The Miami Hurricanes will face the Wisconsin Badgers for the fifth time when they face off in the Orange Bowl. Both teams fell short of qualifying for the College Football Playoff with losses in their Conference Championship Games.
The Miami Hurricanes accomplished most of their goals this season. The Hurricanes ended a seven-year losing streak to Florida State, won their first ACC Coastal Division Title and appeared in the ACC Championship game for the first time.
The Miami Hurricanes fell short of winning their first ACC Championship. They lost to Clemson in Charlotte 38-3.
After leading his team through a 10-2 season and having to deal with the fallout of two weeks off because of Hurricane Irma, Head Coach Mark Richt was named the ACC Coach of the Year. He was also named the Walter Camp National Coach of the Year.
Wisconsin enters the Orange Bowl off a 12-1 season. The Badgers were in the discussion for the College Football Playoff until they lost to Ohio State 27-21 in the Big Ten Championship game. Wisconsin is playing in a New Year’s Six Bowl game for the second straight season and the fifth time in the last eight seasons.
The Badgers defeated Western Michigan last season in the Cotton Bowl. The Badgers lost three straight Rose Bowls from 2010-12 that came after they defeated Miami in the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl. Wisconsin is playing in its first-ever Orange Bowl.