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When the Wisconsin football team trots out on offense for
the first time in the Outback Bowl, it appears P.J. Hill will not be in the
backfield.

Hill, a two-year starter for the Badgers who was named
national freshman of the year just a season ago, missed most of the final four
games of the regular season with a leg bruise and hasn't practiced yet during
bowl preparation.

"P.J. hasn't practiced to this point, and I don't see him
practicing before the bowl game," UW head coach Bret Bielema said Saturday.
"But there's a long time between now and then."

What's keeping Hill back is simple: He can't run.

"Basically since he started coming back, it's been the
understanding that once he's been able to do certain things — primarily just
run — he'd be able to come back," Bielema said. "He hasn't been able to do that
to this point."

With Hill's status for the game doubtful, the Badgers are
preparing to have Zach Brown and Lance Smith carry the load for the running
game, a scenario that Bielema has admitted he's excited to see play out.

"I don't think it's a matter of catching [up to Hill], I
think they're already there," Bielema said. "They've been able to be very
productive in the same types of situations."

Bielema has fawned over Brown since the freshman started on
the road against then-No. 1 Ohio State Nov. 3 and rushed for 63 yards. Brown
has since started the final two games of the regular season and played at a
level that has put him in a position to start the Outback Bowl.

"Zach has the upper hand I think, just the way he's played
the last two ball games," Bielema said.

Against Michigan Nov. 10, Brown rushed for 108 yards and
scored two late-game touchdowns that sealed the victory for the Badgers.

The following week, he scorched the Minnesota defense for
250 yards and two more touchdowns. Brown also had two runs of 60 or more yards.

Smith saw his action limited because of a five-game
suspension and was passed by Brown as the primary backup to Hill as the season
wore on. Still, Smith gained more than 400 yards on the ground and three
touchdowns for the Badgers and had the highest per carry average (6.2 yards) of
Wisconsin's primary rushers.

"Zach's continued to play well. He's played with confidence;
he understands what we're asking him to do," Bielema said.

"Lance, on the other hand, it's kind of been a tough
struggle for him all year because he knew he only had certain games that he
could prepare and get ready for."

Bowl preparation

Although Wisconsin has known Tennessee will be its opponent
in the Outback Bowl for a week, the Badgers haven't been doing much preparation
for the Volunteers thus far.

After taking a week off following the 41-34 win over
Minnesota, Wisconsin got back to practice, focused on improving as a team.

"We practiced Friday and Saturday of that week not knowing
who our opponent was, just basically going Wisconsin versus Wisconsin," Bielema
said. "We've had a couple developmental practices in between there and now."

Bielema said the Badgers would take their first crack at
preparing for the Volunteers Sunday.

What coaches and players will have to be ready for is an
offense and passing attack that could expose the same secondary that Minnesota
lit up for 352 yards through the air.

"Any time you have a senior quarterback that has the numbers
(Erik) Ainge has, you get worried as the defensive coaches," Bielema said.
"They've been able to be so productive down the stretch."

Other notes