There are few things a University of Wisconsin football team can do that earn immortality on the walls of Camp Randall Stadium. The group of Badgers has already accomplished one of them — earning a bid into the Rose Bowl.
After a down season in 2018 and a good deal of roster turnover, the Badgers can end the decade with something the program hasn’t had in nearly 20 years: A Rose Bowl win.
Though Jonathan Taylor is unquestionably the most important piece to the Badgers’ offense, getting Quintez Cephus, a junior wide receiver, involved early and often is crucial for UW’s success.
If quarterback Jack Coan can get Cephus (above) going, it opens things up for the rest of the offense, including Taylor. That’s the formula that worked for a little over a half against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, when Cephus was targeted 14 times, made seven catches and gained 122 yards.
The passing game of the Ducks gets a lot of the publicity, but make no mistake, Oregon is a balanced team. When at its best, the running game adds an explosive element that helps Oregon keep the throttle down on opponents.
While the Ducks’ depth chart lists four running backs as potential starters, sophomore CJ Verdell (above) is the front man in the backfield. Verdell, who hails from Chula Vista, Calif., has scored eight touchdowns and has a team-best 1,171 yards on 180 carries this season.
Arguably the biggest factor in the Badgers’ 4-0 run in November that got them into the Big Ten title game was the variety of looks the offense gave opponents.
Coach Paul Chryst and offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph have made jet motion and jet sweep runs a staple, using them on over 20 percent of snaps in the past four games. That allows chances to get dynamic receivers the ball with space to run, as well as forces defenses to play honest on the edge instead of loading up the middle against tailback Jonathan Taylor. They’ve also used a wildcat package with receiver Aron Cruickshank at quarterback to create explosive plays, and a similar look with running back Garrett Groshek (above) at QB in short-yardage situations.
The 2012 game — won by Oregon 45-38 — was a matchup of high-powered offenses. This season's teams lean more on their outstanding defenses.
Paul Sanborn, who died when Jack was 4, was an offensive lineman for the Ducks from 1980 to '82.
Jim Leonhard knows he's seen as a candidate for head coaching or NFL assistant jobs, but says he's "extremely happy" with his current role.
Wednesday's Rose Bowl vs. Oregon might be the final game together for the redshirt juniors from central Wisconsin.
Paul Chryst, who is 4-0 in bowls as UW's coach, has found the right mix of innovation and motivation during the bowl season.
UW freshman quarterback Graham Mertz made an impression with first-team practice reps throughout the season.
Oregon senior quarterback Justin Herbert could have been a high pick in the 2019 NFL draft, but elected to stay in college and now leads the Ducks against the Badgers in the Rose Bowl.
The newly-engaged senior inside linebacker has been a game-changer for UW's defense this season.
Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in the Pac-12, is a game-changer with nine sacks this season.
Badgers quarterback Jack Coan excelled as a lacrosse player in high school in Sayville, New York.
Tyler Johnson and Christian Bell are in the mix for a front seven that has to find a way to slow down Oregon's strong running attack in the Rose Bowl.
“Anybody who would say that has never been involved in football in any capacity,” says UW's athletic director, who was inducted in the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2009.
Ferguson, who watched grandfather Barry Alvarez coach the Badgers in the 2013 game, goes into this season's game as UW's every-down tight end.
From the players to the fanfare to the game, the State Journal has you covered at the Rose Bowl. Check out all of our preview coverage here.
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