The Elite, The Meh & The Ugly – Wisconsin

It’s always good to beat the Badgers

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-5) closed out the regular season with a 24-7 road win over the Wisconsin Badgers (5-7) to re-claim Paul Bunyan’s Axe.

The Elite

Paul Bunyan’s Axe is back where it belongs. Before the game, Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell told CBS’s Tiffany Blackmon that this matchup was their “Super Bowl.” Eight years ago, I doubt you would have found one Wisconsin coach, player, or fan willing to admit that. Obviously the Badgers had more at stake in this game than the Axe, with their 22-year bowl game streak also on the line. But you can’t argue with the fact that P.J. Fleck has made this a rivalry again. He arrived at Minnesota as Wisconsin’s winning streak in this rivalry had reached 13 games. Fleck is now 4-4 against the Badgers, including wins in three of their last four matchups. He is also 3-1 on the road against Wisconsin, which is remarkable when you consider that the Gophers hadn’t won in Madison since 1994 before Fleck won there in 2018.

The Gopher defense. Corey Hetherman’s unit saved its best for last. Seven of the Badgers’ 12 offensive possessions ended in a three-and-out. Minnesota completely shut down the Wisconsin’s ground game, limiting them to 37 rushing yards. Badger quarterback Braedyn Locke never looked comfortable in the pocket and completed less than 50 percent of his passes. Wisconsin was also 3-of-14 on third down. This was a dominant defensive performance.

Max Brosmer. It was a vintage Max Brosmer performance against the Badgers, as the Gopher quarterback was 17-of-26 for 191 passing yards and two touchdowns. This offense has been at its best this season when Brosmer is in command and he was very much in control on Friday. He was accurate, his decision-making was sound, and he never turned the ball over. The highlight had to be Brosmer’s 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jameson Geers.

Darius Taylor. It has not been the season many expected for Taylor, as he has battled injuries and struggled to find running lanes behind an inconsistent offensive line. But he ended the regular season on a high note, racking up 143 rushing yards on 32 carries.

Quinn Carroll. Aireontae Ersery exited the game with an ankle injury after only seven snaps, forcing Carroll to shift to left tackle — a position he had never played before in his career. But the offensive line didn’t seem to miss a beat. I don’t know that we’ve appreciated Carroll’s selflessness enough. He has always been a better guard than tackle, but the team has needed him to play tackle and he has done so without complaint. That’s being a team player.

The fake tush push. On 3rd & 1 at their own 34-yard line, Minnesota offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh dialed up a fake tush push, with Brosmer handing the ball off to running back Marcus Major instead. Major sprung a 40-yard run that put the Gophers at the Wisconsin 26-yard line, and Minnesota would score four plays later. Brilliant play-call. Great execution.

The Meh

The Ugly

Joey Gerlach’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Trailing 21-0 in the third quarter, Wisconsin was facing 3rd & 15 at the Minnesota 45-yard line when a pass to Tawee Walker went nowhere. But instead of 4th & 15, the Badgers were given new life by Gopher linebacker Joey Gerlach, who was flagged for a late hit on Walker. It was an inexcusable penalty, as Walker was clearly out of bounds, and it allowed Wisconsin to score a touchdown three plays later. The penalty (and the touchdown that followed) briefly changed the momentum of the game. Dragan Kesich missed a 49-yard field goal attempt on the next drive and the Badgers seemed primed to cut it to a one-possession game, driving down to the Minnesota 10-yard line. But a holding penalty and a missed 37-yard field goal attempt stopped Wisconsin from gaining any more ground.