It has evolved into a philosophy that doesn't appear to be leaving any time soon when analyzing the present state of Big Ten offenses: If we can't run through or at them, we will go around, find a vacant spot, and make them pursue us.

In one instance, a defense is expecting a pass, then suddenly, as a defender is rushing upfield, there goes the ballcarrier, untouched up the middle on a unexpected quick dive.

And after awhile, all the teams begin to look the same, with the alignments and shifting and motioning and bunching.

Being a defender so close to Thanksgiving, the spread doesn't always look so enticing.

The offense that makes Penn State defenders question their aggressiveness will be on vacation, at least for a week, when line-em-up, run-it-right-at-you Wisconsin pays Beaver Stadium and the Nittany Lions a visit Saturday.

Sophomore linebacker Dan Connor said he'd be more than happy to take a hard-nosed team over a spread offense on most Saturdays.

"It's tough," Connor said. "That's why everyone is running the offense, it makes it hard to defend. I'm definitely excited to see that old school I-formation with a fullback."

Beware, though, what style of offense you wish for, which brings us to a load of a man named Bernstein.

Among the many disheartening visuals any Lions fan will remember from last season's Penn State-Wisconsin game -- and feel free to chime in when your vivid image comes up of Zack Mills gone in the first quarter, Michael Robinson leaving in an ambulance, Chris Ganter, no need to go further -- most will recall a second half when Badger fullback Matt Bernstein ran at will.

With Badgers running back Anthony Davis sidelined with an eye injury, Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez refused to abandon his gameplan, he simply went to the next guy. When the next guy, Booker Stanley, reaggravated his turf toe, Alvarez looked to Jamil Walker, and then he injured his shoulder.

Funny, Penn State thought its players were the main ones being knocked out of games.

But Bernstein, like most fullbacks, appreciates whenever he gets an opportunity to run the football. Just ask BranDon Snow how thankless that position was until he scored his first two touchdowns this season on Saturday.

The Badgers fed Bernstein 27 times that day, and he finished with 123 yards on the ground. The final score of that game was 16-3, Wisconsin. It was no secret what the Badgers planned to do with Mills and Robinson out, the Lions defense knew it, too, but just wasn't able to stop it.

So what happens now, when Wisconsin returns with a fullback and arguably a better back than Davis in Brian Calhoun, who scored five touchdowns against Illinois last week, one shy of the six-spot that Robinson put against the Illini.

"There's different ways you play every team," Connor said. "It might look the same to the crowd but everyone's got a different assignment. When you see the spread offense every week, you kind of get used to defending it."

Connor said playing those types of offenses makes you slow down and think just a bit, instead of reacting. The Lions are at home this time instead of in Madison, Wisc., and the change of venue is greatly welcomed.

Connor and his teammates just hope Wisconsin doesn't put on a repeat ground performance much like a year ago.

"When you put the ball down, it really doesn't matter who it is," defensive tackle Scott Paxson said. "You just gotta line up and play, especially when you're on your home field."