The 2016 Goodyear Cotton Bowl features an undefeated Western Michigan Broncos squad taking on the Wisconsin Badgers in a matchup of College Football Playoff top-15 teams.
Western Michigan heads into the game riding a 15-game wining streak dating back to 2015. The Broncos won 13 games this year on the way to a No. 15 ranking according to the College Football Playoff Committee.
More: Why Wisconsin-Western Michigan is the Most Important Bowl Game in 2016
The Badgers, meanwhile, finished 10-3 this season, won the Big Ten West division, and fell to Penn State in the Big Ten Championship after blowing a 28-7 lead against the Nittany Lions. Wisconsin closed out the year ranked No. 8 in the College Football Playoff Rankings.
The Badgers are looking for redemption in the Cotton Bowl while the Broncos are looking to prove they belong in the conversation with the best teams in the country.
Western Michigan brings one of the more productive offenses in the country into the Cotton Bowl. The Broncos averaged 496.7 yards and 43.5 points per game this season, albeit in MAC play.
Western Michigan is led by quarterback Zach Terrell (3,376 passing yards, 32 touchdowns) and wide receiver Corey Davis (1,427 receiving yards, 18 touchdowns. Running back Jarvion Franklin ran for 1,300 yards and 18 scores this year.
The Badgers, meanwhile, boast one of the best defenses in the country. Wisconsin gave up 303.0 yards per game and allowed opponents 15.5 points per game.
On offense, Wisconsin switched quarterbacks mid-season but continued to play both Bart Houston and Alex Hornibrook throughout the year. Houston began the season as the starter but lost the job to Hornibrook. Houston returned to the starting lineup in the Big Ten Championship game after Hornibrook was injured late in the year. Both will likely play in the Cotton Bowl.
Corey Clement led the Badgers offensively this season with 292 carries for 1,304 yards and 14 touchdowns. Dare Ogunbowale and Bradrick Shaw each ran for at least 400 yards and combined for nine touchdowns. Wide receiver Jazz Peavy led the Badgers with 635 yards and five touchdowns, and receiver Robert Wheelwright and tight end Troy Fumagalli each added a touchdown and at least 400 receiving yards.
Wisconsin holds a 3-1 lead in the career series between these two teams. The last meeting was in 2000. Both teams are making their Cotton Bowl debut.
The Badgers are currently a 6.5-point favorite.
Related: Full 2016 Bowl Game Schedule
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Western Michigan Broncos
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Date/time: Monday, January 2, 2017, 1 p.m. ET
TV Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
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Who will win the Goodyear Cotton Bowl?
