MADISON, Wis. -- If Ron Dayne is serious about winning the Heisman Trophy, Saturday's game against Michigan would be a good time to start proving it.

	Ron Dayne is having a good year, but he's pushing to have a much better one.

Wisconsin's senior tailback has been solid but unspectacular after three games, during which he moved into sixth place on the career rushing list but was unable last weekend to prevent the Badgers (No. 17 ESPN/USA Today, No. 20 AP) from suffering an embarrassing loss to Cincinnati.

He has been good, but he'll have to be great at some point in order to win the big trophy. His first real test comes Saturday in Badgers' Big Ten Conference opener against Michigan (No. 5 ESPN/USA Today, No. 4 AP).

"I'm looking at it as a big game for me and for the team," Dayne said. "After losing last week, we have something to make up for."

The stage is set for Dayne to have a breakout game. With no other marquee matchups on the college football schedule this week, the eyes of Heisman voters will be focused on Camp Randall Stadium.

That is where Dayne will try to solve the Wolverines' solid defense and deflate the criticism that he doesn't perform in big games.

Dayne plays at about 252 pounds. That makes him heavier than seven starters on Michigan's defense but the Wolverines (3-0), fresh off a strong performance at Syracuse, say they can stop him.

"I admit, once he gets going, it's a struggle to bring him down," senior linebacker Ian Gold said. "But the bigger they are, the harder they fall. We'll go for his legs. It's that simple."

Last week's 17-12 loss at Cincinnati was the only reminder the Badgers (2-1) should ever need that Dayne cannot carry the team to victory alone.

Dayne racked up 231 yards but he also fumbled in the Bearcats' end zone, his first turnover in 336 carries.

Dayne missed several series while nursing a first-quarter sprained ankle. He said the injury won't limit him against Michigan, the team that held him to a season-worst 53 yards in Wisconsin's only loss last year.

"Ron's been scrutinized more than any athlete, particularly here," Wisconsin offensive coordinator Brian White said. "Every game's a litmus test for the Heisman."

The Badgers enter the Big Ten season reeling from unforgivably sloppy (Dayne's fumble) and stupid (two touchdowns were negated by penalties) play.

Some Badgers say the game will jump-start the team.

"I think it was a good thing because it woke us up," kick returner and wide receiver Nick Davis said. "The beast is alive. The sleeping giant is alive."

Despite their undefeated record and lofty ranking, the Wolverines are dealing with the puzzling disappearance of their offense, particularly their running game.

Michigan averaged just 155.4 rushing yards per game last season, the school's lowest average since 1963. The Wolverines have just 377 rushing yards this year, including a dismal 121 on 36 attempts against Syracuse.

Of course the Badgers let Michigan accumulate a season-high 257 yards on the ground during the Wolverines' 27-10 win over Wisconsin in Ann Arbor last season.

Tailback Anthony Thomas rushed for 102 yards against the Badgers last year and 97 last week against Syracuse but no solid second option has emerged in the Michigan backfield.

That lack of depth could be a problem against the Badgers, whose rapidly improving defense would love to make its reputation against Michigan.

"We have to stop the run," Wisconsin defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. "That's one of the things we didn't do against them last year. We did a poor job."

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said his quarterback rotation will continue with senior Tom Brady starting and sophomore Drew Henson relieving.

The Badgers likely will continue their rotation as well, with senior quarterback Scott Kavanagh and freshman Brooks Bollinger, who was benched in Cincinnati, both seeing time.