EVANSTON, Ill. -- It was just one loss for Wisconsin, but it couldn't have been any more devastating.

Gone is the national ranking that climbed as high as No. 14 just two weeks ago when the Badgers upset Ohio State and handed the defending national champions their first loss in 20 games.

A Big Ten championship? That's likely out of reach too now that Wisconsin (6-3, 3-2) has lost back-to-back conference games and is tied for fifth in the league with three games to go.

The Badgers have a bye this week before facing Minnesota Nov. 8 -- and they have plenty to think about during the break.

"We need to do some soul searching," receiver Lee Evans said after Saturday's 16-7 loss to Northwestern. "We didn't have a lot of enthusiasm out there. If we don't have (that), then we won't win many games the rest of the season."

Wisconsin didn't mince words after the loss.

Offensive coordinator Brian White said the players looked "really sluggish." Safety Jim Leonhard said "we just weren't ready" to match up with Northwestern. Linebacker Alex Lewis said the Badgers have to "learn not to underestimate anybody."

"Certainly it's the first time we've played like that this year. We were really lethargic," White said. "There wasn't a lot of personality out on the field."

Even the Wildcats noticed.

"I looked over at their sideline in the third quarter and they were lifeless. There was no emotion over there. I think at that point they threw in the towel," defensive end Loren Howard said. "They looked like a dead log."

The Badgers certainly played like one.

The Badgers were forced to punt four times and missed a 25-yard field goal on their first five possessions. They rushed for 135 yards as a team -- well below their average of 197 yards entering the game. They also gave up a season-high 245 yards rushing.

Wisconsin was coming off a tough loss to Purdue at home a week after upending Ohio State. The Badgers tied the Boilermakers with 2:55 to go when they gave up an 82-yard game winning drive.

"We just came off two emotional games. We'd like to say it won't happen, but we put a lot into those two weeks," defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said.

The Badgers were missing more than enthusiasm.

Wisconsin played without starting quarterback Jim Sorgi, who missed the game after having surgery on his knee. They also lost starting running back Anthony Davis, who went down in the first quarter against the Wildcats after reinjuring an ankle that has kept him out of parts of six games this season.

Sorgi is expected back for the game against Minnesota.

With Davis on the sideline, the Badgers couldn't get anything going on the ground. Backup quarterback Matt Schabert was the team's leading rusher with 57 yards. He was followed by Davis -- who only had five carries.

"We got after them a little bit and I think they were kind of shocked and sat back on their heels," Northwestern linebacker Pat Durr said. "I think we kind of took their stinger away from them for most of the game."

Originally published Monday, October 27, 2003