MADISON, Wis. – No matter what happens today against Wisconsin, the Illinois football players and coaches know one thing: They aren't losing next week.
It's guaranteed. No way. No how. It isn't going to happen.
They can thank the Big Ten Conference schedule maker. He, she or it (a computer?) gave Illinois the week off.
It's the lone break this season for a team riding an 11-game losing streak, the third longest in the nation. Iowa State and Northern Illinois, both heavy underdogs today, have lost 12 in a row.
"We don't really talk about the losing streak," Illinois coach Ron Turner said. "We just talk about where our program is right now since we've gotten here and where we're going with the program."
Turner, in his first year at Illinois, isn't thinking about the off week. Not yet. He's too busy trying to get his first win at the school.
But is now a good time for the break?
"It depends on how things are going," defensive coordinator Tim Kish said. "If you're rolling and things are going well, or you're not rolling and things aren't going so well, sometimes it's best to just keep playing."
The week off allows several injured Illini to heal. On offense, it means rest for center Tom Schau, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury. On defense, tackle Garrett Johnson and end Ryan Murphy will have a chance to get healthy.
"The reason you'd like it is that you're banged up and you have a chance to get some guys back," Kish said.
The Illini figure to have a few more bumps and bruises after today's game. They'll be trying to stop Wisconsin's Ron Dayne, who at 262 pounds is closer in size to an offensive tackle than a tailback.
Dayne ripped through the Illinois defensive in last year's game, a 35-15 Wisconsin win. On three of his four touchdown runs, Dayne carried Illini cornerback James Williams into the end zone with him.
Illini linebacker David James has a way to bring Dayne down.
"With a hog tie," James said. "You've just got to gang tackle him. Just keep hitting him and hitting him and hitting him. Once he gets going, gets the motor running, call the troops, call everybody you can to bring him down."
The Illini have seen power backs before. Penn State's bulky Curtis Enis ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns in last Saturday's 41-6 win.
"He's a mini-Dayne, but Dayne is Dayne," James said.
Dayne is the third All-American level running back in a row for the Illini defense, following Iowa's Tavian Banks and Enis. Kish doesn't have any problem saying Dayne is the best.
"He's just a threat unlike others we're going to see," Kish said. "Dayne can wear you down quicker than any other back we'll face all year."
Like Iowa with Banks and Penn State with Enis, Wisconsin has more offensive threats than Dayne. Receivers Donald Hayes and Tony Simmons are two of the best in the league. Simmons averages 24.4 yards per catch.
"This offense is in some ways very similar to Penn State," Kish said. "There really aren't any weaknesses I can see. We know we're going to have to defend the whole thing."
Wisconsin quarterback Mike Samuel isn't the same scrambling freshman who Illinois pounded in 1995. The junior from New Jersey is completing 62 percent of his passes and has moved to seventh on the school's career passing list.
But the offensive line hasn't been able to dominate the way it had in recent years. Three freshmen start with a sophomore and a junior.
"They're young," Turner said. "They're growing each game."
Despite a 5-1 record, Wisconsin isn't ranked in either national poll. The Badgers still are having to live down a 34-0 loss to Syracuse in the opener. Since then, they've had to rally for wins against Boise State (28-24), Indiana (27-26) and Northwestern (26-25).
"They've found a way to win three very close games," Turner said. "They have a lot of character and a lot of poise."
Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez isn't counting on an easy day against Illinois. He has tried to tell his players to not be fooled by the record.
"All you have to do is watch film of Illinois," Alvarez said. "You see them playing some of the top teams in the country and being very competitive with them.
"My guys have respect for them. We know every week we're going to have a dogfight. I really don't anticipate any problems getting that message across to my guys."
Like every other Illinois opponent, the first player Alvarez mentions is running back Robert Holcombe. The senior has more than half of Illinois 1,480 yards of offense.
"There's no question that Robert Holcombe is one of the finest backs in not only this league but in the country," Alvarez said.
Holcombe will try to extend a four-game streak of at least 100 yards rushing. The Badgers held him to 61 last season.

The final word

The Illini arrived at the stadium at 1:50 p.m. Friday and held a 30-minute workout. Center Tom Schau and defensive end Ryan Murphy did not make the trip. ... Wisconsin held a closed practice at 3:30 p.m.