Another week, another heartbreaking loss for the UW football team against the two most accomplished programs in the Big Ten.

A week after their stunning setback at Michigan, the Badgers were downed 20-17 by Ohio State on freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor's 11-yard touchdown scamper with 1 minute, 8 seconds left.

After the game, Capital Times columnist and Wisconsin Radio Network color commentator Mike Lucas answered questions about the game from Cap Times sports editor Adam Mertz.

A reminder that fans can present their questions for Mike by e-mailing asklucas@madison.com on game days.

Here are his responses from previous games:

Akron: Click here.
Marshall: Click here.
Fresno State: Click here.
Michigan:  Click here.

And here is the rundown of tonight's conversation about the loss to Ohio State:

Q: Can we call this Terrelle Pryor's coming out party? In front of a national TV audience, with a lot on the line for a program transitioning from a quarterback that last year led them to the national title game, the Ohio State freshman sure showed a lot of poise.

Mike Lucas: I think he proved himself on the final drive, to win the game. He has to drive the Buckeyes 80 yards. Now, he got great protection, and this was a case of that Wisconsin front four wearing down.

The lack of depth up front caught up with the Badgers. The loss of Kirk DeCremer (to a career-ending back injury), who's kind of a pass-rushing specialist who could have given Shaughnessy and Schofield a breather, especially in a game like this where you're chasing a very elusive player around the backfield for four quarters. Even a Brendan Kelly, who's a true freshman who broke his hand in practice recently and was unavailable tonight. Those are two edge rushers who might have freed up those two players, Shaughnessy and Schofield, during the game, where they might have been fresher at the end.

The real dilemma for Dave Doeren, the defensive coordinator, is whether to bring pressure when your front four can't get to Pryor. We saw what happened last week when he decided to finally blitz Michigan -- you blitz two linebackers, they hit you with a run, and score on a 34-yard dash by Brandon Minor. So you're caught in between.

But I thought Prior did show poise on that last series, but he got a lot of help. He was able to stand in the pocket and throw downfield -- over the middle, which is one of the easiest throws you can make. Over the middle, the deep post, where Hartline was getting behind the middle linebacker and in front of the safeties.

Now, you need a break. A tired defense needs a break. And they almost had one created when Jay Valai knocked the ball free on Hartline (on the final drive), but didn't recover it. Huge play. Could have been the game-saving play for the Badgers. But it didn't turn out that way.