Next season, for the first time since 2011, Wisconsin will be hosting a Big Ten team under the lights at Camp Randall. However, they won’t just be hosting one conference night game. In the words of Ernie Banks “Let’s play two.” In October 2016, the Badgers will face both Ohio State and Nebraska in primetime matchups.
Coincidentally, the Badgers’ last two conference night games were against the same two teams: A thrilling 31-18 Wisconsin victory over Ohio State in 2010 and a 48-17 drubbing of Nebraska in the Huskers’ first Big Ten game in 2011.
The Buckeyes will make their way to Madison for a 7 p.m. kickoff on October 15. OSU hasn’t played Wisconsin in Madison since 2012, the team’s first year under head coach Urban Meyer. The Buckeyes won that game 21-14.
Nebraska will come to Camp Randall looking to avenge last year’s wild 23-21 last-second Wisconsin victory. UW, on the other hand, will look to stretch the rivalry game-winning streak to four games and maintain possession of the Freedom Trophy, which the team hasn’t surrendered since its creation in 2014.
Last season, Badger fans saw their first night game since 2012, a 28-0 rout over Hawaii, but the unimpressive opponent merely whet the appetite of fans hungry for a meaningful contest under the lights.
Both of these night games will be shown on an ESPN network yet to be determined. The remainder of the Wisconsin kickoff times are not set at this time.
