Oregon and Wisconsin take different approaches in Rose Bowl preparation

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Oregon and Wisconsin are taking contrasting approaches to everything that comes before the Rose Bowl.

Ducks coach Mario Cristobal is treating this week as a business trip, making sure players got a workout in after arriving in Los Angeles on Christmas Day.

Badgers coach Paul Chryst trusts his players to maintain balance between enjoying activities before the game, including a visit to Disneyland on Thursday and the annual Beef Bowl dinner at Lawry's The Prime Rib, and preparing for "The Granddaddy of Them All."

Despite the divergent approaches, both No. 7 Oregon and No. 11 Wisconsin expect to be at their best when they meet on New Year's Day.

"Yes, we earned the opportunity for all these events, to come to Disney and to go to the Beef Bowl and do things like that, but we really earned ourselves an opportunity to play another game, so that's really what we're here to do," Badgers linebacker Zack Baun said.

For Oregon (11-2), there is a sense of urgency to keep building on what they have accomplished in Cristobal's second season as head coach. Defensive tackle Jordon Scott described the 37-15 win over No. 12 Utah in the Pac-12 championship game as their most complete game of the season, but still believes the Ducks can play better.

Cristobal followed up Oregon's first conference title since 2014 with another strong recruiting class this month and said there is still "meat on the bone" headed into signing day in February.

"I believe in momentum," Cristobal said. "Momentum is probably the biggest monster in college football. I think when you watch college football versus pro football, those NFL guys can kind of put a foot in the ground and stop momentum and get it back the other way. In college, it's almost the inertia effect. It just keeps going until, you know, something really dramatic happens to go the other way. "

Wisconsin (10-3) will be playing in the Rose Bowl for the fourth time in 10 years, and Baun said it remains the program's measuring stick for success.

"When you're kind of recruited to Wisconsin, they show you the history and what the Rose Bowl means with Wisconsin," Baun said. "It's all over the walls, you see it everywhere. You hear stories about the Beef Bowl and what not, but to be here and to have the opportunity is really something special to this team."