Following a disappointing 5-7 season, the Badgers missed out on a bowl game for the first time in 22 years. When Marshall withdrew from the Independence Bowl against Army, there was speculation that a 5-7 team could step in, with Wisconsin appearing to be an ideal candidate. However, it turned out that filling in was never a realistic option for the Badgers.
Colton Bartholomew of BadgerExtra reported that Luke Fickell and the Badgers had informed the Big Ten they were not interested in stepping in as a bowl replacement even before the Army game was an option. This was unexpected, as Fickell had initially stated they would accept any bowl invitation. Ultimately, the decision was due to logistical challenges.
After the regular season ended, many Badger players quickly entered the transfer portal. By the time the Independence Bowl was available, nearly twenty players had left. Additionally, several other team members had already left for winter break, making it nearly impossible to reassemble a team on short notice.
If Wisconsin had been able to muster a complete team, it is likely they would have accepted an invitation. Louisiana Tech ended up taking Marshall’s place and will compete against Army on December 28th. Given the new transfer rules and the limited time between semesters, this scenario is likely to arise again in the future.
