Coach Patterson and Coach Bielema have had some similarities in their careers, and now their teams meet for the second time.
The competing coaches crossed paths in the 2011 Rose Bowl. TCU coach Gary Patterson prevailed in that one, 21-19, over former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, who took over the Arkansas program in the 2013 season. Both coaches built their reputations as defensive coordinators before becoming head coaches. Bielema served as Kansas State’s co-defensive coordinator in 2002-03 and oversaw Wisconsin’s defense in 2004-05 before taking over the program in 2006. Patterson played at Kansas State (1980-81) and served as a graduate assistant as his alma mater (1982) before becoming defensive coordinator at Sonoma (Calif.