Badgers' spring game to be played April 25

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin's football program announced Monday that the team's annual spring game will be held on Saturday, April 25, at 3 p.m. in Camp Randall Stadium.

Tickets go on sale beginning Wednesday for $5 online at UWBadgers.com or by calling 1-800-GO-BADGERS. Proceeds from the game will help fund the school's office of undergraduate advising.

This marks the latest Wisconsin has held its spring game since 2012. During Gary Andersen's first season, in 2013, the game was played April 20. Last year, it was held April 12. This year's game will be preceded by the annual Badgers Sports Kids Fair, which is a free event that starts at 1:30 p.m. in the McClain Center.

First-year Badgers coach Paul Chryst has several position groups he'll be examining, as there are no shortage of storylines entering 2015. Wisconsin loses running back Melvin Gordon, a Heisman Trophy finalist, to the NFL Draft. Only Corey Clement is a proven returning player in the backfield. At quarterback, incumbent starter Joel Stave will try to hold off a series of challengers, and it's unknown whether Tanner McEvoy will continue at quarterback or switch positions. UW's offensive line also loses three senior starters -- left guard Dallas Lewallen, right guard Kyle Costigan and right tackle Rob Havenstein.

Defensively, Wisconsin will try to replace inside linebackers Marcus Trotter and Derek Landisch, who ranked second and third on the team in total tackles. Up front, the Badgers lose nose guard Warren Herring and defensive end Konrad Zagzebski.

Wisconsin's spring-game attendance has fluctuated in recent seasons, though it has not matched the fervor created at other Big Ten programs such as Penn State, Nebraska and Ohio State. In 2012, the announced attendance at the Badgers' spring game was 10,479 people, and that number increased to 12,050 in 2013. But in 2014, the number dipped to 8,204 people.

Follow Jesse Temple on Twitter