The Wisconsin Badgers Are Looking for Their Fourth Big Ten Title in 5 Years

If the 10-2 Wisconsin Badgers defeat the 11-1 Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, it will be the Badgers' fourth Big Ten title in five years.

The Badgers shared the 2010 Big Ten crown with the Buckeyes and Michigan State in 2010 and went to the Rose Bowl. Then in 2011 and 2012, the Badgers won the first two Big Ten Championship Games by defeating the Spartans and Nebraska respectively.

In the 2011 game, the Badgers beat Michigan State 42-39 in a very exciting contest that went back and forth in heart-stopping action. Quarterback Russell Wilson was the MVP of the game, as he threw three touchdown passes.

In the 2012 contest, the Badgers destroyed Nebraska 70-31 as Wisconsin rushed for a whopping 539 yards. Running back Montee Ball was the MVP, as he ran for 202 yards and had three touchdowns.

Current Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon had 216 yards rushing and one touchdown in that game against the Huskers on just nine carries.

Last year, the Buckeyes were in the title game but lost to the Spartans 34-24.

The Badgers won the West Division this year by beating their closest competitors (Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota) in their last three games of the regular season.

The Buckeyes won the East Division in convincing fashion and were only threatened by Michigan State, who they defeated earlier this season 49-37 in East Lansing.

The Badgers won their three most recent Big Ten titles under head coach Bret Bielema, who is now at Arkansas. This will be the first opportunity for head coach Gary Andersen to win his first title.

Likewise, head coach Urban Meyer of the Buckeyes is looking for his first Big Ten title as well. The Buckeyes have gone 24-0 under him the last three seasons in the Big Ten, but they were ineligible in 2012 and lost in the title game last year.

Andersen and Meyer know each other well, as Andersen was an assistant coach under Meyer at Utah in 2004. Andersen was the defensive line coach for that team, which went 12-0 and won the Fiesta Bowl.

Meyer moved on to Florida in 2005, where he won two BCS National Championships before moving on to Ohio State.

Uncredited/Associated Press

Andersen left Utah in 2009 to become the head coach at Utah State, where he was for four seasons before becoming the head coach at Wisconsin.

Although Wisconsin has dominated recently in winning Big Ten championships, Ohio State has been the overall king of the conference this past decade.

The Buckeyes have won or shared six Big Ten titles over the past 10 years. The Badgers are next with three won or shared championships.

The game on Saturday night looks to be a close one, which has been the case for the Badgers when they have faced the Buckeyes under Meyer.

The Buckeyes defeated the Badgers in overtime, 21-14, in 2012 at Madison. Bielema was the head coach of the Badgers then. In 2013 under Andersen, the Badgers lost 31-24 to Meyer and the Buckeyes in Columbus.

The Buckeyes come into the title game being ranked 11th overall in offense in the nation, while being ranked 19th on defense.

The Badgers meanwhile, are ranked 21st in offense and a sparkling second in total defense.

The Buckeyes lost their starting quarterback J.T. Barrett to a broken ankle last week in their game against Michigan, and he will be very difficult to replace.

Barrett was putting up phenomenal numbers this season before his injury. Barrett had thrown for 2,834 yards with 34 touchdown passes versus 10 interceptions.

Barrett also ran for 938 more yards and 11 touchdowns.

Barrett will be replaced by Cardale Jones, who is also an exceptional athlete like Barrett. The problem is his lack of experience. It's tough to perform well on the big stage when your first start is in a championship game atmosphere against an exceptional defense.

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Jones has only attempted 17 passes all season, but did throw two touchdown passes without throwing a pick. Jones has also rushed for 206 yards.

The big name for the Badgers is Gordon. Like Barrett, Gordon has put up some amazing stats that definitely deserve consideration for winning the Heisman Trophy.

Gordon has rushed for 2,260 yards, which is the best mark in Wisconsin history, as well as the best all-time record in Big Ten history. No. 25 also has 26 rushing touchdowns.

Gordon is a threat in the passing game as well, as he has 17 receptions for 151 yards and three more scores.

Bottom line, expect another close football game on Saturday night. This may be a cliche, but the team that makes the biggest plays and has the fewest mistakes will win this contest.

The Buckeyes lost their biggest playmaker last week when Barrett was injured, while the Badgers still have the explosive Gordon.

The Buckeyes are also starting a quarterback who is making his first start ever in a title game.

The advantages seem to be lining up for the Badgers.

Whether that means that Wisconsin will win their fourth Big Ten title in five years is another story. That will be determined late on Saturday night in Indianapolis.