Wisconsin Does Its Part, Routs Illinois : Big Ten: After 35-10 victory, the Badgers are within one victory of their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1963.

Inspired by Michigan’s upset only minutes before kickoff, No. 12 Wisconsin cut through one of the nation’s best defenses and set up a Rose Bowl-deciding game in Japan on Dec. 4.

The Badgers beat Illinois, 35-10, Saturday and pulled within one victory of its first Rose Bowl appearance since Jan. 1, 1963.

“Before they took the field I told them they controlled their own destiny,” Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez said.

That’s because Michigan upset No. 5 Ohio State, 28-0, preventing the Buckeyes from clinching the Big Ten title.

Wisconsin’s victory means the Rose Bowl will be on the line when the Badgers play Michigan State in Tokyo. A Wisconsin loss would send the Buckeyes to Pasadena.

“We’re not going to let this one slip away,” promised quarterback Darrell Bevell, who threw three touchdown passes against Illinois. “We’re on a real big high right now.”

Something had to give when the Badgers, 8-1-1 overall and 5-1-1 in the Big Ten, lined up against the Fighting Illini (5-6, 5-3). Wisconsin entered with the Big Ten’s most productive offense at 452 yards per game, while Illinois had the nation’s fourth-best defense against the rush, yielding only 96 yards.

It was no contest.

Wisconsin rolled up 523 yards, including 301 on the ground. Terrell Fletcher gained 139 yards and scored a touchdown, and Brent Moss rushed for 124 and a touchdown.

“This game was won by Wisconsin by what was done in the trenches,” Illinois Coach Lou Tepper said. “When they’re just assaulting you inside, it really wears at you.”

Illinois cut the margin to 21-10 early in the third quarter when William Morris returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.

But the Badgers came right back with a 92-yard drive capped by Bevell’s 23-yard pass to tight end Michael Roan.

The Illini threatened again, moving to within inches of the goal line early in the fourth quarter.

On the next two plays, however, they lost 20 yards, and then Chris Richardson missed a 39-yard field-goal attempt.

“That sent a message and basically ended the football game,” Alvarez said.

Wisconsin added a final touchdown in the fourth quarter when Bevell tossed a two-yard pass to Lee DeRamus.

Touchdowns on its first three drives put Wisconsin ahead, 21-3, at halftime.

Moss, the Big Ten’s leading rusher, gained 66 yards in 13 carries in the first half.

He scored on a three-yard run. After a 35-yard field goal by Richardson, the Badgers went ahead 14-3 on a 24-yard pass play from Bevell to Roan.

Two series later, Fletcher ran six yards for another score.

“If there was any kind of hole,” said Illinois defensive lineman Chad Copher, “they took off.”

In Wisconsin’s last Rose Bowl appearance, the Badgers scored 23 points in the fourth quarter behind quarterback Ron Vander Kelen but the rally fell short and they lost to USC, 42-37.