Badger of Honor
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Wisconsin Football: 10 best Badgers games since 2010

By Tanner Nestle

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Paul Chryst and Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates after winning the 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Paul Chryst and Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates after winning the 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 1: Running back Melvin Gordon #25 of the Wisconsin Badgers out runs defensive back Jermaine Whitehead #35 of the Auburn Tigers as he runs 53 yards for a touchdown during the third quarter of the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2015 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

7. January 1st, 2015 vs # 19 Auburn in the Outback Bowl

Barry Alvarez steps in as interim coach and leads the Badgers to victory

The 2014 season was the last for Gary Andersen’s short stay in Madison. He left the program for Oregon State prior to the bowl game and Barry Alvarez had to step in as interim. Alvarez did so before for the final Rose Bowl after Bret Bielema left for Arkansas, but wasn’t able to find a win. With the future of the program uncertain, a huge performance from Melvin Gordon and an incredible all-around showing lifted the Badgers over Auburn for their first bowl win in five years.

The first half was low scoring seeing a 14-7 Auburn lead going into halftime. Gordon woke up in the third quarter scoring breaking off huge scoring runs to help Wisconsin keep pace with the suddenly alive Auburn offense. The two sides traded scores for the remainder of the game until Rafael Gaglianone hit the tying field goal with seven seconds left to force overtime.

Gaglianone would hit another kick to put the Badgers up three in the first overtime period. Auburn needed a touchdown to win the game but couldn’t manufacture positive yardage on its drive. The Tigers settled for a long field goal that missed off the right upright meaning Wisconsin had won.

Final score: Wisconsin 34, Auburn 31

This was such a great game for Wisconsin for several reasons. The bowl game was big, the finish was exciting, the opponent was a traditional SEC powerhouse and Alvarez had somehow seemed to make everything okay again. Seeing Alvarez on the sidelines celebrating the win with the program put Badger fans at ease. Ohio State had just got done beating down Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game 59-0 and Wisconsin was without a head coach. It wouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone if the program went into a rebuild.

Halfway into the greatest decade of Wisconsin football history, the future of the program was in question. The 2010’s could easily have turned into a disappointment, but this Outback Bowl win made sure that wouldn’t happen. Paul Chryst was hired in the offseason and Wisconsin football couldn’t be in a better spot.