No. 8 Wisconsin (10-3) will face undefeated and No. 12 Western Michigan in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2 in Texas, the college football selection committee announced Sunday.
“I’m excited for our players to have the opportunity to be a part of a game with the long and storied history like the Cotton Bowl has,” UW head coach Paul Chryst said in a release. “This game has featured a number of great programs and great players throughout the years and we are proud to now have a chance to be a part of that history.
“I appreciate what our players have done to earn the right to play in this game. Western Michigan has had a tremendous year and will present a terrific challenge for us. I look forward to starting our prep and having one more opportunity with this great group of players.”
The following is a breakdown of what the Broncos have accomplished this season and what the Badgers can expect in this matchup.
Early storyline
Western Michigan, winners of the MAC championship after a win over Ohio on Friday, finished the regular season 13-0 for the first time in program history. But it's the future of head coach P.J. Fleck that has drawn headlines over the last few weeks.
Oregon, Purdue and Houston have all been rumored as possible destinations for the 36-year-old, who has been at Western Michigan since December of 2012.
"Nothing should be a distraction away from those kids. Everything about college football is about kids," Fleck said after the Broncos' 29-23 victory over Ohio. "One thing I'll say is, we are going to celebrate this tonight, period. I've said it before, I haven't talked to anybody and that's been the 100 percent truth."
Last time Wisconsin played Western Michigan
No. 5 Wisconsin opened its 2000 season against Western Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium with a 19-7 victory. The storyline that day, however, was the 11 Badgers who were suspended "for extra benefits they received from a local shoe store."
"I couldn't be more proud of a staff and a group of players to respond the way they did," Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said after the game. "That's got to be unprecedented to go through what we went through today. It may be the longest day I've ever had to go through in coaching.
"We talked to the NCAA administration, told our side of the story and around noon today understood a number of our players would have to be suspended. We talk about having no distractions, I can't imagine a bigger distraction than we had today."
Wisconsin leads the lifetime matchup against Western Michigan, 3-1.
Impact players
Top passer: Senior Zach Terrell (3,376 passing yards and 32 throwing touchdowns)
Top rusher: Junior Jarvion Franklin (1,300 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns)
Top receiver: Senior Corey Davis (1,427 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns)
Top tackler: Junior Robert Spillane (105 total tackles, 2 sacks and 3 interceptions)
Players from Wisconsin on Western Michigan's roster
Freshman wide receiver Jaret Curtis, freshman offensive lineman Mike Caliendo, freshman offensive lineman Spencer Kanz and freshman defensive lineman Zack Taylor.
