It's almost that time...

Game week for the 82nd Annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic kicks off Saturday with the arrivals of the teams, USC and Ohio State. Both teams will have VIP arrivals at the airport and their team hotels followed by news conferences. Saturday is when the local practices begin. It's also when the fun begins for the teams, as well as fans, who will see first-hand the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic's famous hospitality. Let the fun (and game) begin!

That's a wrap on the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

It's all over but the cleaning up!

   The confetti is being swept up and the post game press conferences are winding down. It's been another successful Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. What a way to cap off a terrific 2016 football season.
   Congratulations to the victorious Wisconsin Badgers who never panicked and made the big plays needed to win. And congrats to Western Michigan on a remarkable season and representing the its fans and conference proudly.
   Safe travels home to our friends from Madison and Kalamazoo. Happy New Year!

Time To Dance
24 - 16 Wisconsin @startelegram #cottonbowl pic.twitter.com/oPs9nqN9dq

— Velton Hayworth (@ILoveFortWorth) January 2, 2017

...and Corey Davis' amazing catch

Corey Davis just decided that was going to be his ball #CottonBowl #NFLDraft https://t.co/ycPvCxLfYC

— Brian Johannes (@Draft_Brian) January 2, 2017

Fumagalli's amazing catch...

#Wisconsin's Troy Fumagalli with a ridiculous catch.#CottonBowl pic.twitter.com/G3F0k66tE3

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) January 2, 2017

Final Stats

Fumagalli, Edwards named Outstanding Players

   Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli was voted the recipient of the Sanford Trophy as the Goodyear Cotton Bowl's Outstanding Offensive Player. Fumagalli, a senior from Aurora, Illinois, led the Badgers with six catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.
   Wisconsin inside linebacker T.J. Edwards was voted the McKnight Trophy as the Outstanding Defensive Player. Edwards, a junior from Lake Villa, Illinois, was Wisconsin's leading tackler with 10 total stops (four unassisted) and came up with a key interception.

Wisconsin closes out 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl

   Wisconsin was able to run out the final 3:27 to keep the ball out of Western Michigan's hands and avoid the upset.
   A crowd of 59,615 saw Wisconsin quarterbacks Bart Houston (11 of 12) and Alex Hornibrook (2 of 2) combine to complete 13 of 14 passes for a .928 completion percentage. That percentage ranks as second in Cotton Bowl history behind Texas' .929 (13 of 14) against Missouri in the 1946 Classic.