MADISON, WI (WSAU) The Wisconsin football team said yesterday it would open the 2015 season against two-time defending B-C-S champion Alabama. The game will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington Texas on September fifth of 2015.

Badger fans have demanded that the team toughen up its non-conference schedule. And athletic director Barry Alvarez says it’s a top priority – mainly because strength-of-schedule will be a factor in the new four-team playoff system in the B-C-S group. Alvarez says the Badgers “want to be in that mix.”And he said it’s a priority throughout the Big Ten to get rid of soft non-conference matchups.

Wisconsin had sought a home-and-home series with Alabama in 2011, but Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said no at that juncture.