The 2012 Wisconsin Badgers football team was an American football team that represented the University of WisconsinâÂÂMadison 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 8âÂÂ6 record (4âÂÂ4 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, and won the Doak Walker Award as the best running back in college football. 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.
During the game, there was a ceremony to honor the 1962 Wisconsin Badgers football team on the 50th anniversary of their Big Ten Championship.
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.
Note: G = Games played; COMP = Completions; ATT = Attempts; COMP % = Completion percentage; YDS = Passing yards; TD = Passing touchdowns; INT = Interceptions; EFF = Passing efficiency
Note: G = Games played; ATT = Attempts; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average yard per carry; LG = Longest run; TD = Rushing touchdowns
Note: G = Games played; REC = Receptions; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average yard per catch; LG = Longest catch; TD = Receiving touchdowns
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
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
Note: G = Games played; P = Punts; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average per punt; LG = Punt long; In20 = Punts inside the 20; TB = Touchbacks
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