The Wisconsin Badgers (9-3) accepted an offer to play the Auburn Tigers (9-2) in this year's Capital One Bowl game in Orlando, Fla. Jan. 2. This will be the 11th bowl appearance for the Badgers under head coach Barry Alvarez, but it will mark their debut in the Capital One Bowl.
Regarded as possibly the top non-BCS bowl, the Capital One Bowl has provided excitement throughout the Badger club.
'Our entire program is thrilled about the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious bowl game,' Alvarez said. 'The Capital One Bowl has a tremendous reputation for being a hospitable, first-class organization.'
The Auburn Tigers come into the bowl season with a 7-1 record in SEC play. A year after losing many starters to the NFL draft, including Ronnie Brown, Carnell Williams and Jason Campbell, Auburn has been a nice surprise this year. The Tigers are led by sophomore quarterback Brandon Cox (2,187 passing yards, 14 touchdowns) and junior tailback Kenny Irons (1,205 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns).
The Badgers are preparing for a tough opponent in the Tigers.
'We will face a formidable opponent in Auburn, and we have great respect for the quality program that Tommy Tuberville has put together,' Alvarez said.
The Badgers have played Auburn twice, with the last encounter coming in the 2003 Music City Bowl; Auburn won the game 28-14.
