MADISON, Wis. -- As the No. 18-ranked University of Wisconsin prepares to host No. 14 Ohio State on Saturday night at Camp Randall Stadium on national television, two things are clear -- fans feel this is a must win game for the Badgers, and they are at a loss without the marching band for this game.

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The Badgers are fresh off a shocking loss to unranked Michigan last weekend, in a game which UW lead 19-0 at halftime. Wisconsin needs to win this game to keep their Big Ten title hopes alive at the midpoint in the season.

Not only will the Badgers run into the highest-ranked opponent they have faced this season, the team will have to do so without its marching band, which was suspended on Friday while allegations of hazing, alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct are investigated.

The band will not play at Saturday's nationally televised game between the No. 18 Badgers football team and No. 14 Ohio State at Camp Randall.

The university announced at a news conference Friday night that the band will not perform Saturday, saying the behavior is consistent with conduct that put the band on probation in 2006.

Playing in what one could argue is the biggest game of the Badgers season, fans reacted to a game without the band in shock and disappointment.

"We might as well be playing at Ohio," said UW senior Dylan Packer, 22, of Madison. "Without the band, it takes away the home field advantage."

Sara Flood, a 22-year-old senior from Delavan, shared similar sentiments.

"We are on national TV and half the reason people come to the game is for the band. It's embarrassing that they (band) won't be there and it won't be the same without them," said Flood.

Sophomore Derek Lumbard, 19, of Lakeville, Minn., said the season was going well for the Badgers until they blew their 19-point lead to Michigan and lost the conference game. "Horrible... really disappointed," said Lumbard.

"Overall, it's been fun going to the games and Ohio State is a must-win game," he said. "We'll be at a disadvantage without the band. The band is the soul behind the team."

UW senior Alexis Hammermeister, 21, of Middleton, said the season is going "decent" but after last week's loss to Michigan, she feels the Badgers need a comeback this week.

She also felt the game won't be the same without the marching band.

"The band makes the game… they pump everyone up and they are an important tradition at halftime. It's going to be empty without them," said Hammermeister. "Without the band there, it'll be hard for fans."

Al Wattson, 65, of Sturgeon Bay, doesn't like the situation either. "We've been coming down here since 1980, and the band is all we had for so long. We'll miss it and the fun of the band."

He said that he was disappointed at the loss to Michigan and that his family and friends are looking forward to the Ohio State game and said that it will show where the team is for the rest of the season.

Up until the loss to Michigan, Craig Weisensel, 36, of Madison, felt the season was going "fantastic." "I'm disappointed about the Michigan game and it's hard to get past," he said. "Tonight's game is a true test of where we are this season."

According to West Bend resident Gary Herdrich, 56, "the season is on the line the next few weeks."

Brad Paust, 19, a sophomore from Green Lake, Ill., is worried what the fan atmosphere will be like without the band. "I'm really curious to see how the game will be without the band. What are we going to sing and dance to?"

Band or not, the Badgers will have a tough task ahead of them, as Ohio State holds a 51-17-5 series lead over Wisconsin, including a 23-10-2 mark at Camp Randall.