2017 Cotton Bowl Classic (January)

The 2017 Cotton Bowl Classic was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 2017, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It featured the Western Michigan Broncos from the Mid-American Conference and the Wisconsin Badgers from the Big Ten Conference. The 81st Cotton Bowl Classic was one of the New Years Six bowl games in the College Football Playoff for the 2016–17 bowl games concluding the 2016 FBS football season.

2017 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
CFP New Year’s Six 81st Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium during the Cotton Bowl Classic between the Western Michigan Broncos and the Wisconsin Badgers.
Western Michigan Broncos Wisconsin Badgers (13–0) (10–3) MAC Big Ten 16 24 Head coach:  P. J. Fleck Head coach:  Paul Chryst AP Coaches CFP 12 15 15 AP Coaches CFP 8 8 8
1 2 3 4 Total Western Michigan 0 7 3 6 16 Wisconsin 14 3 0 7 24
Date	January 2, 2017
Season	2016
Stadium	AT&T Stadium
Location	Arlington, Texas
MVP	Offense: Troy Fumagalli (TE, WIS) Defense: T. J. Edwards (LB, WIS)
Favorite	Wisconsin by 8.5
Referee	Riley Johnson (ACC)
Attendance	59,615
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard and Allison Williams (ESPN)
Cotton Bowl Classic  < 2015 (Dec.) 2017 (Dec.) >

The game was broadcast on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and XM Satellite Radio. It was sponsored by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and was officially known as the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

Teams

Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion Western Michigan was selected as an at-large as the highest ranked College Football Playoff (CFP) Group of Five team while Wisconsin was chosen as an at-large out of the Big Ten Conference. Wisconsin was an 81⁄2 point favorite to start the game.^[1]

This was the fifth meeting between the schools, with Wisconsin leading the all-time series 4–1. The most recent meeting was on August 31, 2000, where the Badgers defeated the Broncos by a score of 19–7.^[2] This was the first Cotton Bowl for both teams.

With Western Michigan representing the MAC, this was the first Cotton Bowl Classic to feature a MAC team.

Game summary

Near the end of the first quarter, the Wisconsin Badgers prepare to kick off the football to the Western Michigan University Broncos.

Scoring summary

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP WMU WIS 1 8:58 11 75 6:08 WIS Corey Clement 2-yard touchdown run, Andrew Endicott kick good 0 7 1 3:23 7 88 3:52 WIS Dare Ogunbowale 1-yard touchdown run, Andrew Endicott kick good 0 14 2 5:27 16 65 8:46 WMU Zach Terrell 2-yard touchdown run, Butch Hampton kick good 7 14 2 0:18 9 63 5:09 WIS 30-yard field goal by Andrew Endicott 7 17 3 10:00 11 65 5:00 WMU 27-yard field goal by Butch Hampton 10 17 4 12:26 3 12 1:26 WIS Troy Fumagalli 8-yard touchdown reception from Alex Hornibrook, Andrew Endicott kick good 10 24 4 3:27 16 75 8:59 WMU Corey Davis 11-yard touchdown reception from Zach Terrell, Butch Hampton kick failed 16 24 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 16 24

Statistics

Statistics	Western Michigan	Wisconsin
First Downs	18	18
Plays-yards	59-280	52-362
Third down efficiency	5–11	7–11
Rushes-yards	31-123	38-184
Passing yards	157	178
Passing, Comp-Att-Int	16-28-1	13-14-0
Time of Possession	29:55	30:05

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Michigan	Passing	Zach Terrell	16–28, 157 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Jamauri Bogan	16 CAR, 58 YDS
	Receiving	Corey Davis	6 REC, 73 YDS, 1 TD
Wisconsin	Passing	Bart Houston	11–12, 159 YDS
	Rushing	Corey Clement	22 CAR, 71 YDS, 1 TD
	Receiving	Troy Fumagalli	6 REC, 83 YDS, 1 TD