First road test of 2012 for UW

No. 13 Wisconsin will put its streak of 33 consecutive non conference victories on the line at Oregon State this Saturday, as the Badgers travel to Corvallis to face the Beavers.

Bielema and the Badgers will play on the road for the first time in 2012.

Oregon State may have finished just 3-9 last season, but don't expect the Badgers to take them lightly, as they know this year's team isn't exactly a reflection of their 2011 record.

"We don't have to tell anybody how good Oregon State is," Wisconsin Head Coach Bret Bielema said. "You can see the film from a year ago, they get steadily better in every game.

"Obviously we've got to play better than we were a week ago. Very excited to play on the road and see what kind of players we have in an environment like that."

Wisconsin trounced Oregon State 35-0 in last year's meeting. The Beavers return seven starters on offense and eight on defense in 2012.

Oregon State opens their season tomorrow against Wisconsin after having their week one game with Nicholls State postponed. Bielema expects a much improved opponent on both sides of the football.

"I know they're going to be a better opponent," he said. "They played 24 players last year for the first time, that were first year players. 10 of those guys were true freshman.

"Those last couple games they were right there. They played with Oregon. Won three games down the stretch. They beat Arizona, Washington State, and somebody else (Washington)."

Wisconsin hits the road for the first time in 2012. The Badgers have never lost a non conference game on the road or at home under Bielema.

Oregon State has already called tomorrow's match up against the Badgers, one of the biggest non conference games in program history.

"They were 5-5 against the last top 20 teams to come into their stadium out there, so we know we're going to get a tremendous challenge," said Bielema.

"It'll be a frenzy. They've made reference several times, not only their coaches, but their players, that it's one of the biggest games, non-conference schedule, since they've been there.

"Our kids have been preparing with crowd noise this week. They've been embracing the opportunity to go play on the road."

Oregon State and Wisconsin will kickoff at approximately 3:00 PM Central Time.