:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/5791063/136342079.0.jpg)
The Wisconsin Badgers return for a third straight year to the Rose Bowl, but this year, they'll be faced with the Stanford Cardinal, headed to their first Rose Bowl in a three-year stretch of BCS bowl bids in the 2013 edition of the "Granddaddy of Them All."
The Cardinal could easily have been considered one of the nation's hottest teams as the 2012 regular season wound down after Stanford topped four ranked teams in consecutive games, culminating in a Pac-12 Championship Game victory over the UCLA Bruins to assure themselves of a spot in this year's Rose Bowl.
The Badgers were the beneficiaries of the ineligibility of both the Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions, which allowed Wisconsin to grab a bid in the Big Ten Championship Game, where they upended the favored Nebraska Cornhuskers in convincing fashion to return to the Rose Bowl once again.
Wisconsin is led by running back Montee Ball, who in his senior season set FBS records for combined touchdowns and rushing touchdowns to cap an impressive career at Wisconsin. The Cardinal will counter on offense with quarterback Josh Nunes and running back Stepfan Taylor, who helped the Cardinal barely miss a beat after quarterback Andrew Luck went to the NFL. And unlike Luck, Taylor and Nunes led the Cardinal to a Pac-12 title and Rose Bowl bid.
Game date and time
Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET
Location
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
Spread
Stanford is favored by six points over the Badgers
TV schedule
ESPN
Watch online
ESPN3/Watch ESPN
Radio schedule
ESPN Radio
Last year’s game
Oregon Ducks 45 vs. Wisconsin Badgers 38
Look through SB Nation's many excellent college football blogs to find your team's community.
