24. Wisconsin 70, Northwestern 23 (2010)

The Badgers were one win away from their first Big Ten championship since 1999. All that was standing in their way was Northwestern, a 7-4 team that had not won in Madison since 2000. Wisconsin was 10-1 on the season and 6-1 in the Big Ten and a win would almost certainly send the Badgers to Pasadena. The third tiebreaker would be the highest ranked team in the BCS rankings, and that would determine what team would represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl. Michigan State and Ohio State would be the other two teams tied with Wisconsin in the Big Ten. The Badgers had lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten opener, but then beat No. 1 Ohio State a few weeks later. The Buckeyes and Spartans would not play each other during the season.

So, in order for the first tiebreaker (head-to-head) to come into play, Wisconsin would need to win and have Ohio State also win at home against rival Michigan. Obviously, the Badgers would prefer to win the title outright, but having Ohio State win would not be the worst thing in the world since Bucky owned the tiebreaker. Michigan State winning and Ohio State losing would be the worst thing for the Badgers (other than Wisconsin losing) since that would keep Wisconsin from going to Pasadena since the Spartans own the tiebreaker over the Badgers. Okay, you got it?

It would be another week with at least 70 points for the Badgers, the third on the year. Wisconsin was faced with a second down and long on its opening drive, but then drove 62 yards in two plays for the score. Lance Kendricks scored on a 30-yard reception and then Montee Ball ended the drive with a 32-yard touchdown run to give the Badgers the first lead.

Northwestern would not start out so well. The Wildcats would turn the ball over on their first three possessions. Fortunately for them, the Badgers only would score seven points off those three turnovers. That seven points came on another Ball touchdown run. It took him two runs to travel 13 yards and give Wisconsin a 14-0 lead with eight minutes to play in the first quarter.

Northwestern was able to get three to cut it to 14-3 late in the first quarter, but field goals would not cut it against the high-powered Badgers offense. James White rushed for 40 yards on the next drive, but Ball got the glory again, scoring his third touchdown of the game and the Badgers led 21-3.

The Wildcats offense would once again drive into Wisconsin territory, but Northwestern quarterback Evan Watkins was intercepted by Mike Taylor, who returned it to the 21. Three plays later, Tolzien found David Gilreath for the touchdown.

Fast forwarding to the Badgers next possession, now up 28-10, Kendricks had two catches on the drive, including the touchdown. The touchdown was on one of the most gorgeous throws I have ever seen Tolzien make. He threw it down the left sideline into the end zone and it landed right in the hands of Kendricks for the score. It was great coverage by Northwestern, but Tolzien just made a better throw.

J.J. Watt was a terror in the first half. He had a tackle and forced fumble earlier in the game, and on this drive, he hit Watkins after a nice run and Watkins fumbled. The Badgers would cash in once again. This time on a Tolzien pass to Nick Toon for an 11-yard score to put Bucky ahead 42-10.

After a kickoff return for a touchdown by Northwestern, the Wisconsin offense went back to work, Jared Abbrederis picked up 52 yards on the kick return to get the ball across midfield to start the drive. Five plays later, Tolzien found Toon again in the end zone for another 11-yard score with less than 20 seconds left in the first half and the Badgers went to the break with a 49-17 advantage.

The second half started much like the first. Wisconsin ran the ball every play of the opening drive of the second half and it was ended on another Ball touchdown run. He ran to the left sideline and found daylight, cutting it to the right and scoring from 44 yards to give the Badgers a 56-17 lead.

The teams traded touchdowns midway through the third. Wisconsin’s was on a touchdown run by White and Northwestern’s was on a pass to Drake Dunsmore. It looked like the Badgers would end the quarter ahead 63-23, but Badgers safety Aaron Henry had other ideas. Henry intercepted a Watkins pass at midfield and ran it back to the house untouched with two seconds left in the third to give Wisconsin a 70-23 lead.

There was no scoring in the fourth, but long before then the party was beginning for Wisconsin fans. The Badgers had rolled once again and due to Ohio State’s win, the Badgers had all but clinched a spot in Pasadena. It was Wisconsin’s first Big Ten title of the new millennium. Everybody played a role in the blowout win over Northwestern and they earned that Rose Bowl trip.