Outback Bowl

AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn is headed south this bowl season.



The Tigers will face Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2. An official announcement is expected at 4:30 p.m.

"We're very excited about the opportunity to play at the Outback Bowl in Tampa against a very good Wisconsin team," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said in a news release. "Our players and coaches are looking forward to this opportunity. It should be a great week for our team and our fans."

No. 18 Wisconsin is coming off a 59-0 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. The Badgers (10-3) had won seven straight games behind Heisman contender Melvin Gordon before the blowout Saturday. Gordon leads the offensive attack with an incredible 2,336 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.

The game will feature two of the better rushing offenses in the country. The Tigers rank 12th nationally and Wisconsin is fourth.



Auburn has played in the Outback Bowl three times, with its most recent trip resulting in a 38-35 victory against Northwestern in overtime in 2010. Auburn is 2-1 in the bowl.

The Tigers and Badgers have met three times and the series is tied 1-1-1. Wisconsin knocked off Auburn 24-10 in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, 2006. The New Year's Day game will mark the third meeting between the teams since 2003.

The Tigers (8-4) dropped out of the New Year's Six conversation with three straight SEC losses to end the season. Auburn finished the regular season ranked 19th in the College Football Playoff rankings and the major polls.