MADISON, Wis. — You could say that Wisconsin should be picking on someone its own size, but after a Cal Poly-tinged 2008, it could be argued that the Badgers aren’t punching too far below their weight class with this Northern Illinois/Fresno State/Wofford undercard.

Still, when Bret Bielema said not long ago that Wisconsin has trouble attracting non-conference opponents commensurate with face value because of its Camp Randall record, well, all that inspired was the urge to run out and buy some hip-waders.
Yet for all the Badgers have to atone, it’s possible to look beyond the level of the competition and right into the level of UW’s resolve. Are they really capable of clean, smart football this season? Just as important, will they find a playmaking quarterback?
After all, that’s the big idea with this otherwise unappealing preseason schedule, to get to the Big Ten with one useful QB.
But in trying to reach that point in the opener Saturday night, the Badgers created way too much drama for themselves in the messy, 28-20 victory against Northern Illinois. That’s what playing two quarterbacks will generally do for you.
The Badgers had second-half momentum with starter Scott Tolzien, who drove them down the field, 11 plays in 92 yards, to begin the third quarter. At the time, he had thrown for 257 yards. He had completed 15 of 19. His only interception was because of broken protection. He eventually had UW up by 22 points.
But, as advertised, the Badgers wanted to see Curt Phillips’ flashy wheels. He played some in the first half and then returned at a time when it seemed relatively safe. Except, it never really is with two quarterbacks.
You can understand why Bielema did it, but his call to get Phillips back in the game broke momentum. The Badgers missed a field goal, and the Huskies took it right down the field and scored. Back came a cold Tolzien, who was cleanly picked this time, and all of the sudden the Badgers were sweating against an opponent that should’ve caused them no such agitation.
It never should have reached that point after Tolzien completed his first college pass for an 80-yard score, which also happened to be UW’s first offensive play of the new year. Suddenly, the possibilities of a redirection for UW football were there for all but the late-arriving students to see.
Yes, there were the usual first-game problems. A personal foul, an interference call and Bielema’s decision to go for a 55-yard field goal helped the Huskies believe they belonged on the field while causing an ’08 flashback here and there.
Tolzien, though, had a way of changing perceptions early in the second half by finding all manner of quality receivers. Nick Toon catches and runs a lot like dad. Isaac Anderson, shockingly open on the 80-yarder that served as the early reset button, could also make the UW offense very dangerous to others for a change. So could Tolzien, who was smart, efficient and had real zip on the football until he went to the bench, cooled down and then found a NIU defender at a really scary time.
You give the Badgers a certain amount of leeway to experiment with the quarterbacks after not finding a clear-cut starter during camp. They got out of the game with the W, but Bielema can’t afford to make the big-ticket donors squirm.
Maybe Phillips can run like Tolzien could wing it against Northern, and that’s fine for the preliminaries. But by the time Michigan State rolls into town, it’s got to be one or the other.