INDIANAPOLIS — The last time Nebraska played Wisconsin, the Cornhuskers overcame a 17-point second half deficit to start conference play 1-0.

This time around, the Badgers built a 32-point lead at halftime and poured on 28 more in the second half, giving the Cornhuskers no chance at a comeback.

“I apologize to everybody associated with Nebraska football with how we coached, how we played, and it’s not acceptable,” head coach Bo Pelini said following Saturday’s 70-31 loss in the second annual Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

After allowing a combined 715 rushing yards in its only two losses this season to UCLA and Ohio State, the Cornhuskers’ defense clamped down to fuel a six-game winning streak to close the regular season.

Nebraska’s defense held all six of those opponents under 250 rushing yards and rose to No. 15 in the nation in total defense.

That same defense was nowhere to be seen Saturday, as Wisconsin racked up 70 points while running wild over the Nebraska defense for eight rushing touchdowns and 539 rushing yards — the most ever allowed in the program’s history.

“There were some things that we corrected and it happened again,” Pelini said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever … I’ve never been a part of a game like that as a coach.”

The Badgers’ tailbacks, known more for their power than their speed, beat the Cornhuskers defenders to the edge multiple times Saturday, showing bursts of speed on runs of 56, 60, 57, 68 and 46 yards.

On two of those carries, Wisconsin running backs Montee Ball and Melvin Gordon bullied Nebraska’s Ciante Evans with vicious stiff arms that defined the night for the Cornhuskers.

Despite a slow start and the Badgers’ early 14 points, which consisted of a four-play scoring drive and an interception return for touchdown, Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez closed the gap to 14-10. Following that interception, Martinez turned a broken pass play into a 76-yard touchdown run; on the ensuing drive, he led his team for a field goal.

Wisconsin then scored 35 unanswered points, putting the game out of reach.

“I’ll put this on the defense. We didn’t step up,” senior safety P.J. Smith said. “We didn’t do what we were supposed to do. It was a great game plan, we just didn’t finish the plays.”

Heading into the matchup with the Badgers, the Cornhuskers sported a 10-2 record and were eying their first BCS bowl appearance since losing the 2002 national championship at none other than the same venue they were playing for on Saturday, the Rose Bowl.

Now Nebraska will have to settle for the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., where they’ll face BCS snub Georgia. The Cornhuskers lost to South Carolina in the 2012 Capital One Bowl in their first season in the Big Ten.

In what was a wacky Big Ten season that included the top two teams in the Leaders Division ineligible for postseason play and a poor nonconference showing, the conference now sends a five-loss team to the Rose Bowl Game for the first time in history.

“We came short of our goal and that’s frustrating,” Smith said. “But the season’s not over yet. We have one more game to leave our mark some type of way. So it’s about getting the 11th win.”

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @WELINandDEALIN.