However, even though the Hoosiers dropped a 41-24 decision to the Badgers, there was no feeling in the locker room that Indiana was up against superior competition and that it could not compete with the better teams in the Big Ten. Instead, it was more like the clock ran out on the Hoosiers and that given enough time they would have played themselves back in the game.

Whether that is true or not is open to debate, but there is a feeling of confidence and camaraderie not seen in the Hoosier locker room in several seasons.

"One of the things that we've struggled with in the past is getting down on ourselves and letting one game affect the next," IU sophomore quarterback Blake Powers said. "But I don't sense that at all with this team. We're going to realize if we just make a few more plays, we can win that game, and we can carry that over into the rest of the season."

It clearly was not all sweetness and light for Indiana. The run defense knew it was in for a stiff challenge by the presence of Wisconsin RB Brian Calhoun. He earned each of his 101 yards on 26 carries and did not damage the Hoosiers with any of the long runs he had put on the board in the team's first four games of the season.

But the Wisconsin passing game, which had barely caused a ripple prior to this game, tore up the Hoosiers secondary. QB John Stocco threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns and Wisconsin won its fifth game in a row to open the season. Brandon Williams had six catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns, and scored a third TD on a 63-yard punt return. Jonathan Orr had four catches for 128 yards and a score.

The Hoosiers simply could not keep up. But Powers and WR James Hardy formed a devastating duo of their own. The two teamed up for an 83-yard TD pass in the first quarter that tied the game at 7-7 and later added a fourth-quarter TD.

It was a game of missed opportunities for Indiana. The Hoosiers turned the ball over four times and gave up the punt return for a touchdown. They had 12 penalties for 77 yards and it's clear why the Hoosiers dropped their first game after opening with three victories.

Indiana will try to record its first Big Ten win of the season this week against Illinois.

KEEP AN EYE ON: QB Blake Powers -- While he missed 13 of his first 16 passes, Powers came back to complete 17 of his next 25. He did not have a great game, but he passed for 244 yards and had three TDs.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think I can score in every game, and while I'm off to a good start, I just feel like I can do a lot more." -- Indiana WR James Hardy, who has caught at least one TD pass in each of IU's first four games. The last IU receiver to accomplish that feat was Ernie Jones, who caught 66 passes for 1,265 yards and 13 touchdowns that season.

FS Troy Grosfield -- He was all over the field and did a good job of keeping Brian Calhoun from shaking loose. He had eight tackles and one TFL vs. the Badgers.

LB John Panozzo -- He had a huge assignment in trying to disrupt the Badgers offense. Panozzo was probably the team's best defensive player with eight tackles, three TFL and two sacks.

STILL NEEDS WORK: The Indiana running game was once again undependable. While the Hoosiers were explosive in the third game of the season against Kentucky, the running game has been poor in three other games. The Hoosiers had just 125 rushing yards and that was not enough to take the pressure off of Blake Powers.

RB Chris Taylor -- He looked a step slow in rushing for 35 yards on 10 carries. Taylor didn't get much help from his blockers, but a good running back has to get some yards on his own.

DE Victor Adeyanju -- The Hoosiers could not come up with a big-time pass rush vs. Wisconsin and made Badger QB John Stocco look like an All-Big Ten candidate. Adeyanju had just one tackle and needs to create more havoc.

ROSTER REPORT: Linebacker John Pannozzo played through foot problems and had a sensational game vs. the Badgers.