Wisconsin had no problem running the ball as Melvin Gordon and James White combined for 250 rushing yards to become the first duo in FBS history to mount 1,400 rushing yards each.
The problem was stopping the South Carolina Gamecocks who did whatever they wanted offensively en route to a 34-24 victory over Wisconsin in the 2014 Capital One Bowl.
Bucky and the Badgers keep reaching significant bowl games, but just can’t find a way to win as they drop their fourth straight bowl contest.
What It Means: Wisconsin wants so badly to reach that next echelon of the elite college football teams, but they aren’t going to get there unless they start beating above average teams outside of the Big Ten. It’s now four straight years with losses to TCU (’11 Rose Bowl), Oregon (’12 Rose Bowl), Stanford (’13 Rose Bowl) and now the SEC’s South Carolina. The Badgers needed at least one win in those games to try to claim any kind of respectable status in college football’s pantheon of great college football programs.
However, just because the Badgers haven’t joined the ranks of elite programs doesn’t mean they aren’t a good football team. Posting double-digit wins and fighting for a conference title each and every year is something to be proud of. Athletic Director Barry Alvarez stated he “hit a home-run” with the hiring of Gary Andersen and he’s most likely right. It’s now time for Andersen to fix what’s wrong in Madison and make his own attempt at lifting the Badgers to national prominence.
Player of the Game: South Carolina QB Connor Shaw (22-of-25 for 311 yards and three touchdowns)
White and Gordon put in their usual effort, but Shaw dazzled against the Badgers. He showed Wisconsin fans exactly what they are missing with limited quarterbacks like Joel Stave and Curt Phillips. Shaw also rushed 16 times for 48 yards and another touchdown to go along with a receiving touchdown (read the highlight of the game).
Highlight of the Game: With a little under seven minutes left in the second quarter, Steve Spurrier came up with a genius double-reverse play on 1st and goal from the 10 yard line that ended with Shaw catching a 10 yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Bruce Ellington to put the Gamecocks up 13-10.
What’s Next: The Badgers lose a key core of seniors, yet return sensation and 2014 Heisman-Hopeful Melvin Gordon. Gordon and a yet to be determined quarterback will try to lead the Badgers on a surprising victory over the SEC’s LSU at Reliant Stadium (Houston, TX) to open the season next year.
Are the Badgers doomed at making that next step in college football or are they quietly making progress? Let me know by commenting below.
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. He also enjoys sharing Fantasy Advice and pretends to be a Golf expert from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best. If social media is not your thing, shoot him an email at grays@uwalumni.com.
Images obtained from thestate.com and Capital One Bowl Twitter Account.