For the first time since 1983, Lambeau Field will host a college football game. This time around, the teams playing are a bit more notable than St. Norbert’s and Fordham.
LSU vs. Wisconsin 2016: Start time, live stream, TV schedule and 3 things to know
Two of the nation’s premier running backs will face off at one of football’s most iconic stadiums.
Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Wisconsin will host No. 6 LSU when it heads north to Green Bay for a showdown in one of football’s hallowed halls. The season-opening SEC showdown is nothing new for the Badgers. They kicked off the 2015 season by heading to Arlington, Texas for a showdown against Alabama at Cowboys Stadium. In 2014, they traveled to Houston to face LSU.
Now, with the deck stacked firmly against it, Wisconsin will try to break its recent regular-season losing streak against the SEC. The Tigers have returned most of their starters from last year’s 9-3 team, and as Bill Connelly points out, they could be playing for beloved coach Les Miles’ job. First and foremost among those starters is Leonard Fournette, the early 2016 Heisman Trophy favorite.
LSU’s powerhouse running back gained 1,953 yards last fall and added 22 touchdowns in only 12 games. He’ll square off against Badger back Corey Clement. Clement was expected to fill Melvin Gordon’s shoes last season after running for 949 yards (and 6.5 yards per carry) as a sophomore, but injuries derailed his 2015. He’ll lace up his cleats at Lambeau knowing a big performance against one of the nation’s top defenses could put his own (long-shot) Heisman campaign on track.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: LSU started the week favored by 10 points.
Make friends: LSU fans can hit up And the Valley Shook to talk about the matchup, and Wisconsin fans can do the same at Bucky’s Fifth Quarter.
Three big things to know
1. How will Wisconsin’s new QB do? Bart Houston beat out Alex Hornibrook for the starting job after a summer-long battle, and now he’s got a really tricky first test. He’ll face former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, now in the same job at LSU, and this could be quite a chess match.
2. Will Leonard Fournette be at full strength? The preseason Heisman favorite tweaked his ankle in practice and had been seen wearing a walking boot two weeks out from the season opener. If he can’t go, the Tigers will be reduced to using one of the three other blue-chip tailback recruits Les Miles has added to the roster since 2015.
3. LSU hasn’t lost a season opener since 2002. The Tigers have been on a tear after losing to Virginia Tech 14 years ago. Since then, they’ve beaten a litany of ranked teams including Arizona State, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Oregon, TCU and Wisconsin to start their seasons on the right foot. Will a rebuilding Badger team have enough in the tank to break that streak?
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