The Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook released its top-25 and Wisconsin stands at No. 12. Sixth-ranked Michigan is the only Big Ten team ranked ahead of the Badgers.

Monday can't come fast enough here at MadTownBadgers, so because we're so damn anxious and a bunch of self-described sports geeks here we decided to go to the ultimate source to tell us just how this season will play out for the Badgers, you know the source as EA Sports' NCAA 13.

Wisconsin is a top 5 team in the game with a 99 overall ranking. They own the 2nd best offense in the game (behind USC), and have a top 5 defense. Here we give you our official sim of the Badgers' season, according to NCAA 13. So we set our PS3 to sim and allowed it to do it's work to tell us how the Badgers season turns out!

Before any games are played in the season, the Badgers are ranked 16th, and senior running back Montee Ball starts 2nd on the heisman list behind USC QB Matt Barkley.

Week 1

In real life the Badgers start there season out against Northern Iowa. But since they're not in the game, we'll be facing "FCS Midwest", which is basically one of the 5 sim teams that represents all FCS schools. Well, this one got ugly to say the least.

Final Score: #16 Wisconsin 69, Northern Iowa (FCS Midwest) 3

Notable Stats: QB Danny O'Brien went 12-22 in passing and gained 174 yards with 3 TDs in his Wisconsin debut. Montee Ball had 71 yards on 9 carries and 2 TDs (was pulled early due to a minor injury). Backup RB James White (player of the game) exploded in this game for 194 yards on 32 carries and 3 TDs.

There are many traveling trophies in the world of Big Ten football, but one would be hard-pressed to find a more interesting story than that of the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy.

Our camping journey with the Badgers has showcased the pass catchers over the past few days, so it's only right that we hit on the players that could be throwing them the ball today, right?

Wisconsin has a young group of wide receivers on hand for 2012 and the tight end group could be the deepest the Badgers have ever had at the position, but what we'll see out of the quarterback position is the biggest unknown heading into camp.

It's also curious that with a battle brewing the media has been limited to only seeing five full practices this camp, a low number for the Badgers let alone any other Big Ten team. But I digress, and let's get "Camping with the Badgers."

Probable Starter: 

Danny O'Brien (RS Jr., 6'3", 215lbs.) 

Thoughts on the Unit: 

Yes, I did assume Danny O'Brien as the starter above, but at the Big Ten media days last week head coach Bret Bielema made it very clear that O'Brien is going to have to battle to win the job, he won't be handed it.

He'll be battling with a guy that Badger fans everywhere assumed wouldn't be in the conversation and that's Curt Phillips. Yes, THE same Curt Phillips that has undergone three ACL surgeries on his right knee. 

According to a statement released by the University of Wisconsin athletic department star running back Montee Ball was a victim of an "unprovoked assault" early on Wednesday morning. He was taken to the hospital with head injuries and was released from there. 

"My concern right now is for Montee's health and well-being," said Badgers head coach Bret Bielema in a statement released by the athletic department. "Montee has been released from the hospital and is under the care and supervision of our sports medicine staff. We will continue to evaluate him as we approach the start of fall camp this weekend. I do expect Montee to make a full recovery."

According to the Madison Police Department report Ball was jumped by five men according to witnesses. They knocked him to the ground and began kicking him once he was on the ground. The suspects were not detained at the scene as they fled before the police could arrive. 

The report also states that Ball didn't appear to know his attackers at all.

This certainly hasn't been the best of offseasons for the Heisman trophy frontrunner, as he sat out the sprig game to rest his body, then was arrested for a tresspasing incident during the Mifflin Street block party, and now this unprovoked attack on him by five cowards. 

We wish Montee the best in his recovery and will keep you posted as updates become available about what transpired early Wednesday morning.

The brief, two-part look at what is on the mind of head coaches around the Big Ten concludes with a look at the Leaders Divison.

Indiana

When Hoosiers’ head man Kevin Wilson addressed the media at Big Ten Football media days, his message was very simple: while last season was yet another disappointing year in Bloomington, his team is making strides.

One of the main areas of concern for Wilson was the defense’s ability to close out possessions.

“Defensively, we've got to get to a point as a team where instead of attacking the whole thing, certain things we need to be a little bit better at. One of those needs to be better at third down stops,” Wilson said. “So when we get a team on schedule -- there's a number of games last year where we had a team on schedule and a very manageable third and long that we gave up that we worked very, very hard in spring to understand the concepts of what we're trying to do and the type of routes and the schemes that offenses will do in situations to win a basketball game, get some stops.”

Wilson hopes to have addressed the issue with a few new recruits. Having a year under his belt as the head man won’t hurt either.

“We did address some recruiting issues with six junior college players that we have got set to come in to be a part of our spring practices and been with us through summer,” Wilson said. “So hopefully some maturity is going to help us with that. Year two of schematics, understanding some schemes, and coaches adjusting some schemes and adapting to players what they can and can't do and what not.”

It could be argued that since the beginning of the Bielema era Wisconsin has become sort of "Tight End U," so to speak. They've had multiple players at the position go on to NFL careers with guys like Garrett Graham, Travis Beckum, and Lance Kendricks all having some levels of success at the NFL level. Well, 2012 could provide the Badgers with the most talented group of players the position has seen under Bielema from top to bottom.

We began our second week of previews leading up to the start of camp next Monday with a look at the Wide Receivers, a group that has potential but a lot of unknowns. 

Unlike that group things are bit easier to map out as far as what we'll be getting from the tight end group in 2012. So, time to light up the campfire and talk some Badger tight ends in part five of our "Camping With the Badgers" series.

Probable Starters: 

Jacob Pedersen (Jr., 6'4", 242lbs.): 30 rec, 356yds, 8TD's in 2011

Sam Arneson (So., 6'4", 255lbs.): no stats in 2011

or

Brian Wozniak (Jr., 6'4", 260lbs.): played in all 14 games, but recorded no stats (mostly special teams)

Thoughts on the Unit: 

Wisconsin has itself another great pass catching tight end in Jacob Pedersen and it's actually hard to believe he's entering just his junior season. Pedersen is clearly the class of this group of tight ends, but he's not alone in the talent department to say the least.

There could be an interesting battle brewing for the 2nd tight end spot between true sophomore Sam Arneson and junior Brian Wozniak. They will look to replace a tight end in Jake Byrne who was strictly all about blocking on the 2011 squad. Both have much more to offer in terms of being pass catchers, but don't sleep on their blocking abilities either. If they can get good production out of them in the passing game, say 10-15 receptions on the season it will help ease the burden on a young wide receiver group as well.

It's Season Two for the only Badgers show for fans by fans... Badgers Power Hour!! Join our hosts Andy and Nate as we preview and breakdown all the positions and players you need to watch as Fall Camp 2012 opens up on August 5th! We'll also be breaking down the latest news and notes involving the Badgers. So make sure you join us LIVE at 7pmCT tonight for the Season 2 Premiere of Badgers Power Hour!!! Make sure you tune in for a few very special announcements from our staff as to things we will be doing for the upcoming season and don't foget to always be Keeping It Bucky! 

Missed it LIVE? Don't worry, here's the show right here for your listening pleasure.... 

Don't forget to join the Stitcher - Smart Radio crowd by downloading the app or for your computer and enter the code "Badgers," you'll be entered for a $100 Visa Cash Card. Seriously, who doesn't love money, right? 

Just days before the beginning of camp, the Wisconsin football team has added a late piece to the puzzle.

Big Ten football media days provide the chance for coaches to speak their minds about the state of their teams prior to the start of the season. Here is a brief look at how the coaches in the Legends division view their teams heading into the start of camp.