It’s roughly 1,040 miles from Madison to Dallas, Texas, but come fall of 2015, I plan to be in a car with classmates en route to watching the Badgers take on – and defeat – the Crimson Tide of Alabama in what will be the fifth annual Cowboy Classic at Cowboy Stadium.
The Badgers appear to have a newfound appetite for facing teams from the SEC as part of their out of conference schedule. Rumors even surfaced this week about a possible matchup with the Louisiana State University Tigers at Lambeau Field sometime in the near future. While some are already expressing concern that facing such tough teams – especially away from the friendly confines of Camp Randall – will have a detrimental effect on the team’s chances in taking part of the new and aptly-named “College Football Playoff” system and that UW should reconsider such risky scheduling before it’s too late.
I say, “Bring it on!”
The Badgers and their fans should embrace these challenging games without hesitation. Here are just four reasons why.
1. Despite the fact that Michigan suffered a brutal 41-14 loss to Alabama in last year’s Cowboy Classic, since 1998 the SEC holds a not-so-impressive 28-24 record against the Big Ten in the regular season and bowl games. Had Michigan not lost twice to SEC opponents last season, the conference would have played to an even 26-26 mark.
Assuming the Badgers will have more on the line in the 2015 season opener, an upset is not out of the question and could be the statement game that head coach Gary Andersen uses to try to bring a national championship to Madison in what will be his third season.
2. Wisconsin should be excited about the chance to play a team that has won the past two national championships, and three of the past four, because of the national exposure the the Badgers will receive in such a highly visible game.
ESPN announced its Big Ten primetime slate for the 2013 season earlier this week and the Badgers found themselves playing at Ohio State on national television. Don’t get me wrong, I love that the Badgers are on national television and hope they continue to get the exposure that they deserve, BUT – call me greedy – it’s only one game. Plus, the matchup falls on the same time and date as the LSU and Georgia game, which is sure to get a higher rating than anything the Big Ten can offer in the conference season.
By playing the first week of the season against a team that could very well be the four-time defending national champions, the Badgers ensure that the spotlight will be on this game and this game only. Now, just imagine if they win.
3. My third reason is tied into the national exposure part of this huge event. Games like these mean big bucks for the universities involved. BIG bucks.
In 2011, the first-annual Cowboy Classic, the LSU Tigers took $3.5 million back to Baton Rouge with the Oregon Ducks receiving $2 million. The following year, Michigan and Alabama made history with the highest payout of any regular season game: $9.4 million. The Wolverines and Crimson Tide split the check down the middle with each school taking home a hefty $4.7 million paycheck. I’m no Darren Rovell, but if I had to put my finger on it, I would say that the payout for the 2015 Cowboy Classic would only be more profuse.
4. The fourth and final reason why the Badgers should take on the best team in the land and play a game of such magnitude is because if you win one of the biggies, you’ll reap the benefits in the polls.
With a win over Alabama, Wisconsin would instantly jump toward the top of the BCS rankings and be considered one of the best teams in the country. The 2014 Big Ten divisional realignment makes it so the Badgers have to play Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern and Purdue – none of whom come anywhere near touching the talent level of Alabama. The Badgers could wind up with a resume at the end of the season that includes going undefeated in a power-six football conference and having beaten the number one team in the land (it’s not that far-stretched of an assumption that Alabama will find itself in that position every season that Nick Saban is at the helm).
If the Badgers were to add a Big Ten Championship to that already impressive resume, in which case they would more than likely have to beat Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes, one would have to think it would be near impossible for the selection committee to leave Wisconsin out of the College Football Playoff.
Taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide on the biggest regular season stage in college football is a no-brainer for the University of Wisconsin. The only question is: Mr. Alvarez? Can you spare me a few bucks for gas?
