The UW football team will begin its 2007 campaign as a national title contender this Saturday as they host Washington State at 2:30 p.m. at Camp Randall Stadium.
The Badgers enter the season as one of the early favorites to compete for the Big Ten title and a BCS bowl bid. Their No. 7 national ranking is their highest in the preseason since 2000, when they were voted fourth in the Associated Press poll and fifth in the USA Today coaches' poll. Last season, UW concluded with a nine-game winning streak, including a 17-14 win over Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl.
Head coach Bret Bielema noted a few small changes with respect to the team's approach this season as a nationally ranked contender, including later practice times to accommodate nationally televised contests. However, very few things will change about Bielema's approach to football itself.
'I asked our kids last week, and I saw a couple references to 'How are you going to do things differently?' Bielema said at a press conference Monday. ""I got that question quite a bit, and I basically stood in front of them, and I said, 'Do I seem different to you guys?' and got a bunch of no's.""
One key change will be under center. Fifth-year senior Tyler Donovan will replace John Stocco as the starter, edging out junior Allan Evridge, a transfer from Kansas State, in preseason practice. Donovan started in the Badgers' final two games of the 2006 season, both victories.
""I think Tyler has shown that he definitely has been able to win at this level, and I expect those same things to continue,"" Bielema said.
After starting their 2006 campaign with a 6-3 mark, Washington State appeared to be bowl-bound. Instead, the Cougars dropped their final three contests, finishing at .500 for the season without a bowl invitation.
The Cougars are led by senior quarterback Alex Brink. Brink, a second-team All-Pac 10 selection in 2006, averaged 241.6 yards passing per game, good for second-highest in the Pac 10. The Cougars' pass offense finished second in the conference and 15th in the nation.
Defensively, the Cougars return just five starters from a unit that finished seventh in the Pac 10 in total defense. Their secondary is suspect, especially with the loss of three senior starters, including first-team All-Pac 10 selection Eric Frampton, who graduated.
Despite their defensive struggles, the Cougars have shown they can play with the nation's elite, falling just short of an upset last season in a 28-22 loss to national powerhouse USC.
The Badgers expressed excitement over facing an established program so early in the season.
""Right off the bat, opening up against a good program [like Washington State], I feel like it's definitely a good thing,"" senior wide receiver Paul Hubbard said. ""This lets us jump on the horse early in the season, so we can get it going faster and we can maintain it longer throughout the season so we don't start slow.""
