My Wisconsin Badgers will face down Ohio State for a Big Ten Championship, and this is what the whole year has been building up to.
I remember sitting in a bar in early August with a couple friends. We were discussing likely outcomes for the college football season. The usual lines were heard. Alabama would win the SEC, Clemson would control the ACC, but much debate broke out when I guaranteed Wisconsin would walk in to the playoffs with a 13-0 record after beating Ohio State for the B1G title.
They thought I was crazy and very drunk or on drugs. I might be crazy, and I almost certainly was past the legal driving limit for booze, but the only thing I was high on was the Wisconsin football outlook.
So far I’ve checked off 12 of those 13 games with a win, but it’ll mean nothing without a win tonight.
Make no mistake, the Buckeyes are the real deal. They are loaded with NFL talent, and on their best day they’re probably the best team in America. As they say, if you want to be the best then you need to beat the best.
That’s what will happen tonight.
Wisconsin isn’t losing this game. I haven’t been more sure of anything in my life. I can’t remember a bigger game in program history.
To all my people that made the trip to Indianapolis, just know that I’m with you and I endorse all the wild things you plan to do tonight. Drink that town out of every drop of alcohol.
To my people back in Wisconsin, strap in because tonight is going to be a wild one.
As for me, my pregaming for this started Friday the moment the clock struck noon. Is this irresponsible? I’d say the only thing that’d be irresponsible would be to not embrace the moment. This is what it’s all about. The football regular season is behind us and now is when champions are born.
To everybody who doubts myself, my team, my state or my people, just always remember that I never lose. We always win when we decide it’s time to bring it. Ari Gold has a message for anybody who disagrees.
I’ll see all of you in the playoffs. It’s been a hell of ride, and we’re not even close to being finished. On Wisconsin.