Tuesday morning, USA TODAY released their latest bowl projections and have projected the 10th-ranked Wisconsin to play a very unfamiliar SEC opponent.
In last week’s projections, the Badgers were predicted to play the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Outback Bowl. The drop to the Outback Bowl last week put Wisconsin outside of a New Year’s Six bowl game projection for the first time since their season has started. Unfortunately, USA TODAY predicted this week that the Wisconsin Badgers will still play in the Outback Bowl, but now against the Ole Miss Rebels.
The Badgers have never played the Ole Miss Rebels, which could make this matchup between Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst even more exciting to see. The Rebels are currently sitting at 3-4 in the SEC West. Their three wins have come against Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina. Ole Miss has struggled this season, including an upset by the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The College Football Playoff teams remain unchanged this week as Notre Dame, Clemson, Ohio State, and Alabama retain their projections.
Ole Miss and the Outback Bowl are definitely not what Badgers fans imagined for the end of their season, but a victory against the undefeated 19th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats this Saturday could definitely boost Wisconsin’s USA TODAY bowl projection for next week.