For the 21st consecutive year, the Wisconsin Badgers are heading to a bowl game. For the first time in program history, they'll be heading to the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, taking place in Phoenix, AZ.
Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5) will play Oklahoma State (7-5, 4-5) in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on December 27th at 9:15 PM CT. The game will be hosted at Chase Field, home of MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks. This will also be the first time in program history Wisconsin will play against Oklahoma State.
Wisconsin became bowl eligible with a win against Nebraska in the penultimate week of the season. Since the end of the regular season, the Badgers have named Luke Fickell the program's new head coach. It's unknown if he'll be in that head coaching role for the bowl game or what capacity he will be on the sidelines in, but he did say he plans to coach in some way, shape, or form for this game.
Oklahoma State started their season 5-0 with wins against Central Michigan, Arizona State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Baylor, and Texas Tech. Then they suffered a tough 43-40 double-OT loss to TCU, who made the College Football Playoff. The Cowboys got a 41-34 homecoming win against Texas to improve to 6-1, but then the wheels fell off.
Oklahoma State then got shut out by Kansas State 48-0, lost to Kansas 37-16, got a one possession win against Iowa State, then finished their season with losses to Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Wisconsin finished 5th in the Big Ten West and Oklahoma State finished 5th in the Big 12.