The 2020 Rose Bowl will pit the Pac-12 Conference against the Big Ten Conference this season. No. 7 Oregon will face No. 11 Wisconsin on Jan. 1 (5 p.m. ET, ESPN). Here is the 2020 Rose Bowl preview. Rankings from The Associated Press Top 25.
Justin Herbert / Photo courtesy of espn.com
The 2019 Pac-12 champion Ducks might have played their best game of the season in beating Utah 37-15 for the league title. They will take the momentum from that victory to Pasadena, where the program looks for a third straight Rose Bowl triumph.
Senior quarterback Justin Herbert (3,333 yards, 32 touchdowns, five interceptions, 66.7 percent completion percentage) is the undisputed star. However, he has a solid supporting cast, like the Johnson receivers, Johnny and Juwan, plus three running backs with at least 300 rushing yards.
Defensively, the Ducks have allowed 30 or more points three times, but also give up an average of 15.7 points for the season. The key to the 2020 Rose Bowl for Oregon might be how well it stops Wisconsin’s ground game.
When we think Wisconsin football in 2019, or 2018 and 2017 for that matter, Jonathan Taylor should be the first name to come to mind. It could be the final collegiate game for the junior Taylor, who has totaled 6,080 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns to go along with two Doak Walker Awards for his career.
Jonathan Taylor / Photo courtesy of espn.com
However, Wisconsin is not a one-man show. Quarterback Jack Coan (2,541 yards, 17 passing touchdowns) and receiver Quintez Cephus (52 receptions, 842 yards, eight touchdowns) have talent.
Defensively, linebacker Zack Baun (12 1/2 sacks, 19 1/2 tackles for loss) is the star of a unit that allowed 16.1 points per game this season and also posted four shutouts. Another intangible in the Badgers’ favor: their five-game bowl winning streak.
The “granddaddy of them all” gets a potentially great matchup. Two offenses with big potency and a couple of stingy defenses. Not to mention, two of the nation’s best offensive players in Herbert and Taylor on display in the 2020 Rose Bowl. Oregon won the last time these teams met in the Rose Bowl to conclude the 2011 season. This time, we think Wisconsin’s defense will be able to avenge that defeat.
Wisconsin 30, Oregon 17
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