The 2007 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...

 during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season

2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season

The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...

. Led by head coach Bret Bielema

Bret Bielema

-Personal life:Bielema announced on April 1, 2011 that he was engaged to his girlfriend, Jen. The wedding is scheduled for spring 2012.-External links:* *...

, the Badgers completed the season with a 9-4 record, including a 5-3 mark in Big Ten Conference

Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...

 play. The season ended with a loss in the Outback Bowl

2008 Outback Bowl

The 2008 Outback Bowl, part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on January 1, 2008 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida....

 to Tennessee

2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team

The 2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the college football season of 2007–2008. They won the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference before falling to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship Game...

, 21-17.

Previous season

The 2006 Wisconsin Badgers football team

2006 Wisconsin Badgers football team

The 2006 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Bret Bielema, the Badgers completed the season with a 12-1 record, including a 7-1 mark in the Big Ten Conference, good for a...

 was unranked going into the season with first year head coach Bret Bielema

Bret Bielema

-Personal life:Bielema announced on April 1, 2011 that he was engaged to his girlfriend, Jen. The wedding is scheduled for spring 2012.-External links:* *...

. After a tough loss to Michigan

2006 Michigan Wolverines football team

The 2006 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2006 college football season. The team's head football coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines came into the season with lower expectations than many Michigan teams of the previous few seasons, ranked #14...

, the Badgers rebounded and finished the season 11-1, tying the Wolverines for second in the Big Ten. The Badgers then defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks

2006 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

The 2006 Arkansas Razorbacks football team completed the season with a 10–4 record. The Razorbacks had a regular season SEC record of 7–1.-Schedule:-USC:...

, 17-14, in the Capital One Bowl

2007 Capital One Bowl

The 2007 Capital One Bowl was held on January 1, 2007 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The game featured the Badgers of The University of Wisconsin, who finished tied for 2nd in the Big Ten Conference, and the Razorbacks of The University of Arkansas, who finished 1st in the Southeastern...

 finishing the season ranked #5 in the Coaches' Poll and #7 in the AP Poll

AP Poll

The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...

.

Schedule

Washington State

UNLV

The Citadel

Iowa

Michigan State

Illinois

Wisconsin's dreams of an undefeated season were snapped in Champaign-Urbana, as the Illini stunned the 5th ranked Badgers 31-25. A poor showing by the Badgers, combined with excellent efforts across the board for the Illini, sunk the Badgers, who fell to 2-1 in the Big Ten and 5-1 overall despite an incredible effort by QB Tyler Donovan, who completed 27 passes on 49 attempts for 392 yards and 2 TDs. Illinois's defense sacked Donovan twice and forced a pair of INTs (one by Vontae Davis

Vontae Davis

-Miami Dolphins:Davis was signed by the Dolphins to a five-year deal with a guarantee in excess of $7 million. Davis recorded his first career interception in Week 4 of the 2009 season against Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards, returning it 23 yards for a touchdown. Davis finished his rookie...

, the other by Kevin Mitchell). Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall

Rashard Mendenhall

Rashard Jamal Mendenhall is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers 23rd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois....

 ran wild on the Badgers for 160 yards and 2 TDs on just 19 carries, and QB Juice Williams dissected Wisconsin through the air and on the ground. Williams completed 12 passes on 19 attempts for 121 yards, and ran for 92 yards on 14 carries.

Penn State

Wisconsin RB P.J. Hill fumbled on his very first carry of the game, and Wisconsin simply collapsed in Happy Valley, losing 38-7 to Penn State. Wisconsin QB Tyler Donovan had a bad game, as he threw 2 INTs, was sacked 5 times, and averaged just 1.1 YPC on 11 carries. The Wisconsin defense, put in often impossible situations by the ineptitude of their offense (Wisconsin turned the ball over 3 times and committed 8 penalties), caved under pressure from Penn State. Wisconsin P Ken Debauche punted 6 times on the day.

Penn State RB Rodney Kinlaw

Rodney Kinlaw

Rodney Eddrick Kinlaw is a professional American Football running back. He currently plays for the Mönchengladbach Mavericks of the German Football League. He has also played for the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League...

 ran for 115 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, and WR Deon Butler

Deon Butler

Vincent Deon Butler is an American football wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State....

 caught 7 passes for 93 yards and the only passing touchdown of the day by either team. However, the leading receiver of the game was Wisconsin WR Kyle Jefferson, who caught 6 passes for 124 yards.

Northern Illinois

Indiana

Ohio State

At one point in the game, Wisconsin led Ohio State 17-10, but a big 4th Quarter from the Buckeyes offense and defense secured an eventual Ohio State victory. The game snapped a 2 game winning streak by the Badgers over Ohio State (from the 2003 and 2004 seasons) and improved Jim Tressel's record to 2-3 against Wisconsin.

Michigan

Wisconsin pounded Lloyd Carr

Lloyd Carr

Lloyd H. Carr is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 1995 through the 2007 season. Under Carr, the Wolverines compiled a record of 122–40 and won or shared five Big Ten Conference titles...

's Michigan team 37-21 for their second consecutive home win over the Wolverines, and Bret Bielema's second win over a ranked opponent (his first was against Michigan State

2007 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 2007 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2007–2008 college football season. Mark Dantonio began his first season as the Spartans' head coach. The Spartans play their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.-Schedule:-2008 NFL...

). Carr benched both QB Chad Henne

Chad Henne

Chad Steven Henne is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.He graduated from Wilson Senior High School and attended the University of Michigan...

 and RB Mike Hart so they would both be healthy against Ohio State

2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of the Ohio State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio...

 next week.

Wisconsin rattled off 17 unanswered points to open the game; starting with a Travis Beckum

Travis Beckum

Travis Beckum is an American football tight end for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Giants in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin.-Early years:Travis Beckum played football for Oak Creek High School. He...

 touchdown reception off a 10 yard pass from Tyler Donovan, a Taylor Mehlhaff

Taylor Mehlhaff

Taylor Mehlhaff is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin....

 field goal, and a 2 yard TD run by Donovan. Michigan answered with a 12 yard touchdown pass from Ryan Mallett

Ryan Mallett

Ryan Mallett , nicknamed "Big Tex", is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League , taken in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks...

 to WR Mario Manningham

Mario Manningham

Mario Cashmere Manningham is an American football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Giants in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...

 for their only score of the first half. Wisconsin got another Mehlhaff FG with 0:15 remaining in the half and led 20-7 at halftime.

Both teams had a sluggish third quarter; the only points scored by either team came on a 19 yard FG by Taylor Mehlhaff for Wisconsin. However, Wisconsin and Michigan scored a pair of touchdowns apiece in the 4th quarter; Michigan getting a record setting 97 yard TD reception by Mario Manningham and a 26 yard TD pass from Mallett to WR Adrian Arrington

Adrian Arrington

Adrian Jarrard Arrington is an American football wide receiver who is currently a wide receiver of the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft and called up from the team's practice squad before Week 17 of the 2010 NFL season...

 and Wisconsin answering with a pair of touchdown runs by RB Zach Brown.

Wisconsin's starting RB P.J. Hill managed a grand total of 14 yards on 5 carries. Zach Brown, his backup, ran for 108 yards on 28 carries with a pair of TDs. Wisconsin WR Paul Hubbard

Paul Hubbard

Paul Hubbard, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...

 made 7 receptions for 134 yards, and TE Travis Beckum caught 6 passes for 106 yards with a touchdown reception.

The Badgers improved to 8-3 on the year, and face 1-10 Minnesota next week in Minneapolis. With a win over Ohio State next week, Michigan could win the Big Ten outright.

Minnesota

Tennessee

Season Summary

After a 5-0 start, Wisconsin lost its next two games (to Illinois and Penn State, both on the road). Wins in 4 of their next 5 clinched a 9-3 regular season, but poor showings against Penn State and Ohio State, as well as a below-average effort against Tennessee in the postseason, put a dampener on an otherwise successful season for the Badgers.

Regular starters

Position	Player
Quarterback	Tyler Donovan
Running Back	P.J. Hill
Fullback	Chris Pressley Chris Pressley Chris Pressley is an American professional football player who is currently on the Cincinnati Bengals. He went undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft after playing for five years for the University of Wisconsin–Madison Badgers...
Wide Receiver	Luke Swan Luke Swan Luke Swan is a former American football wide receiver and current college football coach. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Wisconsin for the Badgers in Madison, Wisconsin...
Wide Receiver	Paul Hubbard Paul Hubbard Paul Hubbard, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
Tight End	Travis Beckum Travis Beckum Travis Beckum is an American football tight end for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Giants in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin.-Early years:Travis Beckum played football for Oak Creek High School. He...
Left Tackle	Gabe Carimi Gabe Carimi Gabe Carimi , nicknamed "The Bear Jew", is an American football offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears.Carimi had 49 starts at left tackle in his four-year Wisconsin Badgers college career, which culminated at the 2011 Rose Bowl. He was awarded the 2010 Outland Trophy, as the nation's top...
Left Guard	Andy Kemp
Center	Marcus Coleman
Right Guard	Kraig Urbik Kraig Urbik Kraig Urbik is an American football offensive guard/tackle for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
Right Tackle	Eric Vanden Heuvel

Position	Player
Defensive End	Mike Newkirk Mike Newkirk -St. Louis Rams:On April 27, 2009, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Rams. Newkirk was waived by the Rams on May 14, 2009.-Edmonton Eskimos:...
Defensive Tackle	Jason Chapman
Defensive Tackle	Nick Hayden Nick Hayden Nick Hayden is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin....
Defensive End	Matt Shaughnessy Matt Shaughnessy Matt Shaughnessy is an American football defensive end for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Raiders in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin....
Outside Linebacker	DeAndre Levy DeAndre Levy DeAndre Levy is an American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin....
Middle Linebacker	Elijah Hodge
Outside Linebacker	Jonathan Casillas Jonathan Casillas Jonathan Casillas is a NFL linebacker for the New Orleans Saints. He went undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft, but was later signed as a free agent...
Cornerback	Allen Langford
Strong Safety	Aubrey Pleasant
Free Safety	Shane Carter
Cornerback	Jack Ikegwuonu Jack Ikegwuonu Jack Ikegwuonu is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...

Team players selected in the 2008 NFL Draft

Player	Position	Round	Overall Selection	NFL Team
Jack Ikegwuonu Jack Ikegwuonu Jack Ikegwuonu is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...	Cornerback	4	131	Philadelphia Eagles 2008 Philadelphia Eagles season The 2008 Philadelphia Eagles season was the team's 76th season as a franchise in the National Football League. The Eagles improved upon their 8–8 record and fourth-place finish in the NFC East in the 2007 season by going 9–6–1 and earning the 6th seed in the NFC Playoffs. The team lost in the...
Taylor Mehlhaff Taylor Mehlhaff Taylor Mehlhaff is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin....	Kicker	6	178	New Orleans Saints 2008 New Orleans Saints season The 2008 New Orleans Saints season is the 42nd season for the team in the National Football League . The Saints entered the season in an attempt improve their 7-9 record from the 2007 season.-Pre-season:-Regular season:...
Nick Hayden Nick Hayden Nick Hayden is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin....	Defensive Tackle	6	182	Carolina Panthers 2008 Carolina Panthers season -Preseason:-Regular season:-Postseason:-Week 1: at San Diego Chargers:The Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers were locked in a defensive battle in the first quarter. John Kasay made three field goals while Philip Rivers connected with Chris Chambers on a 44-yard pass to score. At halftime the...
Paul Hubbard Paul Hubbard Paul Hubbard, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...	Wide Receiver	6	191	Cleveland Browns 2008 Cleveland Browns season The 2008 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 62nd season as a franchise and was the team's 58th season as a member of the National Football League. The Browns finished with a 4–12 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs. The season marked Romeo Crennel's fourth year as head coach of the...