Different year, different location, different opponent, and different coaching staff—it didn't matter, because it was the same result. The Badgers lost for the fourth straight year in a bowl game, going down to South Carolina, 34-24, in the 2014 Capital One Bowl.
For the fourth straight year the Badgers fanbase, coaches and players are all left with the empty feeling of what might have been, and that's because once again Wisconsin only has themselves to blame for this loss.
We're sure the excuses and "we'll get it done next year" platitudes will be heard from players and coaches alike, but after four years we should all know better.
Sorry, we aren't buying it. All that's left is a search inside for answers as to what makes the Badgers oh so close, but never close enough when it loses.
It's a familiar feeling for this group of seniors, who for the 16th time in their careers lost a game—and for the 16th time lost a game by 10 points or less as well.
Don't look to the underclassmen in this one, or to the running game because they all did their parts in getting the job done.
Sophomore running back Melvin Gordon led the way with 143 yards on 25 carries, while senior James White ended his career with a 107-yard performance of his own.
The duo set the all-time FBS record for most yards by a running back tandem in a season and also became the first duo in FBS history to both rush for over 1,400 yards in a year.
Wisconsin did nearly anything and everything it wanted in the run game, until it mattered most—in short yardage situations.
The most glaring of which came when Wisconsin, up 17-13 in the third quarter, was stuffed on a 3rd-and-4. James White took the snap in the Wildcat formation and went nowhere fast. The Badgers had to settle for a 42-yard field goal attempt from Jack Russell, who booted it just wide right.
Wisconsin again had a short yardage situation to open the fourth quarter, down 20-17, but two Melvin Gordon runs up the middle were diagnosed right away and he couldn't get a first down. The Badgers turned the ball over on the South Carolina 26-yard line.
Six plays later, South Carolina changed the complexion of the game forever, scoring a touchdown and putting themselves up 27-17.
Yes, the Badgers bounced right back with a 91-yard Kenzel Doe kick return for a touchdown, but Wisconsin still trailed, 27-23, with 10:54 left to go in the final quarter.
What became painfully obvious as time went on in this contest is that the Badgers were just too one dimensional on offense to win against opponents with superior talent or speed to them.
Starting quarterback Joel Stave finished the game with just 80 yards passing, despite a two-touchdown performance.
Even his attempt to make something happen in the third quarter backfired, as South Carolina's Victor Hampton put a nasty hit on him—a hit that appeared to be the reason he was knocked out of the game only a few plays later, making a hand-off on a jet sweep of all things.
It put backup quarterback Curt Phillips in the odd position of being completely cold and having to lead a comeback with his arm (not exactly his strong suit to say the least).
He proved to be ineffective as well, going 7-of-12 for only 37 yards. It was obvious the Badgers staff didn't trust him to win the game with his arm, opening back-to-back drives in the final 6:47 of the game with two straight runs (down by 10 points mind you).
Wisconsin's worry over Phillips' passing ability was warranted as he ended the first drive after going down 34-24 with an interception to Kaiwan Lewis on 4th-and-1.
Then, with Wisconsin having another shot to put themselves in a position to compete for the win thanks to a fumble recovery, Phillips led the Badgers down the field—only to throw a bad interception deep over the middle trying to reach a receiver in the end zone.
Of course it all ended with the Badgers trying to make something happen out of the blue, as Jared Abbrederis took a bubble screen and flipped it to Melvin Gordon who appeared to have an opening for a huge gain down the sideline.
Instead, Abby's pitch was behind Gordon and he fumbled it away to the Gamecocks and it was game, set, and match for South Carolina.
We won't belabor the memories of Rose Bowl's past, as the Capital One Bowl loss was painful enough, but something needs to change.
Maybe it's bringing in a 30-man class that doesn't know the feeling of losing four straight bowl games?
Or maybe it's finding a dynamic answer at quarterback that can help Wisconsin play from behind for a change?
Whatever the answer is, it’s on Gary Andersen and the coaching staff to turn around the trend of heartbreaking losses, in bowl games and the regular season.
Blaming this one on Andersen or the rest of the coaching staff is a bit much; players simply didn't execute a well thought out gameplan.
However, starting next year this staff will share the blame and/or glory for whatever happens. Let's just hope the heartbreak ends here, huh?
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