Wisconsin's next test after getting beat by Penn State in Saturday night's epic Big Ten Championship Game? A bowl matchup with one of college football's two undefeated teams.
No, the Badgers won't be taking on Alabama, but the MAC champion Western Michigan Broncos will provide quite the challenge when the two teams go up against one another in the Cotton Bowl.
Whether head coach/motivational speaker P.J. Fleck will be on the opposite sideline from Paul Chryst remains to be seen, with the Western Michigan leader's name in the mix for multiple vacant head coaching jobs around the country. But what's certain is the incredible job he's done at Western Michigan, leading the Broncos to a perfect 13-0 record this season. That mark includes a pair of wins over Big Ten teams, Northwestern and Illinois, two teams Wisconsin beat handily.
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The 10-3 Badgers are fresh off an upsetting loss to the aforementioned Nittany Lions in the Big Ten title game. Wisconsin owned a three-touchdown lead in the first half but watched it evaporate as Penn State charged back with four consecutive touchdown drives.
Saturday's outcome notwithstanding, though, the Badgers have boasted one of the country's stingiest defenses this season. They entered the conference-title bout with the No. 3 scoring defense in the country and have a defense littered with playmakers.
The Badgers have squared off with the Broncos four previous times, winning three of those games.
This is Wisconsin's first-ever trip to the Cotton Bowl and just its third bowl game in the state of Texas, the last coming during the 2002 season.
Big Ten
Wisconsin will make it three straight Cotton Bowl trips for Big Ten teams. Michigan State played in the last two Cotton Bowls, beating Baylor two seasons ago and losing to Alabama in last season's College Football Playoff semifinal.