SOMETHING TO PROVE: Badgers Hand Spartans First Loss

Wisconsin was supposed to be a veteran team that won low scoring games with stingy defense. On Saturday however, the score was anything but low, and the defense was anything but stingy. Still, in the end Wisconsin prevailed and extended the nation's longest winning streak to 14.

Of course when RB P.J. Hill is grinding out 155 yards with two scores and the offense is holding on to the ball for 35 minutes, the defense might be able to get away with giving up 564 yards to a surprise Michigan State team looking to move 5-0 for the first time since the Jurassic Era.

It was Badger mistakes that kept the Spartans in this one. A Brain Hoyer-to-Devin Thomas swing pass turned into an 80 yard score capping a day of blown coverages and defensive breakdowns for Wisconsin. Badger QB Tyler Donovan threw a key interception that lead to a Michigan State field goal, tying the score at 34.

But the Wisconsin offense answered with three drives in the game over 80 plus yards that led to scores to keep the Spartan offense, or perhaps their own defense, off the field for much of the game. And when Hoyer's pass on fourth down at the Wisconsin 38 was off target, the Badgers could finally breathe easier.

But not all is lost for the Spartans. They've certainly made resurgence under new coach Mark Dantonio. With a wide open Big Ten and several key games ahead, the Spartan could be a team to watch in a down year for the league. After putting up 34 points and 564 yards on one of the best defenses in the league, a New Years bid is possible for the surprising Spartans.

Meanwhile for Wisconsin there are more questions than answers. As coach Bret Bielema said after the game "We don't get any style points." I'm sure P.J. Hill and Co. would believe that the only numbers that mattered in Madison on Saturday were those on the scoreboard.

—C. Nierman