The 2012 Wisconsin Badgers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a member of the Leaders Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their seventh and final year under head coach Bret Bielema, the Badgers compiled an 8–6 record (4–4 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 414 to 268. Despite finishing third in the Leaders Division, the Badgers advanced to the Big Ten Championship Game, because the first- and second-place teams (Ohio State and Penn State) were ineligible for postseason play. The Badgers defeated Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship Game and advanced to the Rose Bowl, losing to Stanford. On December 4, Bielema accepted the vacant coaching position at Arkansas. Athletic director and former head coach Barry Alvarez took over as head coach for the Rose Bowl.
Montee Ball led the team with 1,830 yards and 132 points scored, He also became the first player to score a touchdown in three straight Rose Bowl Games. Ball and offensive linemen Travis Frederick and Ricky Wagner received All-America honors. Linebacker Mike Taylor led the team with 69 solo tackles, 123 total tackles, and 15 tackles for loss.
The team played its home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
Schedule
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Rankings
Game summaries
No. 9 (FCS) Northern Iowa
First quarter
WIS – Kyle French 32-yard field goal, 7:19. ''Badgers 3–0. '''Drive: 14 plays, 61 yards, 7:41.'''''
Second quarter
WIS – Kyle French 35-yard field goal, 7:37. ''Badgers 6–0. '''Drive: 13 plays, 66 yards, 6:28.'''''
WIS – Jared Abbrederis 10-yard pass from Danny O'Brien (Kyle French kick), 0:50. ''Badgers 13–0. '''Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards, 5:28.'''''
Third quarter
WIS – Montee Ball 1-yard run (kick blocked), 10:22. ''Badgers 19–0. '''Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 3:39.'''''
UNI – Chad Owens 2-yard pass from Sawyer Kollmorgen (Tyler Sievertsen kick), 0:52. ''Badgers 19–7. '''Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:02.'''''
Fourth quarter
WIS – Jared Abbrederis 53-yard pass from Danny O'Brien (Kyle French kick), 12:31. ''Badgers 26–7. '''Drive: 7 plays, 79 yards, 3:16.'''''
UNI – David Johnson 55-yard pass from Sawyer Kollmorgen (Tyler Sievertsen kick), 11:11. ''Badgers 26–14. '''Drive: 4 plays, 74 yards, 1:13.'''''
UNI – David Johnson 31-yard pass from Sawyer Kollmorgen (Tyler Sievertsen kick), 7:24. ''Badgers 26–21. '''Drive: 7 plays, 62 yards, 1:52.'''''
Statistics
Northern Iowa Panthers}}"
UNI
Wisconsin Badgers
color=white}}"
WIS
First downs
14
22
Total yards
306
387
Rushing yards
41
168
Passing yards
265
219
Turnovers
0
0
Time of possession
20:55
39:05
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northern Iowa Panthers}}; text-align:center;"
Northern Iowa
Passing
Sawyer Kollmorgen
18/34, 265 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
David Johnson
8 rushes, 18 yards
Receiving
David Johnson
4 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TD
Wisconsin Badgers
color=white}}; text-align:center;"
Wisconsin
Passing
Danny O'Brien
19/23, 219 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Montee Ball
32 rushes, 120 yards, TD
Receiving
Jared Abbrederis
6 receptions, 84 yards, 2 TD
At Oregon State
First quarter
No scoring playsSecond quarter
ORST – Trevor Romaine 43-yard field goal, 13:03. ''Beavers 3–0. '''Drive: 9 plays, 42 yards, 2:43.'''''
Third quarter
No. 14 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Wisconsin Badgers – Game summary
Statistics
Nebraska Cornhuskers}}"
NEB
Wisconsin Badgers
color=white}}"
WIS
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Nebraska Cornhuskers}}; text-align:center;"
Nebraska
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Wisconsin Badgers
color=white}}; text-align:center;"
Wisconsin
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Wisconsin had 2 running backs run for over 200 yards (Montee Ball and Melvin Gordon) and Badgers running backs accounted for 8 rushing touchdowns on the day (along with a passing touchdown by running back James White). The 70 points tied the second-highest mark in Wisconsin history, set against Northwestern in 2010 and Austin Peay in 2010 (the Wisconsin record for most points in a game is 83 against Indiana in 2010). The Badgers returned their first interception for a touchdown, as senior defensive back Marcus Cromartie returned a deflected Taylor Martinez pass 29 yards to put Wisconsin up 14-0 less than 3 minutes into the game.
A wild rushing touchdown by Taylor Martinez and a Brett Maher field goal narrowed Wisconsin's advantage to 14-10, but the Badgers went 45 yards on two plays to set up another scoring drive, capped off by a 9-yard rushing touchdown by James White. When Nebraska's offense stalled, Wisconsin's offense roared into gear and scored three more touchdowns in the 2nd quarter alone, taking a 42-10 lead at the half with a James White passing touchdown to TE Sam Arneson.
In the second half, Nebraska managed to gain a grand total of 3 yards before Martinez threw his second interception on Nebraska's first drive of the half. Wisconsin scored on the next play, taking a 49-10 lead.
The Badgers secured their third consecutive Big Ten Championship and a third consecutive Rose Bowl berth with the blowout win, improving to 8-5 on the year and snapping their 2-game losing streak.
On December 4, head coach Bret Bielema announced he would take the head coaching vacancy at the University of Arkansas, ending his career at Wisconsin after 7 seasons (from 2006 to 2012). Bielema had a 68-24 overall record in 7 seasons at Wisconsin and his teams went 37-19 in Big Ten conference games. In addition, Bielema won both of the first two Big Ten Conference Championship Games.
Vs. No. 8 Stanford (Rose Bowl)
Wisconsin Badgers vs. No. 8 Stanford Cardinal – Game summary
Statistics
Wisconsin Badgers
color=white}}"
WIS
Stanford Cardinal}}"
STAN
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Wisconsin Badgers
color=white}}; text-align:center;"
Wisconsin
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Stanford Cardinal}}; text-align:center;"
Stanford
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Stanford defeated Wisconsin in the 2013 Rose Bowl
Personnel
Coaching staff
Name
Position
Bret Bielema
Head coach
Matt Canada
Offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach
Chris Ash
Defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach
Zach Azzanni
Wide receivers coach
Andy Buh
Linebackers coach
Eddie Faulkner
Tight ends coach
Thomas Hammock
Assistant head coach, running backs coach recruiting coordinator
Mike Markuson
Offensive line coach
Bart Miller
Offensive line coach
Charlie Partridge
Associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator, defensive line coach
Ben Strickland
Defensive backs, special teams coach
Terrance Jamison
Graduate assistant
Roster
Regular starters
Position
Player
Quarterback
Joel Stave
Running Back
Montee Ball
Fullback
Derek Watt
Wide receiver
Jared Abbrederis
Wide receiver
Jordan Fredrick
Tight end
Jacob Pedersen / Brian Wozniak
Left tackle
Ricky Wagner
Left guard
Ryan Groy
Center
Travis Frederick
Right guard
Kyle Costigan
Right tackle
Rob Havenstein
Position
Player
Defensive end
David Gilbert
Defensive tackle
Beau Allen
Defensive tackle
Ethan Hemer
Defensive end
Pat Muldoon
Outside linebacker
Mike Taylor
Middle linebacker
Chris Borland
Outside linebacker
Ethan Armstrong
Cornerback
Devin Smith
Strong safety
Dezmen Southward
Free safety
Shelton Johnson
Cornerback
Marcus Cromartie
Recruiting
Awards
Watchlists and preseason awards
Jared Abbrederis
: Biletnikoff Award
Montee Ball
: Doak Walker Award
: Maxwell Award
: Walter Camp Award
Chris Borland
: Bednarik Award
: Butkus Award
: Lombardi Award
: Nagurski Trophy
Travis Frederick
: Lombardi Award
: Outland Trophy
: Rimington Trophy
Jacob Pedersen
: Mackey Award
Mike Taylor
: Lombardi Award
: Nagurski Trophy
Ricky Wagner
: Lombardi Award
: Outland Trophy
James White
: Doak Walker Award
Postseason awards
Jared Abbrederis
Beau Allen
Montee Ball
Chris Borland
Marcus Cromartie
Travis Frederick
David Gilbert
Ryan Groy
Ethan Hemer
Drew Meyer
Jacob Pedersen
Devin Smith
Dezmen Southward
Mike Taylor
Ricky Wagner
Statistics
Passing
Note: G = Games played; COMP = Completions; ATT = Attempts; COMP % = Completion percentage; YDS = Passing yards; TD = Passing touchdowns; INT = Interceptions; EFF = Passing efficiency
Pos.
Player
G
COMP
ATT
COMP %
YDS
TD
INT
EFF
WR
Jared Abbrederis
13
1
1
100.0
27
0
0
326.8
QB
Danny O'Brien
7
52
86
60.5
523
3
1
120.7
QB
Curt Phillips
7
46
81
56.8
540
5
2
128.2
QB
Joel Stave
8
70
119
58.8
1104
6
3
148.3
RB
James White
14
1
2
50.0
3
1
0
227.6
Rushing
Note: G = Games played; ATT = Attempts; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average yard per carry; LG = Longest run; TD = Rushing touchdowns
Pos.
Player
G
ATT
YDS
AVG
LG
TD
WR
Jared Abbrederis
13
8
83
10.4
24
0
RB
Montee Ball
14
356
1830
5.1
67
22
WR
Kenzel Doe
14
2
11
5.5
12
0
RB
Melvin Gordon
14
62
621
10.0
60
3
RB
Jeffrey Lewis
3
4
13
3.2
6
1
QB
Danny O'Brien
7
15
-82
-5.5
7
0
TE
Jacob Pedersen
14
1
10
10.0
0
0
QB
Curt Phillips
7
27
99
3.7
52
0
QB
Joel Stave
8
19
-51
-2.7
16
0
FB
Derek Watt
14
2
5
2.5
3
0
RB
James White
14
125
806
6.4
69
12
Receiving
Note: G = Games played; REC = Receptions; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average yard per catch; LG = Longest catch; TD = Receiving touchdowns
Pos.
Player
G
REC
YDS
AVG
LG
TD
TE
Sam Arneson
13
4
19
4.8
9
2
WR
Jared Abbrederis
13
49
837
17.1
60
5
RB
Montee Ball
14
10
72
7.2
16
0
WR
Kenzel Doe
14
16
121
7.6
19
0
WR
Jeff Duckworth
13
9
60
6.7
10
1
WR
Jordan Fredrick
14
17
196
11.5
20
1
RB
Melvin Gordon
14
2
65
32.5
57
1
WR
Chase Hammond
12
5
50
10.0
30
0
WR
Reggie Love
5
1
19
19.0
19
0
TE
Jacob Pedersen
14
27
355
13.1
31
4
QB
Curt Phillips
7
1
27
27.0
27
0
FB
Derek Watt
14
12
150
12.5
33
0
RB
James White
14
8
132
16.5
62
1
TE
Brian Wozniak
14
9
94
10.4
21
0
Kick and punt returning
Note: G = Games played; PR = Punt returns; PYDS = Punt return yards; PLG = Punt return long; KR = Kick returns; KYDS = Kick return yards; KLG = Kick return long; TD = Total return touchdowns
Pos.
Player
G
PR
PYDS
PLG
KR
KYDS
KLG
Total Return TDs
WR
Jared Abbrederis
13
17
111
34
0
0
0
0
DT
Beau Allen
14
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
WR
Kenzel Doe
13
8
99
82
7
195
47
1
RB
Melvin Gordon
14
0
0
0
7
151
32
0
RB
James White
14
0
0
0
6
114
26
0
RB
Kyle Zulegar
14
0
0
0
2
29
20
0
Kicking
Note: G = Games played; FGM = Field goals made; FGA = Field goals attempted; LG = Field goal long; XPT = Extra points made; XPT ATT = XPT attempted; TP = Total points
Pos.
Player
G
FGM
FGA
LG
XPT
XPT ATT
TP
K
Kyle French
13
10
16
46
38
40
68
K
Jack Russell
8
0
2
0
14
15
14
Punting
Note: G = Games played; P = Punts; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average per punt; LG = Punt long; In20 = Punts inside the 20; TB = Touchbacks
Pos.
Player
G
P
YDS
AVG
LG
In20
TB
P
Drew Meyer
14
80
3323
41.5
61
36
5
Defensive
Note: G = Games played; Solo = Solo tackles; Ast = Assisted tackles; Total = Total tackles; TFL-Yds = Tackles for loss-yards lost; Sack = Sacks; INT = Interceptions; PDef = Passes defended; FF = Forced fumbles; FR = Forced recoveries
Associated Press, [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/sports/ncaafootball/college-football-briefings.html Wisconsin Coach Headed to Arkansas], ''New York Times'', December 4, 2012
and won the [[Doak Walker Award]] as the best running back in college football.[https://archive.today/20130111102648/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120612aai.html Franklin Finishes Second in Voting for Doak Walker Award], UCLABruins.com, December 6, 2012
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