Bowl Buzz - Where will the Badgers go Bowling?
November 30, 2023 | Football, Bowl Central
Which Bowl? Which opponent? Predictions vary as selection day draws near
The Wisconsin Badgers are awaiting their bowl season fate after back-to-back rivalry wins to close the regular season. The Badgers’ overtime victory over Nebraska on Nov. 18 clinched their 22nd-straight trip to a bowl game, the third-longest active streak in the nation. Wisconsin won back Paul Bunyan’s Axe with a 28-14 win over Minnesota last Saturday and will find out its bowl destination on Sunday afternoon.
With Wisconsin as one of the potential top-five Big Ten bowl representatives, the Badgers could land in a few different bowl games. With a handful of conference championship games left to be played out this weekend, some shuffling could occur as Michigan and Ohio State are both still in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
For the Badgers, a few destinations are in play, depending on how results shake out on Saturday. Most projections place the Badgers heading to Nashville for the Transperfect Music City Bowl against an SEC opponent. However, some paths could still lead the Badgers to Tampa for the ReliaQuest Bowl or to New York for the Pinstripe Bowl.
UW has won 8 of its last 9 bowl games, dating to 2014. No FBS team has more bowl wins since (excluding the CFP National Championship). The Badgers will be in search of their fourth-straight bowl victory this holiday season.
Continue reading below for insight on potential opponents and bowl games, as projected by professional outlets across the nation.
Transperfect Music City Bowl – Nashville, Tenn.
Dec. 30 – 1 p.m. CT - ABC
If the Badgers head to Nashville for the Transperfect Music City Bowl, it will mark the Badgers’ second Music City Bowl ever and first since 2003. The Badgers would square off with an Southeastern Conference opponent for the first time since beating LSU at Lambeau Field to kick off the 2016 season. The Badgers would face an SEC team in a bowl game for the first time since playing Auburn in the Outback Bowl to cap the 2013 campaign.
vs. Texas A&M – CBS Sports, 247 Sports
If Wisconsin takes on Texas A&M it will mark the first ever meeting between the schools. Similar to Wisconsin’s situation last season, the Aggies will be led by a brand-new head coach in the bowl game. Texas A&M hired former Duke head coach Mike Elko, who was the Aggies’ defensive coordinator from 2018-21, to be A&M’s next head coach on Nov. 27.
The Aggies hold a 7-5 record and have won two of their last three games to close the regular season, including a 51-10 win over Mississippi State back on Nov. 11.
vs. Auburn – Fox Sports, ESPN, The Athletic, The Action Network
If the Badgers matchup with Auburn, it will mark the fourth meeting of the programs all-time. The Badgers last met the Tigers in the 2014 Outback Bowl, which ended in a thrilling 34-31 overtime victory for UW. Wisconsin has won the last two meetings.
Under first-year head coach Hugh Freeze, Auburn has posted a 6-6 record this fall and finished the season winning three of its last five games. The Tigers had No. 8 Alabama on the ropes last Saturday night in the Iron Bowl, before the Crimson Tide snatched away a win in the final minute on a 4th & 31 touchdown completion.
Auburn will be in search of its first bowl victory since 2018 – a win that came in the Music City Bowl against Purdue.
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl – New York, N.Y.
Dec. 28 – 1:15 p.m. CT - ESPN
In what seems to be an outside chance, the Badgers could end up heading back to the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Badgers played in the Bronx against Miami back in 2018, cruising to a 35-3 victory.
Virginia Tech – Sporting News
If the Badgers matchup with Virginia Tech on the East Coast, the game would mark the programs’ first meeting. The Badgers would take on an ACC opponent for the first time since topping Wake Forest, 42-28, in the 2020 Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Virginia Tech had eight players named to various All-ACC conference teams this week and the Hokies (6-6, 5-3) are coming off of a dominant 55-17 victory over Virginia to close the regular season.
ReliaQuest Bowl – Tampa, Fla.
Jan. 1 – Noon CT - ESPN2
Wisconsin is still in the picture to head to the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa. However, the Big Ten forfeits it’s spot in the ReliaQuest Bowl if a Big Ten team is placed in the Orange Bowl, which is currently a likely destination for Ohio State. The Badgers last played in the ReliaQuest Bowl, then the Outback Bowl, in 2015. Wisconsin claimed an overtime victory over Auburn behind 251 rushing yards and three scores from Melvin Gordon.
Wisconsin did play in Raymond James Stadium more recently, recording a 49-0 win over South Florida in the 2019 season opener.
LSU – ESPN
If the Badgers meet LSU in Tampa, the Badgers will eye their second-straight win over the Tigers. Wisconsin beat LSU at Lambeau field to begin the 2016 season. The sides have never met in a bowl game.
LSU, led by quarterback Jayden Daniels who is a finalist for four national awards and could be named a Heisman Trophy finalist on Dec. 4, holds a 9-3 record and 6-2 clip in SEC play this fall. LSU has won six of their final seven games this season and are ranked 13th in the latest CFP poll.
