our way to a high-scoring Rose Bowl. Three Wilson passes and four Montee Ball runs displayed Wisconsin's versatility, with Ball breaking a 10-yard run and also snaring a seven-yard catch.
The Pasadena crowd appears to be mostly red and white, and I have no idea what color Oregon's helmets are supposed or be, exactly.
For more on the Rose Bowl, visit Wisconsin blog Bucky's 5th Quarter and Oregon blog Addicted to Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
Usually it's the Oregon uniforms that get people talking during bowl season, but this year they've added a new wrinkle. Their Darth Vader uniforms are still unreal, but the helmets that take things a whole new level. Courtesy of photographer Thomas Boyd:
More: Score updates and highlight videos are here.
The Wisconsin Badgers and Oregon Ducks get set to clash in the 2012 Rose Bowl, a classic match up between the Big 10 and the Pac 12. The Badgers bring their 10th ranked rushing attack featuring Heisman Trophy candidate Montee Ball and quarterback Russell Wilson as Big 10 champions. The Badgers are one of the highest scoring offenses in the entire NCAA, averaging over 40 points per game on the season. The Badgers also sport one of the best defenses in the NCAA, giving up an average of only 17 points per game.
The Oregon Ducks also sport an explosive offense led by their fifth ranked rushing attack that averages 295.7 rushing yards per game, thanks to the likes of LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner. The Ducks were able to win the Pac 12 this season, knocking off UCLA in the title game and earning the Pac 12 bid into the Rose Bowl. Just like Wisconsin, the Ducks are one of the highest scoring teams in the country, putting up 46.2 points per game. While the Badgers sport a very good defense, the Ducks defense does just enough to win for their explosive offense, giving up about 24 points per game.
Game date, time: 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday, January 2nd
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
TV channel: ESPN/ESPN3
Odds: Oregon favored by 4.5
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For more college football, stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news coverage. And visit our many college football blogs. For more on this year's matchup be sure to head over to SB Nation's Wisconsin blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter, and Oregon blog Addicted To Quack. For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage.
The Wisconsin Badgers and Oregon Ducks meet up in the 2012 Rose Bowl with offenses that are run oriented, but on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Wisconsin Badgers bring a powerful rushing attack behind the mammoth Badgers offensive line and on the legs of running back Montee Ball. The Ducks on the other hand use an up-tempo rushing attack that doesn't allow defenses to rest and focuses on speed and misdirection on the legs of LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner.
"Their offense is very unique in what they do and the speed in what they play in, so it will be a challenge," Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema said. "Their normal no-huddle is a very fast paced up-tempo, then they have another extremely quick one in which they catch defenses offsides, it's a very difficult situation."
The Rose Bowl is a familiar place for Wisconsin, as they lost in the 2011 version of the game against TCU. "We played the Rose Bowl a year ago, but the 2011 season is its own journey within itself," said coach Bret Bielema. This year was expected to be a special one for the Badgers after landing quarterback Russell Wilson and it nearly was. Wisconsin's losses in 2011 both came at the end of the game on Hail Mary's. They'll look to not let another close game fall between the cracks against the Ducks.
As mentioned, Oregon's offense runs through James, who's rushed the ball for over 1,400 yards despite missing two games with an elbow injury. The Oregon defense knows it can't just ride the offense however, and they'll need to make some plays in order to beat the Badgers, slowing down their traditional power offense. "They've got a lot of weapons, not just that big, strong offensive line," Oregon head coach Chip Kelly said. "I'm a big fan of Russell at North Carolina State, and then what he did in his only year at Wisconsin. You're probably going against the best quarterback-running back combination in college football."
For more on this year's matchup be sure to head over to SB Nation's Wisconsin blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter, and Oregon blog Addicted To Quack. For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage.
I'm not sure anyone pays much attention to offensive lineman, especially in college football. They toil in anonymity and only gain recognition when making a mistake -- an ill-timed hold, typically. And then there's Oregon lineman Mark Asper.
How many adventures can the Oregon Ducks pack into one bowl trip? Among the latest, a two-hour, cannibalism-free elevator puzzle:
After a while, the players became tired of standing, but there wasn't enough room for all to sit. So they organized. Some players sat down. When one of the standing players became too leg-weary, he traded trade places with one of those seated ...
"I was joking with [Avery Patterson]," [Mark] Asper said. "I said: ‘You were the smallest guy in that elevator. You would have been the first one they ate, man. If it had come down to it, it's survival of the fittest. You probably would have got eaten.'"
Previously: Space Mountain shows LaMichael James the death of the universe and Asper saves a man's life.
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As we've seen from some of the fun pictures to have surfaced this week, Oregon and Wisconsin are in California preparing for the Rose Bowl. Between practices, there's time for play, which included a trip to Disneyland on Tuesday. There's also large dinners and various other game-week activities that both teams partake in. They're fun events, and memories players will keep for a lifetime.
But one of these activities, the Lawry's Beef Bowl, appears to have saved a life. No, it wasn't a player's life, but Oregon offensive lineman Mark Asper made use of the Heimlich to save a choking man, Adam Jude reports.
Oregon OL Mark Asper just saved an older man who was choking at Lawry's. Using Heimlich Maneuver.
— Adam Jude (@AdamJude_RG) December 29, 2011
This is the same Mark Asper who compared preseason rankings to Baywatch dialogue before the 2011 season. In other words, Mark Asper should be your favorite offensive lineman.
On a day when the biggest college football story so far is the release of 2012 SEC schedules, the next two power conferences made a little scheduling noise of their own. The two traditional Rose Bowl conferences, the Big Ten and the Pac-12, are making a move to further tie themselves together, as Pete Thamel reports:
@PeteThamelNYT BREAKING: Pac-12 and Big Ten enter scheduling agreement. All 12 teams playing an inter-league football game starting 2017.
It's a long time away, so we'll have plenty of time to speculate on what this might look like. It could be some sort of 12-year rotating system, or perhaps only last for a couple seasons.
Plenty of interesting matchups that can be fashioned from the two conferences, especially once Texas Tech joins the Pac-12 and Rutgers joins the Big Ten. Is that still happening? No?
Assuming the SEC will respond by just making a formal to-do of what's basically a similar partnership with the SoCon.
For more on things of this nature, visit Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire and Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes.
The Oregon Ducks are getting ready to take on the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2012 Rose Bowl. Part of the fun of going to bowl games for the players is taking part in all the activities in and around the city the bowl game is in. One of those things for the Rose Bowl is Disneyland in California. Thanks to Ducks running back Kenjon Barner, Wisconsin now knows how to put fear in LaMichael James. Put him on a roller coaster.
Damn lol space mountain do somerhings to u twitter.com/KBDeuce4/statu…
— Kenjon Barner (@KBDeuce4) December 27, 2011
That is a picture of some of the Oregon football players and yes, that is LaMichael James on the left.. gripped by fear.
For more on this year's matchup be sure to head over to SB Nation's Wisconsin blogBucky's Fifth Quarter, and Oregon blog Addicted To Quack. For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage.
Oregon Ducks running back LaMichael James might be pretending to be scared while riding Disneyland's Space Mountain, but I'm pretty sure you'll only love him even more either way (also, since there are entirely too few YouTube videos of Ric Flair discussing Space Mountain, after the photo you'll find a video of Ric Flair talking -- it's just Ric Flair talking):
* Except he'll have to do in 14 games what Sanders did in 11.
Thus Sanders' 222 yards rushing and five touchdowns against Wyoming in the Holiday Bowl do not count in his NCAA records of 2,628 yards rushing and 39 TDs. His actual totals for 1988 were 2,850 yards and 44 touchdowns.
The NCAA's director of statistics, Jim Wright, said records before 2002 remained the same, despite the bowl policy change, because "we did not have the resources to, literally, recreate every bowl game with complete stats and play-by-plays that would allow us to see what additional records would be impacted."
If there's one thing we knew for certain coming into bowl season this year, it's that Oregon will unveil the craziest uniforms in college football. If there's one thing we know for certain coming into bowl season every year, it's that Oregon will unveil the craziest uniforms in college football.
Given the history, this year's new Nike look isn't even that outlandish. On a scale of 1-10--one being Penn State, 10 being the Under Armour apocalypse--Oregon's look this year falls somewhere barely cracks a five. But they do score extra points for channeling the spirit of Darth Vader.
Photos are below.
The 2012 Rose Bowl between the Oregon Ducks and the Wisconsin Badgers is considered by many to be among the best postseason matchups of the year, if not the best. The two teams are among the best in the country offensively, one by way of a finely-tuned spread option attack, the other via a pro-style scheme led by a dominant offensive line. It turns out the two teams have much more in common than simply putting up lots of points, however. The Ducks and Badgers have followed near identical paths to national relevance following decades of futility, as the Oregon historical blog Duck Downs points out.
Both teams went over 30 years without a Rose Bowl before hitting their stride in the mid-90's. The Badgers were the first to break their Pasadena drought with a win over the UCLA Bruins on Jan. 1, 1994, under head coach Barry Alvarez. The Ducks played the Penn State Nittany Lions in the same game exactly one year later, with Mike Bellotti serving as offensive coordinator. He would take over as Oregon's head coach the following season, and both coaches would go on to lead their teams back to BCS Bowls at the turn of the century before eventually retiring into Athletic Director roles and turning over their programs to talented coordinators.
Fittingly, Wisconsin and Oregon played a home-and-home series in 2000 and 2001, with both teams winning on their respective home fields. The two teams will face off on Jan. 2 tied 1-1 in all-time series meetings.
For more on this year's matchup be sure to head over to SB Nation's Wisconsin blog Bucky's Fifth Quarter, and Oregon blog Addicted To Quack. For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage.
The chance to play in the 2012 Rose Bowl against the Oregon Ducks is a big deal for every one of the Wisconsin Badgers.
However, it could be an extra-special experience for one player in particular, even if he won't play (via the Sacramento Bee).
Greg Russo originally attended UW-Whitewater ('03 - '04) before joining the National Guard and deploying to Iraq for two tours. He enrolled at Wisconsin last year and joined the Badgers as a walk-on in the spring. He was deemed ineligible by the NCAA but won an appeal and the linebacker got his first chance to play against Penn State in the season finale.
Russo doesn't expect to play in the Rose Bowl but expects the atmosphere to be pretty memorable on the sidelines.
"If it is anything like standing on the sideline here at Camp Randall, I'm going to be on edge," he said. "I'll be the one on the sideline, right up to the line, just about falling onto the field."
For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage. And visit our many college football blogs. For more on the Wisconsin Badgers head to Bucky's 5th Quarter, and for more on the Oregon Ducks visit Addicted To Quack.
The Oregon Ducks have wrapped up their pre-Rose Bowl practices in Eugene and have headed home for the holidays, Rob Moseley of The Register-Guard reports.
Players and coaches will reconvene in Pasadena, California next Monday. Head coach Chip Kelly, a New Hampshire native, was unsure of his holiday travel plans, which are dependent upon weather forecasts.
"I’m looking at the weather," Kelly said. "I can’t get stuck back there, so I’ve waited."
Meanwhile, Wisconsin Badgers center Peter Konz has flown to Charlotte, North Carolina to meet with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Anderson about a dislocated left ankle that kept the junior out of the last three games of the regular season.
Konz, who is considering entering the 2012 NFL Draft, is optimistic he'll play against the Ducks on January 2, Jeffrey Potrykus of the Journal-Sentinel reports.
"I’m very optimistic, especially where I’m at right now," said Konz. "If I hadn’t been on the field this week I would be questioning myself. But because every day we’re doing a little bit more, that gives me hope."
For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage. And visit our many college football blogs. For more on the Wisconsin Badgers head to Bucky's 5th Quarter, and for more on the Oregon Ducks visit Addicted To Quack.
It's been reported by Pittsburgh media that Wisconsin Badgers offensive coordinator Paul Chryst will likely become the next Pittsburgh Panthers head coach. And by this point, multiple national outlets and Milwaukee media alike have reported the deal is done and Chryst will be announced soon.
Pitt dropped FIU coach Mario Cristobal as a candidate on Wednesday, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and surely that wouldn't have anything to do with Cristobal losing an exhibition game the night before. Cristobal was the only other candidate remaining, so there we have it.
At this point, it seems, we're just waiting for Pitt to announce a press conference and put some fancy stuff on the front of their website, likely without surname puns some athletic department intern is storing away.
The Pitt job became available earlier in the month, when first-year head coach Todd Graham bolted for pretty much the same salary with the Arizona St. Sun Devils. The Panthers might have come out ahead -- you'd have a hard time rounding up college football fans who believe Graham is a better coach than Chryst, but we'll have to wait and see about all that.
For more from the Panthers' side, visit Pitt blog Cardiac Hill and SB Nation Pittsburgh. For more on the 2011 college football coaching carousel, check out our dedicated section.
Last year, the TCU Horned Frogs dressed for the Granddaddy in style, giving their blood-gushing helmet logo a rose to nibble on. This time around, the Wisconsin Badgers, who lost to those Frogs, are set to wear some sort of flower-powered unis of their own, which have yet to be unveiled.
OR HAVE THEY?
The Wisconsin Badgers may be without starting center Peter Konz when they face the Oregon Ducks in the 2012 Rose Bowl on January 2, Tom Mulhern of the Wisconsin State Journal reports.
Konz missed the Badgers' final three games of the regular season with a dislocated left ankle, but had hoped to return for the bowl game. Head coach Bret Bielema hopes Konz is able to test the ankle when the team begins practices in Los Angeles next week.
"Pete hasn’t practiced with us yet to this date," Bielema said. "Hopefully, (we’re) going to get him involved in our preparation out there."
A junior, Konz is considering entering the 2012 NFL Draft and has submitted a draft evaluation request with the NFL's College Advisory Committee.
For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage. And visit our many college football blogs. For more on the Wisconsin Badgers head to Bucky's 5th Quarter, and for more on the Oregon Ducks visit Addicted To Quack.
Nothing says "The Granddaddy of 'Em All" quite like "Adidas vs. Nike," but here we are:
"I can guarantee you we won't be wearing red pants, but everything else is up for grabs," Bielema said.
Bielema painted the Rose Bowl as an "Adidas vs. Nike" game and cited Oregon's numerous Nike combinations as motivation for the modified uniforms.
The Wisconsin Badgers entered last year's Rose Bowl as clear favorites over the TCU Horned Frogs. A vaunted offense found its rhythm too late in the game, however, and the Badgers left Pasadena on the wrong side of a 21-19 final score. In order to avoid a similar fate against the Oregon Ducks, the Badgers are going to have to learn from their mistakes according to running back and Heisman finalist Montee Ball.
"Honestly, I think last year's loss is something we're most definitely going to talk about," he said. "Because we were too distracted. We weren't mature enough last year. . . . We weren't able to block out the distractions.
"This year we're going to make sure we do and prepare for just another game."
Ball cited an uncharacteristic numbers of penalties, six for 41 yards, as one of the ways the Badgers let the game get away from them. According to safety Aaron Henry, his team wasn't prepared to handle the glitz and glamour of Southern California.
"Some guys had never left the state of Wisconsin, let alone going out to L.A., a beautiful venue like that," Henry said. "We were staying in Beverly Hills, walking amongst the stars, literally. ... It was a great opportunity. But I think now going out there, guys have a grasp on what to expect. . . . I think guys can truly focus on the football game now."
Also potentially diverting Wisconsin's focus are offensive coordinator Paul Chryst's dalliances with head coaching jobs around the country. He interviewed this past weekend for the head coaching position at Pittsburgh.
For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage. And visit our many college football blogs. For more on the Wisconsin Badgers head to Bucky's 5th Quarter, and for more on the Oregon Ducks visit Addicted To Quack.
It's not a surprise, but LaMichael James will reportedly declare for the 2012 NFL Draft, forgoing the rest of his collegiate eligibility. Despite suffering a gruesome elbow injury this season, James rewrote the record books at Oregon this season, setting school marks for career rushing yards and touchdowns. And he did it all in three seasons.
The news comes from The Oregonian.
A source inside the Oregon football program has confirmed to The Oregonian today what has long been expected, that the Ducks' all-time leading rusher will declare for the NFL draft after this season.
James, who also tops Oregon's career marks in rushing touchdowns and scoring, will play his final game as a Duck on Jan. 2 against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
James' size has always been a talking point, despite his huge numbers at Oregon. He'll likely continue to hear questions about his height and weight as he prepares for the draft, but his speed and big-play ability are undeniable.
Mocking the Draft also has two links of note on James.
We currently have James rated as the fifth-best running back eligible for the draft. Read some prospect notes on him here.
For more on James' next step, visit Addicted to Quack and Mocking the Draft.
The Oregon Ducks are preparing to play the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2012 Rose Bowl. In a classic Pac-12 and Big Ten match up, it will pit the speed and up-tempo of the Ducks offense and defense against the brute force of the massive Badgers offensive line. The Ducks are tired of hearing about it however, and they're not afraid.
"It's no concern," Oregon defensive end Terrell Turner told The Oregonian. "They are strong. We're going to be just as strong as them. Everyone always looks down on our D-line and we go in there and play as hard as we can." The Badgers offensive line averages out at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, but the Ducks defenders don't want to hear anymore about how big they are.
"They forget that our defensive line is pretty big, too," Issac Remington said. The Ducks two starting defensive tackle weigh in at over 300 pounds while their back ups are each over 280 pounds. While nearly all of the Ducks defensive lineman are out weighed by the Badgers offensive line, their athleticism and ability to move around will assist them in the size discrepancy.
"I'm not concerned at all," Oregon safety Eddie Pleasant said. "It's college football. We've played against big lines, big running backs the whole year."
For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage. And visit our many college football blogs. For more on the Wisconsin Badgers head to Bucky's 5th Quarter, and for more on the Oregon Ducks visit Addicted To Quack.
The Oregon Ducks want to be at full strength when they take on the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2012 Rose Bowl. And so, the team is going to take a break from practicing in order to heal up.
"Lots of rest," Turner said. "Going into a big game like this you've got to have lots of rest.'
"We've just been getting our legs back for the most part," safety Eddie Pleasant said. "We haven't gone over too much stuff (about Wisconsin). Us as players, we've watched a little film. But we've just been getting our legs back. We'll start going over stuff like that next week."
Oregon will take the rest of the week off and resume practice on Friday.
For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage. And visit our many college football blogs. For more on the Wisconsin Badgers head to Bucky's 5th Quarter, and for more on the Oregon Ducks visit Addicted To Quack.
If you know anything about the Rose Bowl, it's that a Big Ten team traditionally plays a Pac-12 team. Such is the case in 2012 when the Oregon Ducks will take on the Wisconsin Badgers.
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany is committed to keeping things that way.
While discussing the "plus-one model and playoff options that seem to be inevitable in college football, Delany was adament in making sure his conference remained tied to the Grandaddy Of Them All.
"Some of the people that don’t have (BCS AQ status), say they don’t want it," Delany said. "Some of the people that do have it, don’t really care about it. Maybe it needs to be reconsidered. I’m not wed to it. I’m wed to the 1-2 game and I’m wed to the Rose Bowl. I’m not wed to the (BCS AQ) selection process or the limitations."
"As long as I can go to the Rose Bowl, I don’t really care," he said.
Expect that to be a major sticking point for BCS opponents for years to come.
For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage. And visit our many college football blogs. For more on the Wisconsin Badgers head to Bucky's 5th Quarter, and for more on the Oregon Ducks visit Addicted To Quack.
2010 All-American cornerback Cliff Harris blew his final chance with the Oregon Ducks, with head coach Chip Kelly dismissing the 5-foot-11, 165-pound junior from the team on Monday for violating team rules.
Harris had been suspended indefinitely for repeated traffic violations, including a high-profile incident in June where an Oregon state trooper clocked Harris driving 118 miles per hour and detected the odor of marijuana from inside Harris' vehicle. The latest incident came on the day after Thanksgiving, when the Fresno Bee reports Harris was cited for possession of marijuana.
During his All-American season in 2010, Harris was tied for 11th in the nation with six interceptions as the Ducks ranked sixth in passing efficiency defense. No Ducks defender has more than three interceptions this season and Oregon's defense has tumbled to 34th in pass efficiency defense and 91st against the pass, allowing nearly 250 yards per game through the air.
For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage. And visit our many college football blogs. For more on the Wisconsin Badgers head to Bucky's 5th Quarter, and for more on the Oregon Ducks visit Addicted To Quack.
University of Wisconsin running back Montee Ball nearly tied Barry Sanders' season touchdown record this past Saturday, finding the end zone four times against the Michigan State Spartans in the Big Ten Championship Game. Ball needs two touchdowns against the Oregon Ducks in the 2012 Rose Bowl to break Sanders' record 39 touchdowns. Despite the ramped up Heisman talk in recent weeks, Ball shied away from the accomplishment after the Badgers' win.
"I'm happy to go to California with my teammates, honestly," he said, referring to the trip to the Rose Bowl to play Oregon. "And if it happens, it happens. The only thing I'm in control of is playing my hardest in the Rose Bowl."
Thankfully, Wisconsin safety Aaron Henry was there to pimp his modest teammate during the interview.
"Can I answer that question for him?" he asked. "Montee is a modest young man, you can see. We faced one of the best run defenses in the country. For him to have the performance he had tonight, I thought it was stellar.
"He is a Heisman candidate no matter how you look at it. For him to be - I mean, he should be going there. I don't know if he should win it or not. We've got some great finalists, but this guy's one of the best backs in the country, hands down."
Ball hopes (we think) to be headed to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony after finalists are announced Monday night. He helped his case against a Spartan rush defense ranked 12th in the country, gaining 137 yards on 27 carries. Ball will face off against another potential Heisman finalist running back in Oregon's LaMichael James in the Rose Bowl.
For more Ball and the Badgers, be sure to visit the SB Nation blog Bucky's 5th Quarter. Check out Addicted To Quack for more on the Ducks. Head over to the official site of the Rose Bowl for more on the game.
After a spectacular 42-39 victory over the Michigan St. Spartans in the first-ever Big Ten Championship game, the Wisconsin Badgers are headed back to Pasadena for their second Rose Bowl appearance in as many years. They will take on the Oregon Ducks and their fast-paced, high-octane offensive attack, in what should be one of the higher-scoring BCS matchups.
With the game being played in Pasadena, California, the Ducks won't have to travel very far for the big game, but Wisconsin fans are a well-known for travelling to bowl games in large bunches and should represent the Big Ten well. Wisconsin is making their second consecutive Rose Bowl appearance after losing to the TCU Horned Frogs in the big game last season, while Oregon is returning for the second time in three years.
Odds makers have set the initial spread for the game, and the Oregon Ducks are listed as 4.5 point favorites, according to SB Nation partner Oddshark. 5Dtimes.com has bumped the Ducks to 5 point favorites over the Badgers.
The over/under for the game has yet to be set, but expect the initial number to be high. The Wisconsin Badgers, led by running back Montee Ball and senior quarterback Russell Wilson, have averaged 44.6 points per game this season, while LaMichael James and the high-flying Oregon Ducks average an even more impressive 46.2 points per game. These are averages folks, so it would be hard to imagine odds makers predicting a defensive struggle. Stay tuned to SB Nation for all the latest movements on the spread and odds for the Rose Bowl.
For more on each bowl game pairing, check out SB Nation's college football bowl game coverage. And visit our many college football blogs. For more on the Wisconsin Badgers head to Bucky's 5th Quarter, and for more on the Oregon Ducks visit Addicted To Quack.
The first-ever Big Ten Championship Game ended with the Wisconsin Badgers downing the Michigan St. Spartans in Indianapolis, setting up a Rose Bowl against the Oregon Ducks. It's Wiscy's second Rose Bowl in a row after their 2011 loss to the TCU Horned Frogs, and Oregon's second in three years. They also lost in their last trip. Something's gotta give!
The oldest bowl game is also the first to have both of its contestants paired up this time around. (West Virginia isn't official yet for the Orange.)
The Rose Bowl is played annually in Pasadena, California in the stadium for which the game gets it's namesake. The game is commonly referred to as "The Granddaddy Of Them All," first being played in 1902. Since 1945, the Rose Bowl has been the highest attended bowl game. It's part of the "Tournament of Roses" New Year's day celebration, which includes the historic Tournament of Roses Parade.
Currently, the bowl is part of the BCS series and has hosted the BCS National Championship. The Rose Bowl last hosted the 2010 National Title game between Alabama and Texas. This year's game will be called by Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Erin Andrews.
Game date, time: 5:00 pm ET, Monday, January 2nd
Location:Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
TV channel: ESPN/ESPN3
2010 winner and loser: TCU, Wisconsin
For more on each bowl game as it’s announced, stay tuned to SB Nation’s 2011 college football bowl game bids coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.
The Oregon Ducks are going to the 2012 Rose Bowl, unless the UCLA Bruins can score approximately 1,000 points per minute for the rest of the evening. It'll be the sixth-ever appearance for the Ducks, who dropped the 2010 contest to the Ohio St. Buckeyes.
"The Granddaddy of them all," which I always confuse with the WWE's nickname for WrestleMania, is the oldest and most important bowl game. It is important because it is important. The game was first played in 1902, just nine years after Oregon began playing football.
It's traditionally paired the Big Ten champ against the Pac-10 victor, but that all changes, because it's the Pac-12 now. The Ducks will have to wait until Saturday night to discover their opponent -- the Big Ten Championship Game pits the Michigan St. Spartans against the Wisconsin Badgers. Sparty won Round 1 on a Hail Mary, but Wisconsin's favored by nine or 10.
Game date, time: 5 p.m. ET, Jan. 2
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
TV channel: ESPN
2010 winner and loser: TCU 21, Wisconsin 19
For more on each bowl game as it's announced, stay tuned to SB Nation's 2011 college football bowl game bids coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.
Illinois Fighting Illini athletic director Mike Thomas reportedly flew to Madison, Wisonsin on Monday night to interview Wisconsin Badgers offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Ilinois fired head coach Ron Zook this week after the Illini squandered a 6-0 start to finish 6-6.
Chryst, a former quarterback at Wisconsin, has been OC with the Badgers since 2005. He also overseas the quarterback position. Prior to that, he was offensive coordinator for the Oregon State Beavers. He was Wisconsin's tight end coach before that position.
While Chryst has a strong reputation for offense, his lack of recruiting prowess is seen as a hindrance.
Illinois is said to also have a close eye on Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi and Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
For more on Illinois football, visit Hail To The Orange. For more on Wisconsin football, keep an eye on Bucky's 5th Quarter.
Oregon Vs. Wisconsin Recap, Rose Bowl 2012: The Numerical
by Bill Connelly
The stats that mattered in Oregon's 45-38 win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, from De'Anthony Thomas' explosiveness, to a Russell Wilsonesque performance, to Lavasier Tuinei's finest hour.Continue reading »
Jan 03 8:50a