Badger of Honor
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Wisconsin UCLA Set Future Home-And-Home Series

By Noah Seligman

1 JAN 1994: WISCONSIN QUARTERBACK DARRELL BEVELL CELEBRATES AFTER SCORING A CRITICAL TOUCHDOWN DURING THE BADGERS 21-16 VICTORY OVER THE UCLA BRUINS IN THE 1994 ROSE BOWL. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT
1 JAN 1994: WISCONSIN QUARTERBACK DARRELL BEVELL CELEBRATES AFTER SCORING A CRITICAL TOUCHDOWN DURING THE BADGERS 21-16 VICTORY OVER THE UCLA BRUINS IN THE 1994 ROSE BOWL. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT /
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Wisconsin Badger football adds UCLA, a marquee football opponent to the future non-conference schedule

Set your future calendars Wisconsin football fans.  On Tuesday, Wisconsin and UCLA announced the two schools will play a home-and-home series starting in 2029.

For the record, the next total solar eclipse is scheduled for 2024.  That gives you plenty of time to get some new glasses and prepare for the Wisconsin football Pasadena trip.

For what its worth,the 2029-2030 timeline means some kids presently in kindergarten and 1st grade may be playing in the series.  However, please don’t check rivals or scout for a read on the class of 2029.

Related Story: Wisconsin Notre Dame Schedule Non-Conference Set

Thanks to UCLA for scheduling bowl-nemesis Wisconsin.  Perhaps UCLA is counting on a better result in regular season play.

"The Badgers have played UCLA 11 times previously with the Bruins holding a 7-4 advantage in the series. UW has won the last three meetings, however; each a bowl game with Alvarez on the sidelines. Wisconsin won the 1994 Rose Bowl, 21-16, the 1999 Rose Bowl, 38-31, and the 2000 Sun Bowl, 21-20."

The 1999 Rose Bowl was especially gratifying for Wisconsin fans.  A UCLA loss to Miami ruined the Bruins national championship aspirations.  UCLA and somehow-a-future-first-round-pick Cade McNown played like the Rose Bowl was its consolation prize.  Ron Dayne powered the Badger offense on New Year’s Day 1999 to the tune of 246 yards and 4 TDs.

On balance, I like this schedule addition for Wisconsin.  Last week I expressed my listless reaction (verging on disappointment) with Wisconsin adding Notre Dame to the docket.  In part, because playing other major conference schools adds more to the resume.

"I would rather see Wisconsin play somebody from a power conference like the Pac-12, Big-12, or SEC.  Those do more to help the cause for postseason positioning."

Wish granted.  Putting UCLA on the schedule is a nice get for the Badgers.  It should raise the strength of schedule for those two seasons.  That helps Wisconsin stand out for postseason consideration.

UCLA sends a regular pipeline of talent to the NFL including likely 2018 first round pick in quarterback Josh Rosen.  For example, ESPN lists 41 ex-Bruins and 37 ex-Badgers in the NFL at present. While its cross-town rival gets the regular preseason hype, the Bruins have steadily built a stable program of its own.

Under Jim Mora, UCLA plays a tough schedule and is 2-2 in bowl games.  The Bruins have gone 37-24 in his five season with UCLA.  That record looks worse after a dreadful 4-8 mark in 2016. Thus, the Burins were 33-16 in Mora’s first four seasons.

Next: Badger Commit Tyler Herro Impresses at Nike Academy

Perhaps most importantly in all this UCLA stuff is that the Ball family will no longer have a child enrolled there by 2029.  I can promise you we won’t be hearing a thing about Lavar Ball come 2029.