The bowl has conference tie-ins with the
Big 12 and
Big Ten, who supplied Oklahoma State and Wisconsin, respectively, for this game. This was the first time that the Badgers and Cowboys faced each other.[6] Oklahoma State had twice appeared in this bowl (in
December 2007 and
January 2015) and Wisconsin once before (in
December 1996). The teams had won each of their previous appearances in this bowl.
Oklahoma State finished their regular season with a 7–5 record, 4–5 in conference play. They opened the season with five consecutive wins, and were ranked as high as No. 7, but then lost five of their remaining seven games. The Cowboys faced four ranked opponents, defeating
Baylor and
Texas while losing to
TCU and
Kansas State.
Wisconsin compiled a 6–6 regular-season record, going 4–5 in conference play. They faced one ranked opponent during the season, losing to
Ohio State on September 24.
The bowl has conference tie-ins with the
Big 12 and
Big Ten, who supplied Oklahoma State and Wisconsin, respectively, for this game. This was the first time that the Badgers and Cowboys faced each other.[6] Oklahoma State had twice appeared in this bowl (in
December 2007 and
January 2015) and Wisconsin once before (in
December 1996). The teams had won each of their previous appearances in this bowl.
Oklahoma State finished their regular season with a 7–5 record, 4–5 in conference play. They opened the season with five consecutive wins, and were ranked as high as No. 7, but then lost five of their remaining seven games. The Cowboys faced four ranked opponents, defeating
Baylor and
Texas while losing to
TCU and
Kansas State.
Wisconsin compiled a 6–6 regular-season record, going 4–5 in conference play. They faced one ranked opponent during the season, losing to
Ohio State on September 24.