Much has been made about Penn State's ability to turn the ball over.
After each Anthony Morelli interception this season, or fumble from a running back not named Evan Royster, there's been a sense that the most recent turnover won't be the last.
The Nittany Lions rank second in the Big Ten in committing turnovers, handing away 16 free possessions this year.
Only last-place and winless-in-the-conference Minnesota has more (20).
But if there's a quick fix for this problem, good luck finding it.
"It's just something that happens," said Morelli, who threw two second-half interceptions last week against Iowa. "You can't practice that. You try not to make turnovers. When you try to make a play every once in a while, you're going to fumble, throw a pick here and there. You have to move on. It's part of the game."
In their two conference losses to Michigan and Illinois, Morelli and the Lions' running backs combined for eight -- or half -- of their season's total giveaways.
During the win last week, they had three, with a fumble coming from Rodney Kinlaw, who laid face-down and motionless for a few seconds after his gaffe, as if to say, "Oh no. Not again."
His expression was valid. Only two teams in the Bowl Subdivision have fumbled more than Penn State.
The Lions have 10, narrowly escaping infamy behind Florida International (11) and Texas Christian (12).
If Penn State is looking for a team to soothe its troubles though, Wisconsin may be it. The Badgers have forced just one fumble and caught three interceptions in six games.
The Wisconsin defense, in general, has performed relatively below average when compared to the Badgers' 5-1 record.
They rank in the bottom half of the Big Ten in points allowed and rush defense, and are fifth in pass defense.
Plus, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema is breaking in some new starters.
"Sometimes when I see what we're doing on defense, the basic thing is guys are in a position to make plays for the first time that are there for the first time," Bielema said.
"Particularly the safety and some of the linebacker positions, aren't reacting as fast as we'd like them to because they're not confident in what they're seeing."
Morelli, though, said Wisconsin has a "pretty good secondary." Jack Ikegwuonu, a junior cornerback, was of particular concern.
But not as much as the Lions' consistent turnover problems, ones which, players said, just have to stop happening.
That's the only solution.
"I'm not really sure what you can do. That's just been the way it's been," center A.Q. Shipley said. "You can go all week and not fumble the ball, and last week in the game you fumble. I'm not really sure what entails correcting that in practice."
