MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin football program's 15th-consecutive bowl bid will come in the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
The Badgers will face Western Michigan in the New Year's Six matchup, which is set for noon (CT) on Jan. 2 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and airs live on ESPN. The game marks UW's first appearance in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, which dates back to 1937.
The Big Ten West Division champion, No. 8 Wisconsin (10-3 overall, 7-2 Big Ten) enters the game coming off its fourth appearance in six seasons in the Big Ten Championship Game, while No. 12 Western Michigan (13-0, 8-0 MAC) carries an undefeated record and the Mid-American Conference championship to its credit.
The game will mark Wisconsin's seventh matchup this season with a team ranked among the top 12 of the Associated Press poll.
"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. "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 Badgers' run of 15 straight bowl games is the longest active streak in the Big Ten and is tied for the sixth-longest active run in the FBS. Wisconsin has ended each of the last two seasons with a win, downing Auburn in the Outback Bowl to close the 2014 season and topping USC in the Holiday Bowl to finish off the 2015 campaign.
Wisconsin and Western Michigan have met four times, with the Badgers owning a 3-1 mark vs. the Broncos. The teams last met in 2000, when No. 4 Wisconsin scored a 19-7 win at Camp Randall Stadium.
This marks the third-consecutive season – but just the fourth time ever – that the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic will include a Big Ten team. Michigan State played in the Cotton Bowl in each of the last two seasons, including when the game served as a College Football Playoff semifinal last year. Ohio State made the league's first appearance in the Cotton Bowl in 1987.
Maryland, Nebraska and Penn State also have participated in the Cotton Bowl, though prior to joining the Big Ten.
Cotton Bowl Ticket and Travel Information
When the Wisconsin football team heads to the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, make sure you are ready to join the Badgers. Please be aware of the following ticket and travel information as you make your plans to support the Badgers this postseason.
Ticket Information
Donors to Wisconsin Athletics and Football Season Ticket Holders
The exclusive period for donors to Wisconsin Athletics and football season ticket holders to request Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic tickets concludes on Monday, Dec. 5 at noon (CT). Requests will be accepted online or by calling the Wisconsin Athletic Ticket Office at 1.800.GO.BADGERS.
Donors and football season ticket holders who do not take advantage of the exclusive request period may order their Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic tickets, subject to availability, during the potential general public sale on Tuesday, December 6 at Noon.
There is no donor priority when purchasing tickets during the general public sale as tickets will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.
UW Student Football Season Ticket Holders
Goodyear College Football Classic tickets will go on-sale to Wisconsin football student season ticket-holders only beginning Monday, Dec. 5, from 7-10 p.m. (CT), or until supplies last, whichever comes first. Tickets will be sold online. Student season ticket holders may purchase up to two bowl tickets. Students should use their student ID and their existing password to purchase student bowl tickets.
A total of 500 tickets will be available at the student rate of $50. Remaining student tickets will be offered at full price $150. Student season ticket holders may purchase up to two bowl tickets. While students may only purchase one ticket at the discounted rate ($50) they are able to purchase a second ticket at full price and still have their seats together.
Additionally, a total of 250 students will be randomly selected to receive a free student ticket courtesy of Taco Bell. The Athletic Ticket Office will refund 250 accounts for one student ticket at $50 after the student sale.
In the event students do not purchase the entire 500 ticket allotment of student tickets, student accounts who purchased full price tickets will be selected at random to receive a refund. For example, if student season ticket holders purchase 300 student tickets at $50 each and purchase 300 tickets at $150 each, 200 accounts will be randomly selected to receive a refund and only be charged for student rate of $50.
General Public
In-person orders, at the Wisconsin Athletic Ticket Office, phone orders made by calling 1.800.GO BADGERS and online orders at UWBadgers.com will begin Tuesday, Dec. 6 at noon (CT), subject to availability.
Travel Information
Wisconsin Alumni Association
The Wisconsin Alumni Association is the exclusive provider of the Official Badger Bowl Tour. It's the only way to fully enjoy all the perks, access, convenience and camaraderie of a Badgers bowl game experience.
Book your spot on the Official Badger Bowl Tour with the Wisconsin Alumni Association.
Funjet Vacations
Funjet Vacations is a long-time bowl travel partner of Wisconsin Athletics and has several travel options to get Badgers fans to the big game.
Book your bowl trip today with Funjet Vacations. Travel packages include round trip airfare, deluxe hotel accommodations, tailgating, transportation and more!
Bowl Central
For the latest news, information, ticket and travel updates, visit UWBowlCentral.com.
