MADISON, Wis. — Badgers fans had plenty to celebrate Saturday, and they turned out in full force to do so.
Game day in Madison is a big enough party, but add in Halloween weekend, and you get a lot of celebrating.
“It’s off the charts,” University of Wisconsin-Madison senior Conner Bills said. “Everyone’s got costumes, everyone’s feeling good.”
Bills was one of many who traded his cardinal red for a Halloween costume during a tailgate with his friends ahead of the game against Ohio State.
He said his Wisconsin pride was still as strong as ever.
“My favorite part is just the culture,” Bills said. “You know, sports in Wisconsin has a special place in my heart.”
It’s that sentimental value that brings many fans back, even after graduation.
“Feels good to be back on campus,” said Bradley Westen, a UW alumnus. “We used to live right over there, so it’s good to be back.”
Westen was one of many alumni returning to campus, opting for a themed costume from the movie “Step Brothers” alongside his friend, graduate student Brennen Spencer. Their tailgate also featured a little bit of friendly competition.
“Some members of our tailgate [were] from Ohio State and we kinda have a little rivalry ourselves here, so that’ll be fun,” Spencer said ahead of the game.
He said the combination of a game day and holiday weekend added to the excitement.
“Halloween is always a good time down here, being able to go out with your friends and dressing up and stuff,” Spencer said.
That energy wasn’t lost on the opposing team, either. Brandon Rogers, an Ohio State fan, used the game as a chance to celebrate his brother’s birthday. While he stayed in Milwaukee, he said he felt the excitement all the way from Milwaukee to Madison.
“They had a lot of great parties going on and are doing their thing with their Halloween party, so we thought it was fun,” he said.
He said he was excited to visit Wisconsin, as he enjoys exploring other Big 10 towns.
“This is our […] fourth or fifth away stadium, and we love going around the Big 10 to see all the tailgates and how the rest of the Big 10 lives,” Rogers said.
No matter the outcome of the game though, both sides agreed there was plenty of fun to be had.