Tag: minnesota covid

Latest USA TODAY bowl projections predict Wisconsin to play a familiar SEC foe

After Wisconsin’s disappointing loss to the undefeated Northwestern Wildcats, the Badgers have surprisingly, not fallen in the latest USA…

After Wisconsin’s disappointing loss to the undefeated Northwestern Wildcats, the Badgers have surprisingly, not fallen in the latest USA TODAY bowl projections. Wisconsin is projected by USA TODAY to play the Auburn Tigers in the Outback Bowl. The Tigers are a change from last week’s projections when the Badgers were projected to play the Ole Miss Rebels in the Outback Bowl.

Auburn may be a familiar team for many Wisconsin fans, as the teams played against each other most recently in the 2015 Outback Bowl under head coach Barry Alvarez where the Badgers won 34-31 in overtime. This was following the resignation of former head coach Gary Andersen after Wisconsin’s 59-0 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game.

Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) loses control of the ball in the second half of the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. The Badgers defeated the Tigers 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn and Wisconsin have played each other three other times in their history with Wisconsin leading the series at 2-1-1. The first game between the sides happened on Oct. 10, 1931, where they tied 7-7 at Camp Randall.

The College Football Playoff teams remain the same for this week with Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson keeping their projections.

Wisconsin could possibly see another Outback Bowl appearance, but it will be interesting to see how the cancellation of Saturday’s game against Minnesota will impact next week’s bowl projections.

BREAKING: Saturday’s battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe is canceled

Earlier this season the Wisconsin Badgers experienced a COVID-19 outbreak within their program and saw two of their games canceled…

Earlier this season the Wisconsin Badgers experienced a COVID-19 outbreak within their program and saw two of their games canceled, putting them on the brink of not being able to fulfill the six-game requirement to qualify for the Big Ten Championship.

Well, in a year where it seems nothing can go right, the team will now have its third game cancelation of the season as, according to a report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus, Saturday’s rivalry matchup between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Minnesota Golden Gophers “is a no-go” due to COVID-19 cases within the Minnesota football program.

The 2-1 Badgers now have just two games left on their schedule and, unless they’re able to find another Big Ten opponent for this weekend, they will not qualify for the conference championship game.

Related: What Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald said about Wisconsin after the game

Making the conference championship would have been a longshot anyway after last weekend’s loss at Northwestern, but what many feared after the team’s Week 2 and Week 3 games were canceled has now come true with one of their opponents experience an outbreak and being unable to play.

Paul Chryst and his team will take the field next at home against the No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers in what will be their second-to-last regular-season game of the year.

Related: Wisconsin basketball’s toughest non-conference opponent is not who you think it is

Stay tuned to BadgersWire in the coming days for more information on the cancelation of Saturday’s game and what it means for the Wisconsin football program going forward.

REPORT: Minnesota cancels Tuesday’s practice, status of Saturday’s game is in doubt

It has been a difficult year for the Wisconsin Badger football program, and that may even be an understatement. First, the Big Ten…

It has been a difficult year for the Wisconsin Badger football program, and that may even be an understatement.

First, the Big Ten canceled their fall season and it looked like the team wouldn’t play. Then, the season was reinstated but starting quarterback Jack Coan broke his foot in practice. Finally, after a dominant Week 1 win against Illinois the program experienced a COVID-19 outbreak and was sidelined for two weeks.

As we’ve gone over, missing those two games put the Badgers on the brink of failing to play six regular-season games, something which would make them ineligible to play in the conference championship.

Related: How Wisconsin can still make the Big Ten Championship game

Well, the chain of events got worse last night as Minnesota writer Andy Greder reported that the Golden Gophers “will not practice Tuesday due to ‘presumptive COVID-19 positive tests Monday'” ahead of their game on Saturday against the Badgers.

After seeing what happened within the Wisconsin football program, this news puts Saturday’s battle for the Axe in serious doubt.

If the Badgers and Golden Gophers are indeed unable to play, the Badgers would then be ineligible for the conference championship game unless they’re able to find another Big Ten opponent who is without a game this week.

Related: What Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald said about Wisconsin after the game

Stay tuned to BadgersWire as we follow the news surrounding Saturday’s game and tell you what it means for the rest of the Badgers’ football season.