#9 Wisconsin vs. #6 Oregon: January 1, 2012
Rose Bowl: Wisconsin 38, Oregon 45
The badgers earned back-to-back trips to the Rose Bowl, but were unable to come away with a victory over Oregon after falling to TCU the year prior.
The Badgers opened the scoring on a 7-yard Russell Wilson to Jared Abbrederis connection, but Oregon Answered with a LaMichael James touchdown run. Wilson scampered in from four yards out to put Wisconsin ahead 14-7, but Oregon again answered on a 91-yard De’Anthony Thomas touchdown run to cap a wild first quarter.
Each team scored two more touchdowns in the second quarter – Montee Ball scored on a thre-yard run and Louis Nzegwu returned a fumble 33 yards for Wisconsin, and Kenjon Barner and Lavasier Tuinei each caught touchdown passes from Darron Thomas for Oregon – as the teams went into the half knotted at 28-28.
Oregon took a 35-28 lead on another long De’Anthony Thomas run, but Wisconsin took the lead after a Phillip Welch field goal and a Wilson to Nick Toon 18-yard touchdown pass.
That was the end of Wisconsin’s scoring, and Oregon added a touchdown and a field goal in the fourth quarter to win 45-38.
Next: 2006: Wisconsin vs. Auburn