2016 Cotton Bowl final score: Wisconsin beats Western Michigan with former WMU commit’s 4th-quarter interception

Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards ended up with the ball early in the fourth quarter of Wisconsin’s 24-16 Cotton Bowl win, setting up the score that would give them a two-score margin at the time. That’s partly notable because Edwards is a linebacker, and the ball in his hands isn’t something that happens often.

It’s also notable because there was a time when Edwards would have been on the opposite sideline. In a team meeting leading up to this bowl game, the Badgers coaches unleashed this picture.

That’s Edwards with Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck before Edwards’ final high school season. Needless to say, when Wisconsin came calling he jumped at the offer. But that didn’t mean it was an easy choice to make.

“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” he said, “just because at that age I’ve never been put in that situation. It was a hard phone call because you build relationships with people and then you decide to go somewhere else for what you think is best for your future.”

If Edwards thought he’d play Western Michigan, I doubt he ever thought he’d get the Broncos on this stage.

The Broncos have had a dream season with a 13-0 lead coming into the Cotton Bowl, and although they aren’t in the Playoff this game was a pretty good consolation. Early it looked like WMU was wholly out of its element, down 14-0. Wisconsin’s Troy Fumagalli had this circus catch on the opening drive of the game, and would continue to march down the field to make things look a little too easy.

But the Broncos kept rowing the boat, just like they had all season long. Even when things weren’t going their way. And they did it with their own style. This wacky play involving multiple laterals didn’t work, but it showed WMU was willing to do anything it took to win.

They’d make it close with this miracle TD to Corey Davis.

But the margin created by Edwards’ pick was too much to overcome. For the Broncos, if they can get over losing Davis, among others, a big 2017 schedule could set them up for big things next season.

In Week 1, WMU goes to Michigan State. In Week 2, the Broncos go on the road at USC. If they can win those games, and then 11 more (including a conference championship game, the Playoff Committee would be hard-pressed to leave Western Michigan out. Even if they trip up in conference play there would be a discussion, but it’d be best not to leave the room for doubt. That is yet another example of a reduced margin of error for the G5.

For Wisconsin, this puts an end to an unlikely season. A murderer’s row schedule few gave them a shot to navigate effectively is now in the rear-view. They got through it with an 11-3 record, and they’ve got a New Year’s Six bowl win to top it off.