UW football jumped out to a dazzling first half of the season, but during Big Ten play, the Badgers have steadily slipped to the conference gutter, struggling to maintain a winning record. Nevertheless, the UW football team has not quit. One more victory and the Badgers are bowl-eligible.

Wisconsin (6-5, 1-5 Big Ten) expects to be at full strength when it takes on No. 10 Michigan (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten) at the Big House in Ann Arbor next Saturday.

Senior quarterback Brooks Bollinger and sophomore tailback Anthony Davis are both expected to return to the UW lineup, adding potent threats to the Badger offense.

“We’ll know for sure tomorrow,” head coach Barry Alvarez said of Bollinger. “He’s going to practice today. Today is a light practice, an instillation of game plan. But he’ll take his final tests tomorrow.”

Alvarez said Davis has been cleared to play against Michigan.

“As far as I know, A.D. has been cleared,” Alvarez said. “Physically, he could have played last week.”

Alvarez refused to comment on why Davis did not play last week against Illinois.

“I’m not going to get into that. I just prefer not to,” Alvarez said.

Davis was stabbed in the thigh and hospitalized last weekend after what police termed “a domestic dispute.”

After being unable to take advantage of five turnovers against Illinois, Alvarez is thankful to get two of his skill players back into the offensive lineup.

“There is a reason there is a No. 1 and a No. 2,” Alvarez said. “I’m not putting blame on anybody, but that would give you someplace to start. It’s always nice to have your starters.”

Freshman tailback Dwayne Smith rushed for a career-high 128 yards in the loss, but the offense struggled in the second half under backup quarterback Jim Sorgi.

Senior right tackle Jason Jowers said once experienced players on the offense return, confidence will be restored.

“Jim played a heck of a game last week, and Dwayne played his heart out and gave his best performance of the year,” Jowers said. “But I think anytime you can get back some of your key skill positions, it’s always a little more sense of confidence in yourself.”

Alvarez also said he was unsure whether Davis’s altercation or Lee Evans’ arrest distracted the team.

“I would not use distractions as an excuse, but it may have been,” Alvarez said. “I don’t know. All we can do is try to reload and try to correct things and refocus and play better.”

The Badgers have lost the last five contests against the Wolverines, but only by an average of 5.6 points per game. Last season, Michigan held off UW 20-17 in a heartbreaker for the Badgers.

Alvarez said the team that executes the best wins close games.

“They made the plays. We didn’t make the plays,” Alvarez said about the Badgers’ losses to Michigan the past two years. “They were good football games; either team could have won. They’re smart enough to understand they didn’t make plays and Michigan did.”

But Alvarez said the team is focused on the future, not the past.

Jowers said the Badgers must get victories now and establish their brand of football.

“Everyone knows Michigan is an important game,” Jowers said. “If you can’t get up for that, I don’t know what you can get up for.”

Dwayne Smith said the team has tried to remain positive and has not lost its competitive edge.

“It’s frustrating losing, but we have to remain optimistic,” Smith said. “We still have a lot to play for, even though there are only two games left. We want to come in and prepare and finish out the season with a good record and hopefully go on to a bowl.”

If the Badgers win this week, they become bowl-eligible. Alvarez said that is the team’s primary goal.

“Bowls are always rewards. It gives the seniors something to remember,” Alvarez said. “It’s a great experience for your young players. I always like to use it to get extra practices. So I think it’s very important.”

Smith added that a win this week could get the Badgers back on track and spark a run toward a bowl game.

“Right now we’re struggling with wins in the Big Ten, but going into Michigan and getting a win, that will really boost our confidence,” Smith said. “Even though the record still wouldn’t show that we are one of the elite teams in the Big Ten, but that will help us out a lot mentally.”