MADISON, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Without the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, fifth-ranked and two-time defending Rose Bowl champion Wisconsin begins another season of high expectations against Western Michigan.

Ron Dayne is now a member of the New York Giants, but that does not mean the cupboard is bare for the Badgers. Wisconsin (0-0) may be even better this year than the team that went 10-2 and beat Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

The reason for the optimism is two-fold. Brooks Bollinger proved extremely solid behind center in his freshman season, completing nearly 59 percent of his passes for 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns against just two interceptions.

Then there is junior running back Michael Bennett, who will not be mistaken for Dayne in terms of stature put should be able to fill the role in terms of performance. The 5-10, 205-pound Bennett possesses sprinter-like speed, as does his backup, redshirt freshman Broderick Williams.

The offense could be slowed early, however, because star wideout Chris Chambers is sidelined with a foot injury. Assuming he returns in time for a September 30 trip to Michigan, the Badgers should be able to get by without him.

Defensively, the Badgers feature junior Jamar Fletcher, perhaps the nation's top cornerback. Key linebackers Donnel Thompson and Chris Ghidorzi are gone, but eight defensive starters return and linebacker Bryan Thompson will help make up for the loss of his brother.

This game will likely be a tune-up for the Badgers, who host a tough Oregon squad next week, but the Broncos (0-0) are coming off a successful season which saw them go 7-5 and fall to Marshall by just four points in the Mid-American Conference title game.

Western Michigan should once again contend for the MAC's West Division title, but it must find a quarterback to replace Tim Lester, who broke 17 school and six league passing records. Junior Jeff Welsh, who played in 12 quarters in 1997, redshirted in 1998 and threw just five passes last season, is the likely successor.

The Broncos do possess a talented group of receivers, including senior standout Steve Neal, who will be tested by Fletcher.

It is the second straight year that Western Michigan is opening the season with a top-five opponent. The Broncos were beaten, 55-26, by No. 5 Florida to begin the 1999 campaign despite 405 passing yards by Lester and 116 receiving yards from Neal.

Western Michigan trailed only 31-26 early in the third quarter of that contest.

Wisconsin has won two of the three meetings between the schools, but Western Michigan took the last matchup, 24-14, in 1998. For the fourth time in as many contests, the teams will play in Madison.

WESTERN MICHIGAN Season schedule and results	WISCONSIN Season schedule and results
Aug. 31 @Wisconsin 8:00pm ET Sep. 9 @Iowa 6:00pm ET Sep. 16 Indiana State 6:00pm ET Sep. 23 Toledo 6:00pm ET Sep. 30 Ohio 1:00pm ET Oct. 5 @Marshall 8:00pm ET Oct. 21 Northern Illinois 1:00pm ET Oct. 28 @Kent 2:00pm ET Nov. 4 @Ball State 1:00pm ET Nov. 11 @Central Michigan 1:00pm ET Nov. 18 Eastern Michigan 1:00pm ET	Aug. 31 Western Michigan 8:00pm ET Sep. 9 Oregon 3:30pm ET Sep. 16 Cincinnati 2:00pm ET Sep. 23 Northwestern 12:00pm ET Sep. 30 @Michigan 12:00pm ET Oct. 7 Ohio State 2:00pm ET Oct. 14 @Michigan State 12:10pm ET Oct. 21 Purdue 12:10pm ET Oct. 28 @Iowa 2:00pm ET Nov. 4 Minnesota 2:00pm ET Nov. 11 @Indiana 2:00pm ET Nov. 25 @Hawaii 11:05pm ET